On the off chance that you are a Richmond rental property investor who also has a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you handle many of your property maintenance tasks on your own. Even though quite a few property maintenance and repairs are okay for the do-it-yourself landlord, there are a few that carry higher risks. When dealing with 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 ought to learn how to steer clear of the many hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.
There are plenty of reasons why property owners opt to do their property maintenance and repairs on their own. From time to time, you are aiming to save money by solving simple problems. There may be times where you feel more at ease when you know you did the work yourself. And sometimes, you might simply love doing 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 dealing with 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 certain injuries for as long as you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.
Nevertheless, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Even when you feel like you’ve shut off the power, you could be wrong. And if you aren’t entirely confident about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, and more. Even small mistakes can result in you electrocuting yourself or cause an electrical fire. Either way, instead of saving yourself some money, you’ve now got yourself new, more expensive problems – and can possibly put your tenants in harm’s way as well. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
The same thing is true for plumbing repairs. Simple fixes like changing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Particularly if it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes shouldn’t take a lot of time or expertise.
Though, 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 need to address urgent plumbing repairs in the most professional, most efficient way possible. And most of the time, that means finding a plumber who can provide high-quality service.
Even if you aren’t facing a crucial situation, sometimes calling an electrician or plumber is still the best choice. Although it will cost you more than if you did the work yourself, it’s important to bear in mind 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. 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 hassle of finding a maintenance team, contact the Richmond property management professionals at Real Property Management Richmond Metro and ask about our services.
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