If you are a Freeport rental property investor who just happens to have a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you take on so many of your property maintenance responsibilities on your own. Although there are quite a few property maintenance and repairs that are okay for the do-it-yourself landlord, some carry higher risks. When it comes to electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or even result in the problem getting worse. Because of this, even do-it-yourself rental property owners must learn how to avoid several hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.
There are many grounds why property owners prefer to do their property maintenance and repairs themselves. Sometimes you are attempting to save money by addressing manageable problems. Sometimes you feel fully at ease knowing you did the work yourself. And sometimes, you might simply like doing it. But for plumbing and electrical tasks, it is important to know which repairs you can safely do yourself and when it’s smarter to hire a licensed professional.
When it comes to electricity, the more you know, the safer you are. Simple maintenance tasks like replacing light bulbs, outlets, and breakers can often be completed quickly and safely. You can avoid damages as long as you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
However, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Even when you think you’ve shut off the power, you might be wrong. And if you aren’t entirely sure about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, and more. Even small mistakes can result in you electrocuting yourself or cause an electrical fire. Either way, instead of saving yourself some money, you’ve now generated new, more expensive problems – and possibly jeopardized your tenants as well. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
It’s just the same for plumbing repairs. Simple fixes like mending a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Particularly if it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes shouldn’t take too much time or expertise.
Yet, the more serious the circumstances, the more possible you will be better off calling a professional. When your tenant summons you in a panic over a broken pipe, a backed-up drain, or malfunctioning garbage disposal, this is not the time to try and figure out how to fix it yourself. The longer water is flowing unchecked into your rental home, the more damage it will cause. As a property owner, you want to address urgent plumbing repairs in the most professional, most productive way possible. And most of the time, that means calling a plumber who can provide high-quality service.
Even if you aren’t covering a critical situation, sometimes summoning an electrician or plumber is still the best decision. Although it will cost you more than if you took care of the work yourself, it’s important to recognize that hiring a professional comes with valuable benefits. Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for every job, and can complete the work more quickly and efficiently. All things considered, it might be best to hire someone to handle all of the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.
To avoid the hassle of finding a maintenance team, contact the Freeport property management professionals at Real Property Management Preferred and ask about our services.
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