Tips For Springtime - From The Experts at Hara Management, Inc.
For over forty years, Hara Management, Inc. has been helping HOA/Condo Association's and rental property owners to effectively manage their properties. HMI works with a wide variety of clients throughout Central Florida, and their management team is adept at overseeing a full range of services ... you name it, and they can help with it!
Winter has passed, which means that it's time for “Spring Cleaning,” and all the seasonal property upkeep that goes along with it. How should one begin the process of assessing what projects need to be taken care of in the coming months?
INTERIOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE
First of all, it's usually a good idea to start with your A/C units. A year’s worth of dirt and debris clogging the cooling fins, a low coolant level, a dirty blower fan filter and a number of other simple problems can significantly reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner and wear it out faster.
You can’t do everything; only a pro can check the coolant level. But most novices can easily handle the bulk of the routine cleaning chores and save the extra $120 that it would cost to have a pro do them.
Another area that requires regular attention are the A/C unit’s air ducts. It is easy to overlook how dusty, dirty and contaminated your air ducts can get. It’s important to the health of your family and the health of your air conditioning unit, however, that you ensure the air ducts are properly cleaned on a regular basis.
Within an air conditioning unit’s air ducts, you can get a combination of mold, mildew, and fungus growth – and this is especially true with our generally mild and semi-humid winters in Florida.
The most important reason for scheduling air duct cleaning regularly is to improve the indoor air quality of your home.
When your air ducts are clogged – with everything from dust mites and pollen to dander and even mold – you are at increased risk of eye and skin irritation, as well as allergies, headaches, nausea, difficulty breathing, coughing, and asthma attacks.
EXTERIOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE
Once you’ve addressed indoor air quality, move on to building maintenance. Inspect the property for any leaks roof, windows, and wall penetrations like pipes, electrical wires and cable television). Examine exterior siding, stucco, or other treatment for cracks that may lead to water intrusion. Address any cracks or leaks with proper area preparation, repair, resealing and painting.
You should examine roof shingles to see if any are damaged or missing - it's best to tackle any necessary repairs or replacements right away.
EXTERIOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
It’s likely that your sprinkler systems were maintained during the dry winter season ... if not, Spring is the time to make sure all your heads are working properly.
Next, take care of your green space. Removing winter-kill from the landscape, such as getting rid of old annuals and pruning dead branches, promotes clean growing conditions and reduces the opportunity for fungus and disease to become established.
Spring is also a good time to improve the soil in your garden beds and tree pits prior to planting. For most annuals and perennials, turning the top foot of soil is adequate although some perennials prefer deeper, reworked soils.
Early spring is the time community associations should evaluate the mulch levels in planters, tree pits, and gardens, supplementing if the level has become too low. Also, check wooden trellises and planters for decaying wood to make sure they are sound and have adequate drainage. Keeping the plant beds clean and free of plant debris is an important practice that helps reduce the need for frequent spraying.
Since spring rains can cause water pooling, its wise to inspect for items like abandoned buckets, tires, or other debris; pooling water attracts insects, so the less room there is for them to breed, the better.
ROAD AND SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE
Spring is also a good time to evaluate your roadway maintenance needs. Please click here to read our article, "Pavement Options - Rejuvenation, Resurfacing and Reconstruction".
Concrete and asphalt slabs, sidewalks, and walls should also be inspected for cracks during the spring, and if any are found, they should be filled with silicone caulk or concrete crack filler. Then, they should be power-washed and sealed.
The list can go on and on depending on the size and amenities of your home or community. The bottom line...prevent maintenance failures and high repair costs through preventive maintenance and repairs. Take care of maintenance issues while their small, and youll mitigate your risk for a larger loss down the road.
Hara Management, Inc. in Winter Park, FL can help with all these tasks and more, as they’ve been assisting property owners throughout Central Florida since 1972. For more information about Association Management or Rental / Apartment Management, give their team a call at (407) 628-1086 today.
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