Whether you own one or several properties, you know how pertinent keeping up with the property maintenance is. Of course, some things will go wrong when you aren’t prepared for it, and you’ll need to fix them. In addition, other maintenance tasks need to be scheduled regularly. You want to deal with these maintenance issues in the most cost-productive way possible. You might be wondering, is it better to have in-house maintenance like Baltimore property management or hire individual contractors to perform the jobs? Let’s take a look at five typical maintenance jobs and compare the cost of doing it in-house versus hiring contractors.
Change the HVAC Filters
The air filters in the heating and cooling system need to be replaced about every 90 days. You can purchase an HVAC air filter for about five dollars, or less if you buy them in bulk.
The cost of hiring a contractor to handle your HVAC maintenance, including changing the filters, varies from place to place, but the average hourly rate is between $150-$450. If you hire a contractor who charges by the job and not the hour, this type of task usually costs between $85-$150.
Exterminate Monthly
Ensuring your properties are pest-free is a top priority. Baltimore property management may exterminate monthly to keep on top of things or as a preventative measure. If you can get ahead of all problems by doing it monthly, you can save in the end. The national average to hire an exterminator is $675.
Clean the Gutters
Keeping the gutters clean of debris will increase the longevity of your roof and gutters. Clogged gutters also can affect the ground close to the property and even the foundation of the home. Water may accumulate and become a bigger problem than just getting the gutters cleaned. When they aren’t cleaned out, it can also cause water to get trapped and freeze inside the gutters. So, cleaning them out is an essential part of maintenance. The national average to hire someone to come and clean the gutters out is about $158 but would be more for a two-story home.
Flush Your Water Heater
Sediment, calcium, and minerals build up over time in water heaters, causing property owners problems if not dealt with routinely. It’s recommended that you have water heaters flushed out at least once per year. If you neglect this task, the sediment will accumulate and lead to other problems, such as making the water heater work too hard. It could also lead to more significant sediment issues coming out of the faucets or a pipe bursting. You can avoid this by taking the time to have the water heater serviced each year.
Flushing out a water heater costs, on average, about $200, but if you need a repair, count on double that amount. The average hourly rate for a plumber is $175 - $450.
Test All Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
It’s critical to keep your properties safe from damage. One way to do that is to make sure your smoke alarms are checked regularly, and the batteries are replaced. Getting someone to come in and do this on a regular basis would likely mean hiring a general contractor. A general contractor can cost an average of $25 - $85 per hour. They may have a minimum too.
Manage the Exterior Property
Whether it’s planting, mulching, and mowing in the warm months or plowing and shoveling in the winter, there are exterior issues that need attention. The cost of hiring someone to take care of this ranges depending on how extensive you want to go with your property. However, it generally runs between $50 and $100 an hour. Some contractors charge by the square foot.
Next Steps
Hiring out a contractor to manage all these various tasks can run your expenses up astronomically. Instead, let a Baltimore property management expert help you handle all of these and more for one flat rate. Our property management company is responsive and reliable and will provide you with flat-fee pricing, so you know just what you’re getting into. We’ll take the hassles of management for you so that you can have peace of mind.
Other benefits of working with Baltimore property management include:
- If you (the owner) get fined for lawn care, we'll pay it - we either manage the lawn or require photos that the tenant was managing the lawn.
- View the outside of the property and take photos at least once every two weeks; always have eyes on your property.
- Provide the highest quality service in the market.
We have local people in your neighborhood and are very experienced in helping foreign investors manage their properties here. Get in touch with RentWell and find out why we are highly sought out. Connect with us today for more information.
