Preventing Property DAMAGE

BY MICHELLE GAMBLE

As of this writing, California experienced its highest rainfall in years that caused massive flooding. Back-to-back storms rolled through the Bay Area that in some cases turned streets into rivers and flooded homes and businesses. Natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, fire, hurricanes, wind and hail, can cause costly property damage. However, property owners don’t have to take a wait-and-see approach to property damage, but rather become proactive. Getting out ahead of potential damage in the long run not only reduces damage, it preserves the property and more importantly safeguards renters.

“By keeping our eyes on our properties regularly, we are aware of maintenance items before they become an expensive problem,” said Robert Taylor, who is known as The Real Estate Solutions Guy. “The most frequent causes of property damage come from a lack of maintenance,” added Lauren Schade, digital marketing specialist at Real FiG Advertising + Marketing.

“Without regular upkeep, small issues can start or go unnoticed, growing into major repairs,” continued Schade. “Property owners should regularly inspect their roofs and exterior as best they can from the ground and clear away debris. Checking up on your property is a must, especially after a storm, and most local contractors offer free inspections to help. Storm damage is unavoidable, but staying proactive about maintenance is the biggest way to stay ahead of issues, since most damage from renters comes from ignoring the property and warning signs.”

“It is important to keep accurate records of all inspections and repairs. Also, have a regular schedule of preventive maintenance,” said Cassie Alongi, real estate broker, CEO and founder of We Buy Any House in California. “This will help you stay on top of potential issues and address them before they cause major damage.”

Start With The Landscaping

Start with the outside and what can be done to prevent certain problems before it impacts the property. Begin with an evaluation of the landscape and structures (e.g., awnings and fencing). Inspecting and assessing these areas for weaknesses and potential hazards not only safeguards renters, but also prevents potential, costly damages that can run into the thousands of dollars to repair. The cost to prevent damage before it happens is much less expensive than having to repair or even replace things like roof or structure destruction by things like trees falling over.

“We personally clean our rental properties’ gutters each year,” said Taylor. “This gives us just one more opportunity to look for repairs on the exterior of the home and see our renters face to face. One of the biggest natural causes of damage to rental properties comes from the weather, specifically the sun and rain. Most materials break down after prolonged periods of being exposed to the sun and rain. By keeping our eyes on our properties regularly, we are aware of maintenance items before they become an expensive problem.”

Send a landscape expert to properties to examine things like trees, overgrowth, dead plants and bushes, clogged drainage or gutters, and any unsound decorative items that can be blown over. Old growth or mature trees need to be monitored. The recent storm that passed through the Bay Area brought down many trees due to the high winds and rain. Fallen trees can damage parked cars and smash through roofs and interiors. In some cases, loss of life can be blamed on trees crashing into the structure.

Signs a tree is about to go down include: trees starting to lean one direction or the other, multiple tree trunks that don’t give the tree solid grounding, large hollows in the tree, branches just dropping for no apparent reason, mushrooms growing underneath it, and other nearby trees recently fallen. You don’t need to hire an arborist to visually inspect for these things. Upon inspection, you are better off to have the tree safely removed than wait and see if it falls. It costs much less to cut down a tree then to repair a destroyed roof or damaged structure.

Water Damage Tops The List

Water damage causes untold costs, especially when it involves roof leaks that seep into the ceiling, which creates water stains, promotes mold growth (toxic mold can cause problems for renters), and damages the structure. Water also promotes dry rot on the structure, which can be extremely expensive to repair, as it can eat into entire walls.

“Properties are damaged mainly through calamities or disasters,” said Samantha Odo, Licenced Real Estate Expert at Precondo. “There’s wind-related causes and then there’s water damages. If your property is not waterproofed, then there are possibilities that there will be leakage inside your property. Like from the ceilings, walls and even floors. When there is leakage in the walls, the walls tend to crack and it ruins the paint and plasters. Sometimes, the walls also come in contact with fungus. You will see a grey or blackish film on your wall. That’s not dust but fungus. And it is bad for your health as well.”

“Leaks and flooding are by far the most frequent causes of property damage,” explained Joe Tolzmann, CEO of Rocketplan. “It’s often said that ‘water is a home’s biggest enemy,’ and for good reason. Even the smallest leak can cause significant damage, since it can go unnoticed. If it’s leaking behind a wall, it can lead to black mold, rotting studs, and can weaken a home’s support structure. When a home experiences a flood, either through a burst pipe or mother nature, damage can be extensive – depending on how long the flood waters remain.”

You can take preventative measures to safeguard your property. “To reduce the risk of water damage, property owners should inspect their home for any signs of water leaks or weak spots in their roof and make necessary repairs as soon as possible,” said Alex Capozzolo, co-founder SD House Guys.

Tolzman added, “During the cold season, prevent pipes from freezing by disconnecting hoses and drain pipes that lead to the outside. Turn off the supply to any outdoor faucets. If you’re going away, shut off the water to the entire home. Keeps drains and gutters clear to prevent damming. And inspect your appliances regularly to make sure water supply lines are in good condition.”

“The easiest way to prevent water damage is to keep an eye out and make sure water is draining properly,” said Mason Edwards, owner of Edwards Gutter Cleaning. “Whether this is from your roof or through French drains or even coming down the street. If water is not draining in the proper location and building up in areas that it should not, bigger issues can and will arise.”

Preventing Renter Damage

When it comes to the property’s interior, renters can either intentionally or unwittingly do the most harm. “Renters are typically responsible for any property damage that is caused by their own negligence or misuse of the property,” said Capozzolo. “This includes damage caused by not following safety protocols, such as smoking indoors. Natural forces, such as floods or storms, can cause extensive damage to a property regardless of who is living there. It is important for renters and property owners alike to ensure that they are adequately insured in the event of a natural disaster. Additionally, renters should take preventive measures to help protect their possessions, such as installing smoke detectors or purchasing flood insurance.”

“One major concern for property owners while renting out their property is whether their property is in safe hands,” said Yarl Christie, managing director and founder at Stories Flooring. “There are several steps property owners can take to prevent damage to their properties, one of them is to screen renters thoroughly before renting to them. This includes checking their credit, income and rental history. By including a detailed inventory in the agreement too, property owners can reduce the risk of damage to their rental properties and protect their investments.”

Damage mitigation needs to start during the leasing process. “Property owners can cooperate with renters to safeguard their rental properties by explicitly defining their obligations in the lease agreement, performing routine property inspections, and requiring renters to have renter’s insurance,” said Carl Fanaro, owner of Nolabuyshouses.com. “A stringent protocol for handling any damages brought on by renters can also help ensure that the property is safeguarded.”

Clear identification of who is responsible for what and clearly drawn expectations can be described in the lease agreement. “Creating a lease agreement is key to keeping your rental in good shape,” said David Bitton, co-founder and CMO at DoorLoop. “Make clear rules and clauses to keep property damage to a minimum. For instance, you can make specific guidelines for reporting property problems so that you or your property manager can fix them immediately. You can also impose restrictions on potentially harmful activities, such as smoking or candle lighting. You can specify expectations regarding the property’s cleanliness as well. A clearly laid-out agreement will guarantee that you and your renters are on the same page regarding the unit’s maintenance.”

“The final cause of property damage is daily wear and tear,” said Laura Gunn, a real estate expert at USAInsuranceAgents. com. “Some damage is expected, but you can mitigate bigger issues by talking to renters about a few things. First, encourage renters to use moving blankets during move-in and moveout procedures. If the property has hardwood or laminate floors, consider asking renters to use rugs or furniture pads to help minimize scratching and scuffing.”

However, Bitton emphasized, “Property damage should not be confused with wear and tear. Faded paint, minor scratches and holes can result from typical wear and tear. On the other hand, damage can involve major issues such as broken doors, huge holes in the wall, and burn stains on the floor, to name a few. When the problem requires significant repair work, it’s already categorized as damage.

• Large holes in walls are often caused by renters carelessly drilling or hammering through drywall. Installation of certain hardware can also leave significant holes once it’s removed from the wall.

• Flooring and carpets may get burned, ripped, or badly stained due to accidents or renters’ carelessness.

• Although common for floors, major stains, burns, and scratches can also be a serious problem in other areas or items, such as countertops and window treatments.

• Cigarette smoke can also cause damage and stains to curtains, drapes, walls, and ceilings.

• Damage can also be caused by natural occurrences: floods, hail, wind, and fire.”

Not all property damage is preventable. Acts of nature and unexpected disasters can wreak havoc no matter how much preliminary maintenance property owners perform or even renters being vigilant. This reality makes it all the more important to ensure both owners and renters have proper insurance, which is ideally the most one can do to be covered in case of an emergency.

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