ReCasa Financial Blog

Ohio, along with many other states, was hit hard December 23^rd with snow and freezing temperatures. People across social media platforms were sharing helpful tips to prepare their homes for the change in weather as we all knew it was coming.

There are so many different weather situations that we should prepare our houses for in order to keep it safe, but do we know all of them? These tips are especially important for real estate investors with vacant properties. These properties may need a little extra preparation as someone won’t be there to help the property as soon as an issue occurs. It could be hours or days before an issue is noticed.

Cold Weather

·       Clear gutters and downspouts of all blockages

·       Store or cover outdoor furniture

·       Wrap outdoor or unheated, exposed pipes

·       Remove garden hoses from outside faucets and insulate outdoor faucets

·       Drip water from indoor faucets

Tornado/ High Winds

·       Tie down all loose outdoor items

·       Seal windows and doors

·       Keep all branches trimmed away from windows and roof

Hurricanes/ Flooding

·       Protect windows with wooden boards

·       Tie down loose outdoor items

·       Point downspouts away from the property

·       Clear gutters and downspouts of all blockages

·       Have sandbags available to protect against flooding

It is always important to make sure that any damaged siding, roofing, and fencing is fixed in a timely manner so that it does not cause additional damage to your property or a neighboring property.

For vacant properties, it is always a good idea to have ovens, microwaves and other electronics unplugged while no one is residing in the property.

As always, check your insurance policy to see if your property is covered for any special weather issues such as flooding, cold weather, and hurricanes.  

Before big weather changes such as freezing temperatures, tornados and hurricanes, make sure that you have extra flashlights and/or candles and matches readily available, all electronic devices (phones and computers) are charged, vehicles are filled with gas incase you need to evacuate, and food you can eat without having to use an oven, stove or microwave.  



What tips would you add to this list?