It is safe to say that some maintenance issues in apartments could have been easily avoided. This not only causes frustrations on the side of residents, but also property managers and owners as well. How can we help prevent these issues from popping up in your luxury apartment for rent in Cedar Rapids? Our team has come together and gathered a list of five commons occurrences that we see, and how they can be prevented. Save the stress, save the inconvenience, and maintain your beautiful residence by being aware of these problems.
1. Contact our team even if an issue seems minor: If you happen to notice a small leak from areas such as your sink, shower head, toilet, windows, or any other area, contact Q4 Real Estate. Even a tiny leak can grow over time and create an even bigger issue you did not see coming. Not only could this become a cosmetic issue, but also a water bill issue. At multiple properties in our portfolio, residents are responsible for a water bill, and our team would hate to see your bill rise because of a small leak that was not addressed sooner. This is not the only small item to look out for; listen for toilets running extended periods of time or any potential hint of a gas leak. Always review your leasing agreement for the proper maintenance member or utility provider to contact in these situations.
2. Utilize your fans throughout the suite: When cooking, be sure to use exhaust vents and ceiling fans to clear any residual smoke buildup that could setoff your smoke detectors. If you are showering, always turn on your bathroom exhaust vent as this helps reduce the humidity and moisture in the concealed space. Why is this important? If the bathroom fan is not used, moisture will buildup and can lead to mold or mildew. This can easily be prevented and save the maintenance team a trip to your residence.
3. When roaming throughout your Cedar Rapids apartment, be mindful of railings, hooks, and towel bars: Some of Q4’s apartments for rent in Cedar Rapids and Marion have neat finishes such as coat nooks and towel bars in the bathrooms. This is a great convenience for residents when they come home or get cleaned up each day. To avoid pulling these out of the walls, be sure not to hang too much weight on these holders and avoid pulling extensively on them. Increased strain may cause these hooks and bars to pull out from the wall. Later, our maintenance team will stop out and repair, but this could become a tenant expense due to negligence. We do not wish for this and either do you.
4. Check with your property manager before replacing finishes: often, renters may be accustomed to a specific shower head or even mounting a television on the wall. Before making any changes for your comfort and happiness, we highly encourage you to review your lease and/or email/call your site manager. If you swap shower heads and this is not done correctly, it could cause a leak, leading to an even bigger problem. We want residents to feel right at home but be sure to note that mounting televisions or photos on the wall will incur a charge upon move-out for necessary repairs. Any questions just ask. We are here to help.
5. Watch what you stick down a drain: This goes for garbage disposals, sinks, shower/tub drains, and even toilets. If a hard object is stuck down a garbage disposal, it could very well break down the system, leaving you, the resident, with a bill for the repair. When it comes to showers and tubs, avoid letting excess hair down the drains. This could easily clog the pipes, leading to a water backup in your tub. Periodically applying a Drano product or something similar will clean your drains and maintain efficient usage. Like a shower, be mindful of what you are flushing down your toilets. The last thing we want for residents is to have a backed-up toilet, this is a nasty mess. When it doubt, toss miscellaneous items in the trash and prevent blockages and clogging in your suite.
Our property managers and maintenance team stand ready to assist you in a time of need, along with utility providers and emergency services. We want to help prevent small or big issues in your home. These are just a few items to be aware of when renting or buying. Are you curious about another preventable maintenance items? Do not hesitate to send questions or concerns to leasing@Q4realestate.com today.
*photo courtesy of macarthurpta.digitalpto.com*
