With the upcoming hurricane season quickly approaching, there are some ways that you can prepare ahead of time to protect your investment property – as well as to protect your tenants. Taking certain types of precautions can save you from having to make costly repairs in the future. It can also prove to your renters that you care about their safety, as well – and could entice them to remain in your property for the long term.

One of the best ways to protect your rental property from hurricane damage is to install impact windows and/or hurricane shutters. Given the extremely high winds that a hurricane can produce, doors and windows are oftentimes damaged, which can lead to additional destruction. Similarly, a metal garage door can withstand more force than the traditional wooden option.

Helping tenants prepare for upcoming turbulent weather can benefit them, as well as your investment property. This could be done by providing renters with a hurricane safety checklist that includes items like:

  • Bringing outdoor furniture and plants inside to avoid being picked up by the wind
  • Temporarily removing window unit air conditioners to reduce the chance of damage or destruction

In addition, having tenants take pictures of the property – as well as their personal items – before the storm can help determine what (if anything) has been damaged. This, in turn, is beneficial if you or they have to file an insurance claim.

While it is your tenants’ responsibility to protect their personal belongings, you have a vested interest in the property. So, it makes sense to take steps to protect it from the destruction that hurricanes can inflict.

There are also ways that you can reduce the time constraints on your schedule as a landlord by bringing a property management team on board. If you’d like to learn more about handing off tasks like collecting rent, responding to emergencies, and performing day-to-day maintenance activities on your Central Florida residential rental property, contact us and we’ll be happy to give you more details.