What to know when preparing your property for the winter

Many landlords, homeowners and property managers wait until a problem arises to respond or provide maintenance to a property. However, being proactive is much more effective and can help keep small problems from becoming more serious ones.

It’s tough to know how and when to be proactive when managing properties, but one difficulty you can always expect is the onset of winter and weather-related issues. Personal injuries that result from slip and falls can be costly, as can issues relating to poor home maintenance. Winter claims average nearly $27,000, which can represent a massive cost to both landlords and tenants. That said, there are ways to prepare for the winter and reduce the risk that something will go wrong.

Related: 5 winter weather preparedness tips

How does winterization work?

If you fail to do all that is necessary before winter arrives, you could face a variety of issues when temperatures drop and extreme weather conditions become more common. It’s impossible to predict what will happen or when something will become a problem, but some typical issues seen in the winter include mice, heating fires and burst pipes.

Winterizing a property involves getting all areas ready to resist the weather and stay in good condition throughout the season. The more you’re able to prepare through the late fall, the better your chances of avoiding an extremely costly claim. That way you’ll be able to rest easy come December knowing your properties are ready.

Related: How data analysis quantifies water, fire risks for insurers

Preparing your properties for the winter

Winterization is a multi-step process involving both the exterior and interior of a property, so it’s important to get started early and give yourself enough time to get everything done before winter hits. While the specifics of winterizing a given property will vary depending on the climate in the area and the conditions in the building, there are some general guidelines that will apply to most rental properties.

As in any situation regarding your properties, safety should always be the top priority. Thus, walkways, driveways, and other outdoor areas should be well-lit in preparation for dark winter evenings, and tenants should be aware of who to contact for maintenance.

Related: 15 ways to avoid home insurance claims during the winter holiday season

Water heaters and pipes

Pipes and water heaters may not seem like serious issues, but they can cause substantial damage if they freeze or burst. While it’s difficult to completely eliminate this risk, these tips will help keep them as safe as possible:

• Keep cabinets open in bathrooms and kitchens in order to heat up cold pipes
• Leave indoor faucets on a slow drip of warm water when temperatures drop
• Cover and shut off all outdoor faucets
• Use insulation to keep outdoor pipes from being exposed to extreme temperatures

These small inconveniences are well worth the reduced risk they can help achieve — water damage resulting from a burst or frozen pipe leads to an average insurance claim of $15,000.

Winter is the most common time for tenants to experience weather-related difficulties, and it’s important to do everything possible to preemptively respond to those problems. These guidelines and tips will help you safely and effectively manage your properties and avoid some of the most common winter problems.

Related: Water is property that’s often uninsured

Rae Steinbach (rae.steinbach@yahoo.com) is a content specialist that has worked extensively within the legal industry. The opinions expressed here are her own.