If you are a West Point rental property investor who also happens to possess a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you deal with a lot of your property maintenance responsibilities yourself. While quite a few property maintenance and repairs are not dangerous for the do-it-yourself landlord, some of them carry higher risks. In terms of electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or even result in the problem getting worse. That’s why even do-it-yourself rental property owners should explore ideas about how to prevent the various hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.
There are many explanations for why property owners prefer to do their property maintenance and repairs themselves. On occasion, you want to save money by fixing slight issues. You also feel good knowing that you did the job yourself. And sometimes, you might want to just enjoy the pleasure of accomplishing the job. 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 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. Accidents can be avoided if you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
Even any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Also, if you think you’ve shut down the power, you might be mistaken. So if you are not wholly convinced about your wiring job, you might 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 a few bucks, you have now created new, more expensive, and complicated issues – and your tenants might be put at risk as well. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
The same considerations are true for plumbing repairs. Simple fixes like putting a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Specifically, if it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes will not require too much time or expertise.
However, the more serious the circumstances, the more likely you will be better off calling a professional. When your tenant calls you because of 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 should address urgent plumbing repairs in the most proficient, most reliable method possible. And most of the time, that means calling a plumber who can provide high-quality service.
Whether or not you are addressing a delicate problem, sometimes hiring an electrician or plumber is always the best solution. Granted it will cost you more than just doing the task yourself, it’s significant to bear in mind that hiring a professional comes with valuable benefits. Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have always had the proper tools and equipment for each kind of job, and can accomplish 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 avoid the challenge of finding a maintenance team, contact the West Point property management professionals at Real Property Management Northern Utah and inquire about our services.
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