Tips From Allen Realty Property Managers On Preventative Maintenance For The Winter

The property managers at Allen Realty are keen to share their knowledge with some cost effective tips that will assist tenants to avoid potential maintenance issues during the winter. One of the problems the Allen Realty Property Management team frequently encounter is tenants whose waste disposal units have become blocked. They advise using plenty of cold water when flushing through food scraps and run for a little longer once the scraps have disappeared. They also recommend discretion in what actually goes down the waste disposal. To clean the unit, they recommend grinding some ice cubes with a generous sprinkle of salt a couple of times a month – it will be a bit noisy but will help to clean all those hard to reach places and pop some lemon peel through occasionally to keep it smelling fresh. For strong odours and slow running drains, sprinkle half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour in a cup of white vinegar (it will fizz). Let it sit for a few minutes, then run the disposal unit with hot water.

The Allen Realty Property Management team also have some advice on removing stains and scuff marks from walls and other surfaces, which, if kept on top of, means that the bond refund will be paid promptly at the end of the tenancy. Allen Realty recommends specialist products such as Magic Sponges to help remove scuff marks, scratches or stubborn stains on walls, doors or other surfaces. These are fantastic products that will help get rid of most scuff marks with little effort or damage, and variations of these products are available from all leading supermarkets and home depot stores.

One of the biggest problems in winter is mould and mildew – too much moisture leads to condensation which leads to the growth of mould, mildew and dust mites, which can then trigger allergies or asthma. Mould and mildew can also cause long-term damage to properties, such as rotting wood, paint to peel, and staining nets and curtains. The team at Allen Realty encourage tenants to open windows regularly to increase airflow and to avoid using un-flued gas heaters or dryers to assist in reducing moisture – while they can be helpful, they are not usually enough to prevent the problem. They also advise venting the clothes dryer to the outside in the laundry, keeping windows open during the day to increase airflow, using an extractor fan so steam can escape from cooking and showers, and opening curtains in the morning and closing them at night. It is also helpful to have a dehumidifier and home ventilation systems and heat pumps can also keep the home warm and dry.

For more information on Allen Realty Property Management please visit the website at http://www.allenrealty.co.nz .