Maintenance in a Condo, Apartment, or Home: What’s a Renter or Owner to Do?

Curious about condo maintenance service? Perhaps you need to learn how to upkeep your apartment or family sized home? There are various ways to care for different kinds of homes, so if you’re interested in learning how to keep each of these locations in tip-top shape, continue reading.

Maintenance in a Condo

Living in a condo is the perfect blend of apartment living and purchasing a home. You’re granted several liberties — such as more space and privacy — without having to subject yourself to the responsibilities the standard homeowner must face. However, this isn’t to say that there’s no maintenance required when living in a condo. If you’re considering packing up and moving into a condo of your own, read on. Here’s what you need to know about condo maintenance services and keeping your new place in excellent condition.

Why Buy a Condo?

You’ll soon come to learn that owning a condo doesn’t require excessive maintenance. They’re perfect for couples or bachelors, but be wary of purchasing one if you’re thinking about starting a family. You can outgrow it within a matter of a few years. However, there are certain condo maintenance services you must be aware of.

The Benefits of Owning Your Condo

But don’t be fooled. Owning your own condo isn’t all work and no play. There are plenty of benefits associated with this unique living arrangement, despite the condo maintenance services that should come to mind.

For starter’s, condos are typically more affordable. Don’t let the thought of owning your own home remain an elusive mystery. Purchasing a condo is an alternative way to reach the same goal.

Another benefit of condo living is that the insurance is also cheaper, compared to a house in the suburbs.

You’ll also have more amenities, as condos tend to be closer to high traffic areas in town. You’ll be right next door to your favorite bars and restaurants, so you’ll never be bored once the weekend rolls around the corner.

Now, What’s My End of the Bargain?

Now that you’re aware of some of the great benefits that condos posses, it’s time to learn more about your end of the bargain and hear more about condo maintenance services that will affect you. How can you be a responsible owner, and ensure you keep your condo owner association happy?

The Outdoors

Good news, you have free reign of the exterior area of your condo when conducting condo maintenance services. If you’re unsure whether or not you can handle landscaping your own place, fear not. You won’t have a lot of surface area to cover since condos are smaller than most homes on the marketplace.

Check with your Condo Association and make sure there aren’t any strict rules regarding gardening and landscaping. If you don’t find anything, you’re free to design your space in any way your creativity speaks to you. If you’re having trouble narrowing down what you wish to plant, hire a landscaping service to do most of the work.

However, here are some projects you can do yourself if you consider yourself to have a green thumb!

Dwarf Trees

If you want a nice shaded area in your yard, without worrying about it bumping into your neighbor’s yard, consider a dwarf tree. These are perfect for condos.

Best of all, they can grow fruit! Isn’t that a nice thought — you won’t have to drive all the way to the countryside to pick some fresh apples or pears. You can grow them right in our front or backyard, in the middle of the city!

Avoid Fines and Stay up to Date With Your Inspections

Aside from these condo maintenance services tips, make sure to stay up to date with the yearly inspections associated with your unit.

Heating and Cooling

So, who’s in charge of heating repairs and air conditioning in a condo? How can you do your part when thinking about all the condo maintenance services that go into owning one? It honestly depends.

If a central HVAC system is shared among units at your complex, this becomes the HOA’s responsibility if it breaks down or has issues. However, if you’re living in a single unit with no shared system, then it’s all up to you. Yes, both maintenance and repairs.

But don’t let this fact overwhelm you. Whether the condo is your forever home, or you wish to upgrade to a full-scaled home in the suburbs down the line, learning how to handle HVAC maintenance is a rite of passage.

Use some of these condo maintenance services tips when dealing with heating and cooling.

Hire a professional is you’re on your own. However, if it’s s shared system, call your landlord if a problem arises.

Day to Day Cleaning

This condo maintenance services tip is quite self-explanatory — but for anyone moving from a small studio to a condo, they’ll soon realize that they have more surface area to clean.

If you need help implementing good cleaning habits, use these tips so that your condo is nice and sparkly.

Keep The Balcony Spotless and Dust the Floors Everyday

Don’t neglect your balcony if you want your entire condo to impress and keep up with the condo maintenance services throughout the home.

Dust it off every now and then, to get rid of any dust bunnies lurking on the deck.

Maintenance in an Apartment

Apartments have several perks, as you won’t have to do much maintenance yourself.

Since this is a shared living space, you won’t have to worry about things like lawn care, plumbing services, or HVAC maintenance. If problems arise, call your landlord.

Tips for Keeping Your Apartment Clean

However, no one is going to clean your apartment for you!

Make a habit of cleaning every day or once every two days. Since apartments can get so small, your junk can pile up easily, so make a checklist of cleaning duties every single day, and make sure to check everything off the list.

Sweep the Floors Daily

Vacuum and sweep the floors daily. If you have pets, you may want to sweep twice multiple times a day.

This can also help you with any allergies, as you’ll be getting rid of pet dander and dust in your apartment.

If You Have a Roommate, Divide the Chores

One of the best parts about having a roommate is that it allows you to split up the maintenance duties. Take advantage of this.

Keep the Sink Clean

Every apartment dweller must clean their sink daily.

Why is this so important?

Leftover food can cause mold, but it can also bring in pests.

Add More Storage Space

Lastly, another way you can maintain a clean apartment is to create additional storage. If your landlord allows you to install more shelving, go ahead and nail some additional shelves to store your glassware and plates.

Call Your Landlord if You Experience Issues You Can’t Solve on Your Own

Most apartment complexes will have a number you can call or a website you can visit if you have to place a complaint or request. Take action if:

• Your water pressure is low
• If your hot shower water doesn’t work
• If your power is out
• If you’re experiencing flooding in the apartment
• If your toilet or sink aren’t working

Don’t delay, as waiting to fix crucial issues can only make the problem even worse!

Maintenance in the Single Family Home

Family homes will require the most amount of maintenance, as they are typically the largest properties. They are also stand-alone residences, so you’re responsible for nearly everything in regards to the heating and cooling and plumbing.

Maintaining the Plumbing

Learn how to spot problems early, so your home’s plumbing system doesn’t have to suffer. Some main issues you want to watch out for include the following:

• Clean any buildup that forms on your showerheads
• Install a water softener for higher quality H2O
• Clean the toilet seats every three days with a powerful cleanser like bleach

However, if problems arise in the home, despite your diligent maintenance, look out for these top signs. If you are experiencing one or more of these issues, call a professional.

• A leaky faucet you can’t fix
• A rapid leak
• A slow drain
• A bad smell coming from the drain pipes.

Solving Your Own Heating and Cooling Maintenance Issues

Need furnace maintenance? This isn’t typically an issue you’d encounter in a condo or apartment. Homeowners need to watch out for this crucial aspect of home maintenance. If you want to keep your furnace in check, schedule periodic checkups with a technician.

Also, clean the ductwork regularly, remove any flammable objects from around the furnace, and educate yourself on the symptoms of breathing in deadly gas.

Prevent Water Damage

Prevent water damage in the home by making sure your roof is in good shape year-round. Leaks can lead to water damage and mold, which can put your health at risk. Therefore roofing and roof maintenance should never be overlooked in the home.

Maintain the Landscaping

When moving to your new gorgeous family home, you will have all the freedom to take charge of your landscape! Plant a garden, cut the shrubs into uniform shapes, or even add various lawn statues. Get as creative with the exterior area of your home as the interior.

Here are some fun projects you can try, no matter how much experience you have.

Create a Walkway

Use stones to line the walkway, or pave your own using raw materials such as cement, sand, soil, or gravel.

Install String Lights onto the Balcony

Spring lights are easy to install, but hey’re also an easy way to dress up the space.

Other Ways to Maintain Your Lawn

Lawn work can be separated into two categories. There are the fun and creative chores, like gardening, and there’s the grunt work like mowing the lawn.

If this is your first time moving into a full-sized family home, you may need to hire someone to help you keep the yard looking perfect.

Pest Control in the Home

Before moving into your dream home, make sure you have a company that provides pest control services on speed dial.

Bugs and rodents can bring harmful bacteria into your home, infecting your loved ones, and damaging your property.

Keep the Driveway Paved

A cracked driveway can damage your car, so when conducting maintenance in the home, look into concrete sealing.

Find an Electrician Before You Move In

There are certain projects you can do in the home alone, and there are other things that should be left to the pros. Hardwiring is one of these such tasks.

Find a qualified electrician, so you don’t risk getting electrocuted.

Seal the Windows

Your home can lose most of its heating and air conditioning through the windows, so insulate them properly.

You can also purchase energy-efficient windows, so you’ll conduct less maintenance on your home over the course of your first year living in your dream home.

Conclusion

Whether you’re currently in the process of moving to a new condo, apartment, or family home, understand the level of upkeep before biting the bullet. If you want your place to look like new for the entirety of your lease, implement these top tips when moving in and learn about condo maintenance services.

While it may seem overwhelming initially, you’ll get it down and learn how to live your best life in your new home!