Home. It’s a place of respite at the end of a long day; a place to put your feet up; a place you fill with love and family; a safe, warm, comforting place. Or it should be, but the reality is, sometimes home isn’t so safe. Accidents happen. Mold creeps in.

And tenants call for maintenance.

Listen, we’ve got good news.

When you made the decision to rent out your grandmother’s house in Fairfax, you signed on to answer the call. (Okay, you got me. That’s not the good news.) The good news is, with a lot of preparation, and a little help from the northern Virginia property management pros, you can keep your rental in tip-top shape. Perform a few basic safety and maintenance procedures before every tenant moves in and after he leaves, as well as periodically throughout your lease term.

General Interior Safety & Maintenance

Check all doors — exterior and interior — to ensure they fit snugly in the frame. (Remember Goldilocks, and her bowls of porridge? Doors should be neither too loose nor too stubborn.)
Turn on every light switch, and turn it back off again. Do they work properly?
Check all wall outlets. If you find any that are black, scorched, or that dangle from the wall, replace them immediately. Faulty wires cause fires.
Was Grandmother’s home built before 1978? If so, it will be in your best interest, and that of your tenant’s to have the paint tested for lead.
Pay attention to the floor. Soft spots could indicate rot, while floors that slope at an angle might mean structural damage or foundation problems. Repair or replace damaged flooring immediately.

Kitchen Safety & Maintenance

Check all kitchen cabinets for damage, and inspect plumbing directly under the sink for leaks, water spots, or worse, mold.
Is the cold water cold? Is the hot water hot? Ensure that all knobs are labeled properly, and that the sink drains as it should.
Same goes for the stove. Do all knobs work properly?
And the refrigerator/freezing unit. Do the lights work? How does it smell? Is the temperature setting appropriate, and accurate?
Test all other supplied appliances: Garbage disposal, dishwasher, etc.

Bathroom Safety & Maintenance

Turn on the exhaust fan. Does it work?
Inspect the cabinet underneath the sink. A musty smell or water spots could indicate a leak, and when the weather outside is frightful… Leaky pipes burst. (That’s how the song goes, right?)
Check the water supply and pressure. Turn on the faucet and the shower, and flush the toilet. Does the water flow properly? Does the toilet drain and refill as it should?
Ensure that shower walls, counter tops and all other surfaces are structurally sound, and free from cracks, chips and other damage.

Keep a repair and maintenance log.

As you walk through your rental home to perform your inspection, note any repairs or replacements made. Doing so will prove you are a conscientious landlord, and one who can say to the next tenant who asks, “Why yes, I just replaced the bathroom tile last year.”

One last tip: Bring in a certified electrician to inspect your electrical system and wiring, at minimum, every five years. When you make preventive maintenance a priority, you can catch, and fix small problems before they turn into big ones.

A Rental Safety & Maintenance Checklist for Landlords in Fairfax, Virginia — And Beyond!