If you are a Monroeville rental property investor who also happens to possess a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you deal with various property maintenance responsibilities yourself. Some property maintenance and repair tasks are harmless for the do-it-yourself landlord, and some carry higher risks. Regarding electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or even result in the problem getting worse. Hence, even do-it-yourself rental property owners should know how to handle the hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.
There are many reasons why property owners prefer to manage their property maintenance and repairs themselves. Usually, you are trying to save money by handling common issues. Sometimes you feel great about doing the job yourself. And sometimes, you might take pride 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.
As for 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 remain safe as long as you follow the proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
Yet, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Even if you assume you’ve switched off the power, you’re probably wrong. And if you’re not completely confident 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 cash, you have now triggered a new, more costly, and problematic problem – and you’ve probably put your tenants at risk also. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
The same thing applies to plumbing repairs. Simple fixes like changing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Especially if it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes should not take a lot of effort or expertise.
Though, the more serious the circumstances, the more likely you will be better off calling a professional. When your tenant approaches 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 have to address urgent plumbing repairs in the most effective, most efficient manner possible. And most of the time, that means calling a plumber who can deliver high-quality service.
Even if you are not dealing with a dangerous scenario, sometimes contacting an electrician or plumber is always the best option. While it will charge you more unlike if you handled the job yourself, it is worth remembering that hiring a professional always brings valuable benefits. Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for any task, and can deliver the work quicker and more effectively. All things considered, it might be best to hire someone to handle all of the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.
To prevent the stress of finding a maintenance team, contact the Monroeville property management professionals at Real Property Management Three Rivers, and inquire about our services.
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