Leave the power on when the rental property is vacant!

Leave the power on when the property is vacant or not? It’s really important. And as a property management company, we automatically handle that for owners. If the property is vacant – if a tenant moves out, we make sure the utilities get placed in our name (RNA) so the power stays on. This is crucial, and I’ll explain why.

We just onboarded a new client, and their property was vacant for a bit. According to them, the power was only off for a week, which we believe. But here’s where it gets tricky; now we’re facing a $500 fee to replace the gaskets on the refrigerator. Why? Because refrigerators are incredibly susceptible to mildew. Think about it – the door is sealed tight, trapping condensation inside from when it was cold. If the power is off and the fridge warms up, all that moisture just sits there, creating the perfect environment for mold. In this case, the gaskets were completely shot, and we had to bring in an appliance tech to replace them. That’s not something you want to deal with as an owner!

It’s actually quite common for owners to not think about leaving the utilities on, which is why our property management company takes care of it now. Another big issue is pipes freezing during winter if the power and heat isn’t maintained. The furnace needs to be running, and the thermostat needs to be set to a certain temperature, tenant or not. If you don’t keep the power on, you risk serious damage, not just to the fridge but to the entire property.

Another thing to consider is that if prospective tenants come to view the property, you don’t want them walking through in the dark. That’s just not going to leave a good impression, right?

So, bottom line – always keep the power on, even when the property is vacant. Whether it’s to avoid damage or to make the place more presentable, it’s just smart management.

This is Philadelphia Property Management company owner, and we’re always here to answer your rental property investing questions. As always, happy investing!