If you are a rental property investor with some handyman skills, there’s a good chance you handle many of your property maintenance tasks yourself. While many property maintenance and repairs are safe for the do-it-yourself landlord, some carry higher risks. When it comes to electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or make the problem worse. For this reason, even do-it-yourself rental property owners should learn how to avoid many of the hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and know when to call the professionals.
There are many reasons why property owners choose to do their property maintenance and repairs themselves. Sometimes you try to save money by addressing simple problems, or you feel better knowing you did the work yourself. Other times, you might simply enjoy it. However, when it comes to 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.
Why Electrical Safety Should Be a Priority for Homeowners
When it comes to 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 avoid injuries if you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
However, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. You might think you’ve shut off the power, but still be wrong. If you aren’t sure about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, and more. Even small mistakes can lead to electrocution or cause an electrical fire.
In these situations, instead of saving yourself some money, you could create more expensive problems – and possibly endanger your tenants. These are good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
When to Call a Plumber for Urgent Rental Property Repairs
The same applies to plumbing repairs. Simple fixes, like replacing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head, are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Especially if they are more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes shouldn’t take much time or expertise.
However, the more serious the circumstances, the more likely you will be better off calling a professional. When your renter calls you in a panic over a broken pipe, backed-up drain, or malfunctioning garbage disposal, this is not the time to figure out how to fix it yourself. The longer water flows unchecked into your rental home, the more damage it will cause. As a property owner, you need to address urgent plumbing repairs professionally and efficiently. And most of the time, that means calling a plumber who can provide high-quality service.
Even if you aren’t facing an urgent situation, sometimes calling an electrician or plumber is still the right choice. Although it will cost you more than if you did the work yourself, it’s important to remember that hiring a professional comes with valuable benefits.
Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for every job, and can complete the work more quickly and efficiently. It might be best to hire someone to handle all the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.
To avoid the hassle of finding a maintenance team, look no further than Real Property Management Greenway for professional services in Chamblee and nearby. Contact us online or call 770-771-6102 for more information.
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