It’s that dreaded time a year again (or the best time of year, depending on your outlook) where we start to get ready for cold weather, snow fall, and the holidays. With many looming expenses on the horizon, that last thing you need is an unexpected winter disaster during your holiday season. In this article, I’ll talk about some of the common issues that we see as landlords, including burst pipes, water heater issues, and things you really don’t want to deal with when it’s 15 degrees outside. 

Generally, when I think about disaster mitigation, I like to start with the worst of it, water and fire. 

Winter time is a great time of year to make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning and in great working condition. You can never have too many of them, especially CO detectors in areas where gas stoves and heaters exist (obviously these are used more in the winter months). Next comes water, and by that I mean plumbing. As the temperature drops, making sure all outside water fixtures are shut off from inside the home and drained of excess water can go a long way towards preventing water from freezing, expanding, and bursting inside those pipes, causing potentially massive water damage in your home, not to mention mold. 

From there, we look at other easy to miss issues, such as sealing windows and doors to maintain heat in the house and reduce the climbing winter heat bills. We also like to walk the perimeter of the property and make sure the foundation is sealed to prevent water from seeping in the home, along with rodents that are looking for shelter from the cold. 

Apart from that, we like to stock up on road salt and plenty of shovels to ensure quick and safe snow removal from the property and reduced slipping around the home. Targeting all of these items in preparation for winter can be meticulous, but worth it in the long haul to ensure the safety of everyone in the home, and maintaining the longevity of the property.