For rental property investors, having a set of handyman skills can be a significant asset when managing your own property maintenance tasks. However, it’s essential to recognize the limits of your expertise, especially when it comes to electrical and plumbing work. While saving money by doing the work yourself might seem appealing, accidentally injuring yourself or causing further issues is a real risk. Even do-it-yourself rental property owners should understand the dangers of electrical repairs and when it’s necessary to call 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.
Still, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. You might be wrong even if you think you’ve shut off the power. And if you aren’t entirely sure 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, instead of saving yourself some money, you’ve now created new, more expensive problems—and possibly endangered your tenants as well. These are all 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 is true for 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 too 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, a backed-up drain, or a malfunctioning garbage disposal, this is not the time to try and 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 in the most professional, most efficient way possible. 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 Vision for professional services in North Hollywood and nearby. Contact us online or call 818-233-8789 for more information.
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