Rentals and Property Management - Tacoma, Puyallup, Pierce County, Washington

The general upkeep of rental properties is essential both in maintaining the value of a property and in attracting quality tenants to lease the property. Property owners depend on their property managers to help them identify items of concern that need to be taken care of. Just before winter and just after the winter season may be the best times to address certain items of concern, which are easy to overlook. In general tenants are not expected nor required to do a yearly upkeep of a rental property, but should keep their grounds clean, tidy and in order. Owners must have these yearly maintenance items performed at their cost, unless otherwise specifically agreed upon in writing with a tenant and incorporated within the Lease. Landlord Tenant Law requires owners to maintain their properties in such a way as to provide both safe and healthy tenancy. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure indeed. - We use only Licensed and Bonded contractors and handyman services!

DRIVEWAYS / WALKWAYS / PATIOS:
Horizontal brick, concrete and paver surfaces should be cleaned on a regular basis. Dirt, mold and moss can quickly build-up during the winter months. A quick pressure washing of these areas can easily brighten the appearance of any property.

DECKS:
Wood decks usually need to be cleaned and stained every 2 to 5 years. Mold and moss build-up will not only deteriorate decks, but it will also make them slippery and dangerous to walk on. Regular cleaning is essential. Checking the decking for rotten boards is also important for safety concerns.

FENCING:
Like wood decks, wood fences ought to be cleaned and stained in order to keep their durability and beauty. Replacing an entire fence can be expensive, so regular pressure washing, staining and repairs can extend the life of a fence by years.

ROOFING:
Composite, tile and shake roofs should be treated with a moss killer treatment to prevent moss growth. Long term moss growth can rot composite and shake roofs. All roofs can be pressure washed if needed. Shake roofs need to be cleaned and treated every 5 to 10 years in order to preserve their beauty, life and durability.

TRIM / SIDING:
The appearance of a building not only adds curb appeal, but also adds value to a building. Vinyl siding and trim need to be routinely cleaned. Ideally, a new paint new coat should be added before paint peeling occurs. Once peeling begins, deterioration speeds up rapidly. The trim still needs to be painted on buildings with vinyl siding.

GUTTERS / DOWN SPOUTS:
In the Evergreen State, gutters and down spouts can fill quickly with leaves, branches, mold, grime and even plant life. Cleaning them out not only helps preserve them, but it also protects wood trim and siding from the damage caused by sitting and over flowing water due to clogged gutters and down spouts.

WINDOWS / SKYLIGHTS:
These ought to be checked for leaks, cracks and cleanliness, both on the inside and outside. Even minor leaks can cause extensive damage where building surfaces get consistent exposure to unwanted moisture.

SHEDS / GARAGES:
Detached buildings that tenants do not live in still need to be cared for. Neglecting these pieces of property can not only be a real eye sore, but can also cause the overall value of a property to decline. Regular repairs, cleaning and painting can go a long way in maintaining these buildings.

    Maintaining the appearance of a property not only adds curb appeal for potential tenants, but it also adds to the long term value of the property. We hope that owners will appreciate our input on any recommendations you may have in helping them maintain the value of their investment they have entrusted you to oversee. We have trusted vedors who are both Licensed and Bonded/insured, we do not use in-house workers for liability reasons and because we only want to call on a maintence worker when we need them. We negotiate for an estimate 20% to 32% discount with our vendors, who appreciate having more work come from us in the future. To get ongoing work from us, the vendors must give us a good discount and provide exceptional finish work. Honesty is a must. In turn, we are able to pass on savings to owners even when we charge an small estimated 10% on average extended management fee for repair and maintenance work. We take before and after photos of most work and supervise or inspect all work when done.

FIREPLACE CLEANING:
Most insurance companies will NOT pay for damaged caused by chimney or fireplace malfunctions, including lack of maintenance. We recommend annual cleaning, inspection and needed maintenance of all types of fireplaces....wheather gas, wood or pellet etc. - We use: www.TheChimneySpecialists.com when we need these services, however owners may use any licensed service. Keep those receipts..., if there is a fire you will need to prove that your fireplace was maintained properly.

- INTERIOR -

___ PLUMBING / Kitchens - Baths - Laundry
___ ELECTRICAL / Sockets - Lighting
___ WINDOWS / DOORS / WALLS / FLOORS
___ APPLIANCES

PLUMBING / Kitchens - Baths - Laundry
Handyman should check all pipes, hardware and fittings for leaks or damage that may need repair.

ELECTRICAL / Sockets - Lighting
Handyman should look for "burn outs", sockets that have burn marks, and light fixtures for damage.

WINDOWS / DOORS
Handyman should ensure that all doors and windows open and close properly and are sealed against the weather, plus wall and floor damages, marks and misuse.

APPLIANCES
Handyman should look for damage, misuse and functionality of all appliances...., plus have they been changed by tenant.