If you are a North Hollywood rental property investor who also happens to have a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you manage a lot of your property maintenance projects yourself. While quite a few property maintenance and repairs are free from harm for the do-it-yourself landlord, a few carry higher risks. When it comes to electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or even result in the problem getting worse. For this purpose, even do-it-yourself rental property owners need to know how to handle many of the hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.
There are several reasons why property owners want to manage their property maintenance and repairs personally. Sometimes you are trying to save money by solving the small issues yourself. Often you feel happier realizing that you have done the work yourself. And at other times, you might enjoy 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.
When we talk about 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 the risk of injuries if you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
Still, repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Even if you believe that you have turned the power off, you might be mistaken. And if you have doubts about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, and more. Even small mistakes can result in you electrocuting yourself or causing an electrical fire. Either way, rather than saving yourself some money, you’ve now managed to create new, more expensive, and more complicated problems – and you might have put your tenants in trouble also. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
The same goes for plumbing repairs. Simple fixes such as removing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Whenever it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes shouldn’t take too much time or expertise.
Though, the more serious the circumstances, the more likely you will be better off calling a professional. If your tenant approaches you in a hurry 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 efficient way and as quickly as possible. And most of the time, that means having a plumber who can give high-quality service.
But, even if you are not dealing with an emergency situation, sometimes contacting an electrician or plumber is still the safest option. Although the charge is a little bit expensive, more than if you did the job yourself, it’s essential to keep in mind that hiring a professional includes valuable benefits. Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for each task, and can accomplish the work rapidly and professionally. All things considered, it might be best to hire someone to handle all of the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.
To avoid the trouble of finding a maintenance team, contact the North Hollywood property management professionals at Real Property Management Vision and don’t hesitate to ask about our services.
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