By Kate Pattison, Managing Director of Property Management
As a longtime Boston resident, I know that February and March can often bring the worst of the winter weather. My experience has shown me there is no harm in being over-prepared for the winter months.
Each year, the Property Management team at Senné spends much of the fall and early winter getting our properties ready for a potentially rough winter. As Managing Director of Property Management, I’ve learned a lot about winter damage and how to prevent it. I’ll share some of the ways our team preps our properties for the winter and how you can take these tips and apply them to your home.
- Reserve your snow cleaning contractors early. In an event of a storm, you want your property to be first in line for cleaning. Having contracts set up in advance will ensure you aren’t scrambling to find an available plow.
- Keep your pipes warm. Keep facents on a slow drip and open your cabinets on nights when the outside temperature dips below 32 degrees. If you're worried about pipes in an unheated basement, wrap them in insulation.
- Clean your gutters. Make sure there aren't any dead leaves or other buildups that might cause water to back up and freeze.
- Use weatherstripping or caulk to seal drafty windows and doors. This will help keep your home warmer without having to turn up the thermostat.
- In the event of a snowstorm, check your roof, either with a professional or from a stable ladder. Flat roofs are especially prone to collapse if the snowfall is too heavy. Invest in a snow rake made for roofs for easy cleaning the next day after a storm.
- Consider a generator if you don't already have one. When the power goes out, there's no telling when it will come back on. Be prepared to be without power for at least 24 hours.
- Devote some time to fire prevention. Home fires most commonly occur anytime from December through February because we often fill our homes with potential hazards like Christmas trees, candles, and space heaters. Check that all your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are in working order and conduct a safety inspection for your furnace.
If these tasks seem like something you rather leave up to maintenance professionals, reach out to learn more about our property management services. The Senné team can get your property ready for any challenge winter brings.
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