As the leaves change color and fall off the trees and the temperatures get a little cooler it is a good time to remind your property managers, apartment owners and community associations to start preparing their grounds and amenities for the winter season.  If they take the right precautions to protect their property it should make it through the winter in good shape.  A value added reminder to your clients can help make sure that the necessary winterizing steps are taken with a community’s assets therefore increasing the lifespan of the grounds and amenities. This will also help reduce the cost for all of the members of the community for repairing or even replacing any equipment such as pools, tennis courts, and lawn care tools from wear and tear caused by the rough winter conditions.

Here are a few things for Property Managers and Community Associations to check before the winter season hits:

• Property managers and maintenance staff should do a thorough walk through of all of the grounds, making sure to check all building components – roofs, windows, gutters, trim, decks, garages, elevators, siding, HVAC units, etc.
• Be sure to also check all landscaping and equipment as well such as controllers, timers, sprinkler systems, sidewalks, fencing, outdoor lighting; as well as recreational equipment like pools, playgrounds, tennis courts and exercise rooms.
• Sprinklers should be turned off.  Be sure to wrap any exposed water pipes with plumbing tape.  Shut down and drain the water from any spigots.
• Try adding weather-stripping around windows or repair any poorly-closing doors to reduce wind gusts and to maximize heating efficiency.
• Review the maintenance plan for keeping all parking lots, sidewalks and stairs free from ice and snow. Make sure that a snow removal log is prepared and that staff is instructed on how to maintain it.  Logs are an important defense against slips and falls.
• Notify all tenants to keep their heat on and not to let the unit drop below 40 degrees if they are going to be away from their unit.
• Follow a proper maintenance schedule for the property’s heating and cooling system.  Be sure to change the air filters and clean the cooling system’s coils regularly, this can help save money on heating bills.
• Gutters are a collection point for leaves in many climes.  Clean gutters reduce the chance of ice damming and water damage.  One cleaning may not be enough.
• A thorough cleaning of landscaping equipment removing dirt and moisture will greatly reduce rust and wear extending the life expectancy of the equipment.
• Prepare snow removal equipment.
• Have a list of your vendors ready in case damage does occur.
• Seasonal changes are a great time to replace hoses on washing machines which are  a frequent cause of water damage.
• Seasonal changes are another opportunity to remind tenants to change the batteries on their smoke alarms.
• Remind tenants and residents of the safety precautions that need to be taken when using space heaters.

Time is of the essence when winterizing any property.  The first storm of the season always seems to be a surprise, but there are measures your clients can take to help minimize the threats.  Reminding your building owners and community associations to be pro-active when preparing for the winter can save them a lot of hassle and can save money!

To download a printable .pdf version of this checklist to send to your clients to ensure they don’t miss any important winterizing steps, visit our Document Downloads page!

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