If you are a rental property investor with a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you handle many of your property maintenance tasks yourself. While quite a few 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 even result in the problem getting 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 when to call the professionals.
There are many reasons why property owners choose to do their own property maintenance and repairs. Sometimes you are trying to save money by addressing simple problems. Sometimes you feel better knowing you did the work yourself. And sometimes, you might simply enjoy it. However, 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.
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 think you’ve safely shut off the power, but if done incorrectly, even small mistakes can lead to significant issues. If you aren’t entirely sure about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, or even cause a fire. Even seemingly minor mistakes can result in accidentally injuring yourself through electric shock, or worse, starting an electrical fire.
Either way, instead of saving yourself some money, you’ve now created 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. Licensed electricians can ensure that everything is done correctly and safely, giving you peace of mind that your rental property is free from electrical hazards.
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 it is that 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, 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 Freedom for professional services in Westley Chapel and nearby. Contact us online or call 813-867-2667 for more information.
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