Maintaining multiple real estate properties brings with it a long list of tasks and chores. While many day-to-day items likely come to mind, such as changing light bulbs, vacuuming and switching air filters, something equally important but not as quickly thought of is protecting the property from environmental damage. Mother nature can wreak havoc on homes and buildings that are not properly prepared to handle such forces. Read on to learn more about environmental risks and what you can do to protect your properties.

Lightning Storms

Regardless of your location, chances are lightning storms occur from time to time, if not on a regular basis. While they may be fun to watch, lighting can be dangerous to your property. Electrical storms can cause power outages, damage to power lines and henceforth break anything electrical you have in the home. A basic home has numerous electrical fixtures that can suffer, such as televisions, computers and kitchen appliances. If the home has upgrades, such as a satellite dish, the risk of damage increases. Therefore, it is important you ensure the property is protected should a lighting storm strike.

A great way to do this is via a home surge protector. Surge protectors safeguard the electrical components in your home by decreasing high-level surges brought on by electrical storms. Additionally, it will protect any items that cannot be hooked to plug strips, such as an HVAC unit, by restraining surges going to the unit. If electrical storms are common in your property’s location, or you want to be on the safe side should one occur, consider investing in this excellent protection plan.

Fire

Fire is another dangerous element of the environment. Whether you are in a high or low risk area, it is still important to take steps to protect your property. Pay special attention to the back and front yard of the property. Especially during dry season, all it takes is one spark to accidentally start a fire. Keep the grass watered and the landscape free from dead, dry leaves and bushes.

Rainstorms

Rainstorms can easily flood your property, leaving you with costly repairs unless the property is properly protected. Before rain season occurs, do an assessment of the outside of the home for any areas at risk. The roof is a key fixture for potential leaks. Especially if the home is older, there is a good chance it may leak. Missing tiles, cracks and holes can all lead to water seeping into the house, damaging the structure and insulation. If you are confident in your abilities, evaluate the roof for any broken parts. Otherwise, it may be more efficient to hire a professional to ensure nothing gets missed.

Another area to pay attention to is the gutters, which you can typically address yourself. Gutters can easily get clogged with leaves and debris. When the rain comes, if gutters are not cleaned regularly, they will back up and the water will leak inside the home. Other areas to examine include window seals, door seals and structure cracks. Any division in these locations can let rain into the home, so make sure you are examining and correcting any broken fixtures.

Insects and Rodents

Most every building or home faces a risk of insects and rodents invading the territory. The last thing you want is a tenant calling you just after signing a lease to report a rat problem in the garage. Depending on the location, spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, mice, termites and snakes can all take residence in your property if given the opportunity. Have the home checked by an exterminator before anyone moves in. Some properties will need to be sprayed on a regular basis to prevent the little critters from making their way back in.

There are numerous environmental threats facing your real estate properties. By taking proactive steps, you can ensure the homes are in the best condition when such threats occur. Take time to evaluate and incorporate the above recommendations into your property maintenance.