How To Deal With Water Damage In Your Colorado Springs Rental Property PART 1

Fresh Water

Brought to you by Muldoon Associates, Inc. Exceptional Property Management

This first part is going to cover the lesser of two evils in the water damage world, fresh water.  Some of you may be under the impression that fresh water events are no big deal.  The carpet got a little wet, you can shop vac it dry, and everything is good to go!  Unfortunately this is not the case and you are going to want to make sure this type of work is done right or you could be opening yourself up to lawsuits or health hazards.

Water extraction is a complex business now.  There is specialized equipment, chemicals and training required to properly extract and dry affected areas.  If your affected areas are not properly dried you could be creating the perfect atmosphere for mold growth which will cost much more than just doing it right the first time.  Fortunately, fresh water sources if tended to quickly are less of a health concern than contaminated water.  If drywall is not "too" wet it can be dried, carpets can be peeled back and padding replaced, and there will not be a need for as much removal of materials.

Fresh water can turn into contaminated water if it's not cleaned up quickly enough.  Every minute the water is left in the home it collects more debris, germs, dust and dirt.  It also wicks and soaks more and more areas in your home.  This is why it's so important to act quickly.  As the water gets more contaminated the cost of mitigation goes up.   Most water damage situations will involve humidity readings, specialized drying equipment and time.  The wetter an affected area is the longer it's going to take to dry.  This all seems common sense but you would be surprised how many folks I talk to are under educated when it comes to this type of damage and they are shocked with they get bills that often times range in the thousands.  I suggest contacting your insurance company and checking what kind of water damage coverage you have.  If you don't have proper coverage for fresh or contaminated water damage I suggest purchasing it or finding a company who offers what you need.

That finishes up our post on fresh water mitigation!  Check back soon for the second and final part of this series which we will cover contaminated water mitigation!

Daniel Muldoon

Things To Do To Your Colorado Springs Rental Property Before Fall

Things are going great!  You have read my previous blogs on properly vetting tenants and keeping your rental property occupied and you have had months of smooth sailing!  Remember you still need to stay ahead of repairs and upkeep on your property.  As we come into fall it's a good thing to have a list of items that you will check and repair before fall hits.

Summer in Southern Colorado involves hot days and 60-70 degree nights.  There is little to no risk of freezing so hoses are easily forgotten and left attached to spigots, or sprinklers are set on auto-pilot with no fear of breaks.  As we come into the fall season the days will stay warm but the nights will begin to cool.  You will need to start the furnace soon and turn off the A/C.  Here is a list of things you should do to your rental property as we transition into fall.  Some of these items are tenant responsibility but use this as an opportunity to walk your tenant through the processes or provide them with preferred vendors to take care of it if they cannot.

1. Have the furnace serviced and cleaned
2. Keep an eye on your gutters as the leaves and sticks begin to fall
3. Get into the habit of spooling up your hose and removing it from the spigot
4. Fertilize and aerate your yard
5. Check all weather stripping and caulking around doors, windows, vents, etc
6. Winterize your evaporative cooler
7. Turn off your sprinklers are nights that are below freezing
8. Make sure you have secondary heating options in case there is a problem with the central heat
9. Mow your yard at higher depth to help protect the grass from the coming cold season
10. Remove all dead and overgrown vegetation

If you have completed this checklist you are well prepared for fall in Southern Colorado.  I'll be back shortly with a list of items to prepare for winter!

Daniel Muldoon
Muldoon Associates, Inc.