Spring Property Maintenance Tips

Good news! Spring is fast approaching, meaning that the cold nights and dreary mornings of winter are just about over. This also means that it’s time to conduct a whole range of property maintenance activities to prepare facilities and grounds ahead of the warmer months.

If you’re a property manager in charge of a large setting, such as a school, strata complex, or retirement village, now is an excellent time to think about hiring out the services of a professional property maintenance team.

Such a team will be able to identify exactly what needs to be done to improve the overall look and feel of your facility while also improving safety for residents and tenants. Wondering what kind of work a property maintenance worker is likely to carry out? Read on to find out!

Gutter cleaning

Spring marks the perfect time to organise for your gutters to be cleaned, particularly if your property is located in an area that has experienced significant rainfall over winter. Clogged gutters can be quite dangerous and increase the risk of flooding and water damage occurring to a building.

Gutters that are full of branches, dirt, and debris also represent a significant fire hazard come bushfire season.

Gutter cleaning is not an easy process (in fact, it can be quite dangerous), which is why it’s a great idea to get a professional maintenance team to do the job for you.

Check for water damage

Even the most well protected properties can begin to show signs of water damage, particularly after a long and wet winter.

Signs and symptoms of water damage typically include:

• Dark spots in the ceiling
• Cracking, bubbling, and flaking of paint
• Damp, musty, and mouldy smell
• Uneven flooring
• Sagging door and window frames

Water damage is not the end of the world but it’s certainly a good idea to get on top of the issue quickly. A professional property maintenance team can determine the root cause of the issue and enact a range of measures to repair damage and prevent it from happening again.

Pruning overhanging branches

Wet and stormy winter conditions can make standard property maintenance tasks difficult. Oftentimes, the end of winter is accompanied by the realisation that your bushes, shrubs, and trees could do with a significant trim.

Hiring out a maintenance team to prune overhanging branches is very important from a safety perspective, particularly if you manage a school or retirement village. The last thing you want is for anyone to be hurt from a falling tree or branch.

Repairing cracked sidewalks

Cracked sidewalks can also pose a significant safety risk. Dirt and leaves can get trapped and moss begin to sprout up between cracked concrete pavers. As soon as it gets a little bit damp, these pavers become very slippery.

A maintenance team might decade to clog these cracks or replace the paver entirely; either way, it’s definitely a job that you want to leave to the professionals.

Check irrigation systems

For facilities that have particularly large grounds — schools that include a number of sports ovals, for example — spring is the perfect time to check your irrigation systems.

As we head into the warmer months, these systems will become invaluable in making sure that your grounds are kept healthy and thriving. If you don’t have an irrigation system installed, or are thinking about the ways that you could conserve water on your property, spring is also an excellent time to contact a professional maintenance team and ask for their assistance in this area.

Given that Australia often experiences particularly hot, dry summers, water conservation should always be one of your top priorities.

Fertilize!

Your garden beds might be looking a little bedraggled after a long, wet winter. Perhaps it’s time for a spot of landscape gardening?

If you are managing a strata residence or a commercial building, having neat and tidy grounds is very important. The state of your garden beds and lawns is often the first thing that potential residents and tenants look for.

A professional maintenance team can spark new life into your plants and shrubbery. Hiring a local maintenance team with knowledge of native flora is an excellent idea, particularly if you live in an area that is prone to drought.

Property maintenance needn’t cause undue stress. Hiring a professional maintenance team means that you won’t have to lift a finger when it comes time to prepare your facilities for the spring and summer months ahead. The warm weather means your tenants and residents will be looking to make the most of outdoor spaces — make them as safe, welcoming and inviting as possible!

Programmed provides complete maintenance solutions to businesses across Australia and New Zealand. With a workforce of over 2,000 skilled staff, we have the expertise to meet your every property maintenance requirement.