Although it may not be the biggest room in a home by far the bathroom is often the busiest. In a rental property the bathroom can also be a source of some of a landlord’s worst repair headaches as often problems in a bathroom are water related and can become an emergency repair situation to avoid permanent and expensive damage.

 Keeping in mind that a little prevention can go a long way giving the bathroom – or bathrooms – at your rental property an occasional “check-up”, especially before new tenants move in, is always a good idea. Here are some of the things to look at, and for (these are great tips for new homeowners too by the way.)

• Flush the toilet, run the shower and the faucet on the sink, one by one. Does all of this water flow well and drain or flush away properly? Is the hot water working and does it heat in a reasonable amount of time? Do you hear any strange gurgles in the pipes? If something does not seem right calling in a plumber before bigger problems arise is a must.
• Inspect the bathtub and the counters for obvious cracks, chips or other damage.
• Push a foot down on the floor directly nearest the bathtub. If there is softness or even too much give that is a sign of water leak that will need to be fixed before it damages the flooring and makes the space unsafe.
• Check the area around the toilet base. Any moisture here usually indicates that the toilet seal needs to be repaired or replaced to stop a leak.
• If the bathroom has under-sink cabinets, which many do, open them all up and not only look for signs of a leak but also for other problems excess moisture in this kind of an enclosed area can cause like mold and mildew. If you can see nothing but there is a musty smell, investigate further to determine the cause of the odor.

 Check any and all electrical outlets in the bathroom to make sure that they work properly and that any fault interrupters are functional as well.

If you find any of thee problems, don’t wait, call in a qualified tradesman to fix them as soon as possible, your rental income may depend on it. 

Related posts:

Rental Property 101 – Choosing the Right Materials for Rental Property Remodeling and Repairs Common Gutter Problems That Regular Maintenance Can Prevent or Solve Creating a Healthy Home – Part 3 The Bathroom Diagnosing Common Residential Flooring Problems Avoiding DIY Plumbing Disasters Stylish Storage Ideas for a Tiny Bathroom Stay Safe by Using an Insured Tradesperson DIY Tricks to Unblock a Toilet

There are two distinct schools of thought when it comes to choosing materials to make
improvements or repairs to a rental property. The first is that it is wise to use the most
inexpensive materials possible to reduce upfront costs for the landlord. The other is to make the
investment in better quality materials upfront to gain in the long run.

Save or Spend?

Both of these rental property maintenance theories have some valid points. However nice a
tenant seems a landlord can never really predict how well they might take care of his property
and spending too much on items that might get damaged can be risky. Even if tenants do not
actually break things they still might not take care of them quite as well as they should.

On the other hand going cheap has its downsides as well. For example linoleum tiles would
probably be the cheapest way to update the kitchen floor in a rental property and they are pretty
easy to replace if they get damaged.

However there is a reason that most inexpensive lino tiles only come with a very limited
warranty – if they come with one at all – and that is that they simply do not have a very long
useful lifespan. Even in a home with the most house proud of tenants thin lino tiles wear quickly
even with normal, everyday use. Often they all need to be replaced within a few years for both
aesthetic and safety reasons. At this point the savings a landlord originally made will evaporate.

Spend More to Make More?

There are always significant fluctuations in rental prices in any geographical market. People
tend to be willing to pay more for quality in general and that applies to rental properties as well.
You can justify charging a slightly higher rent if the property is more desirable than others.

No one would really expect the average landlord to install granite counters in their rental
property, or invest in very expensive flooring but choosing mid range materials that will last
longer and are simply better looking and more functional will usually help them get the place
rented at a good rate and keep it that way.

Related posts:

Choosing Remodeling Supplies the Right Way Choosing the Right Materials for Your New Patio Top Tips for Easy Guest Room Remodeling Infographic: Which Home Improvements Will Add the Most Value to Your Property? Remodeling for Mobility – Meeting the Step Challenge Choosing the Right Carpet Colour Caring for All Kinds of Tile Floors the Right Way Tips for Choosing the Right Firepit for Your Outdoor Space

From a practical point of view metal bech and counter  tops are great for a busy kitchen. Walk into any
restaurant or commercial kitchen and it is very rare that you will find anything other than
stainless steel counters there  because they are just so easy to care for and durable.

From an aesthetic point of view though they are rather simple, cold and boring, probably not the
look that many people want to incorporate into their remodeled kitchen at all. There are however
other similar metals that make great durable choices for a kitchen remodel that have
most of the practical benefits that stainless steel offers but also have some great visual appeal
as well. One of the most beautiful and durable of these is zinc.

Zinc is a metal counter top material that has been used “front of house” in upscale bars for
years but now some homeowners are discovering its uniquer charms as well. Although at first
site, when they are new, zinc bench tops may resemble their stainless steel counter parts they
have a charm and warmth that it does not.

Zinc counter tops are designed to get better with age. When first installed they will usually be
a white-ish gray color that will actually match almost any decor. Over time though those colors
will change as the zinc develops a patina that will contains blues, yellows, greens and golds.
In terms of cleaning most of the time all a zinc counter top needs is a daily wipe down with a
damp, soapy cloth.

Another advantage of zinc counter tops when used as a part of a full kitchen remodel is that as
a softer material it can be easily welded, so a zinc sink for example can be built right into the
counter top with no visible seams.

Like any other counter top material people might consider as an option for their kitchen
remodeling project zinc does have its drawbacks. It is slightly softer than stainless steel and
cannot withstand very hot pots being placed on it without some degree of damage becoming a
possibility ( a hot kettle for a minute or so is usually fine though)

The other possible con is that zinc counter tops are expensive. Their longevity may make up for
initial extra outlay,  but is you are looking for a budget counter top choice to incorporate into your
kitchen remodeling plans then zinc certainly is not.It is however a beautiful choice if you can afford it. 

Related posts:

Great Reasons Why Laminate Counter Tops Deserve a Second Look Mini Kitchen Makeover Five Great Reasons to Consider Marble Benchtops for Your Kitchen Inexpensive Fixes to Give Your Kitchen a Brand New Look Engineered Stone – The New Choice for the Stylish Kitchen Unusual Wall Tile Options for a Look that is All Your Own Caring for Stone Bench Tops the Right Way Kitchen Styles that Stand the Test of Time

In fact in many cases even perfectly fit and healthy homeowners are realizing that their good health
and great mobility are things that it is unlikely, to some extent or another , they will always enjoy and
they are choosing to prepare their homes in anticipation of that time.

One of the biggest challenges that many homeowner’s have to address is outside the home, not in it.
A home that currently has an entrance that is stepped will eventually become difficult, if not impossible
for a person with limited mobility to use. To most people a ramp would be the simplest answer but
people are also often concerned what taking out steps and installing a plain ramp would do to the
resale value of their home.

The answer that some specialist mobility remodeling professionals are offering approaches the step
challenge in a different way. They are building more elegant raised walkways that can serve the same
purpose as a ramp but they are less likely to impact the “curb appeal” of the home, something that is
very important in terms of resale value.

Steps and staircase indoors can present quite a challenge as well though. For a two story home
having a stair lift installed is one very popular solution and as the demand for mobility related
remodeling increases such things are becoming both more affordable and more easily available.

The alternative to a stair lift to allow two story living is to plan to make the lower story of the home
a space that can be lived in without having to use the stairs at all. This may include remodeling
an unused room to be able to be used as a bedroom at some future date or even adding a small
extension so that such a room can be created.

Related posts:

Meeting the Challenge of Decorating with Orange to Brighten Up Your Home How to Meet the Challenge of Decorating an Open Plan Living Space Top Tips for Easy Guest Room Remodeling Are You Up for the Build Your Own Home Challenge? Creating a Healthy Home – Part 2 The Living Room Choosing Remodeling Supplies the Right Way Room Additions – Not as Overwhelming as They Sound Decorate with Black??? – It Can Work!!

Modern laminates are very different from their old fashioned counterparts though and there
are a lot of good reasons why they deserve a second look if you are considering buying new
counter tops for use in your home. Here are just a few of them:

Laminate Counter Tops are More Affordable: Granite and natural stone may look great but
they are also very expensive. Laminate counter tops are, on the other hand, some of the most
affordable options available today and they come in so many different design options they are
some of the most flexible options available as well.

Laminate Counter Tops are Great for a Family Kitchen:

If you have a family, especially if you
have kids, the chances that you can keep a kitchen looking Martha Stewart perfect are slim to
say the least. Granite is tough but hard to fix if they are damaged and damaging them is easier
than many people think. Butcher block counter tops have a great rustic look but like any other
wood they have a tendency to scratch and mark easily as well.

Laminate counter tops are created to be very tough and stand up very well to the every day
wear and tear of a busy family kitchen and Junior will probably not end up facing the loss of a
year’s allowance to repair a single scratch!

Laminate Counter Tops are Easy to Maintain

Maintaining granite or natural stone counter tops requires sealing, re-sealing and some rather
specialist care to keep them in tip top condition. Laminate counters are far easier to maintain. In
fact most of the time a daily wipe down with soapy water and getting into the habit of promptly
wiping up spills is all they need to keep them in great shape for years.

Related posts:

Caring for Stone Bench Tops the Right Way Five Great Reasons to Consider Marble Benchtops for Your Kitchen Engineered Stone – The New Choice for the Stylish Kitchen Kitchen Styles that Stand the Test of Time Great Reasons to Hire an Architect for Your Remodel Adding Style to a Smaller Kitchen Great Kitchen Lighting Examples to Create a Kitchen that Wows Inexpensive Fixes to Give Your Kitchen a Brand New Look

Often a section of gutter will develop a small leak without anyone really noticing it at first. If the
leak is left unchecked though even a small hole can eventually cause big problems.

A small hole does not necessarily have to mean that a whole section of the gutter has to be
replaced but it does need to be sealed or patched. For a homeowner armed only with a ladder
that can be a bit of a challenge. Gutter sealant is cheap and easy to use, in theory anyway, but
in real life it can be a different matter entirely.

Any gutter has to drain somewhere but if it is not pitched correctly in relation to the downspouts
that will carry the water to the drain then once again all kinds of problems and water damage
are likely to occur.

If you take a look into your gutters after a rainstorm has passed and find standing water there
that is a fairly good indication that it is not pitched correctly and that instead of all the water
going to the downspout it is probably overflowing onto the ground instead.

Sometimes these problems are caused by the weather itself, especially a storm, and the
adjustment that needs to be made is an easy one that you can do yourself. To determine how
far out of line the gutter actually is you can measure from the peak to the downspout. If the
difference is just a few inches often the alignment can be fixed with a simple push. You do have
to be careful not to damage the gutter in the process though!

Over time gutters that have withstood plenty of wind and rain may start to pull away from the
side of the house where they belong. The fix is often as simple as adding new hangers but
again, as a lone do it yourselfer it can be very tricky.

To protect your home from damage and yourself from danger its a wise investment to make if
you call a professional gutter maintenance company in on a regular basis to help you stay on
top of the situation. Saving money is always nice but scrimping on home maintenance can often
cost you more than it saves in the long run, especially when it comes to water damage!

Related posts:

Diagnosing Common Residential Flooring Problems Tell Tale Signs Its Time to Ring a Plumber (Now!) Going Green at Home- Rainwater Collection Weekend DIY – Repairing Drywall Common DIY Mistakes That Are Easy to Avoid Quick Home Fixes to Make Your Mornings Brighter Custom Kitchen Cabinetry – Protecting Your Investment Avoiding DIY Plumbing Disasters

Part of the process includes looking at examples of their work, speaking with their previous clients and ensuring that they are the right match for you and your project.

Once you’re comfortable that they are right for the job and have the correct qualifications and licenses in place, the last step is to check their insurance.

Ensuring that your tradesman is properly insured can save you a lot of time and money if anything goes wrong down the track.

Why is their insurance important to you?

Whether or not your tradesman has insured their ute or tools is of no concern to you as their client, but what can impact upon you is their public liability.

If the actions of a tradesman working on your home result in property damage or personal injury to you, your family or a visitor to your home, the tradesman may be liable for any resulting loss.

If your tradesman is not insured, you may have to fight them in court in order to obtain compensation, and even then you could end up with nothing if the tradesman declares bankruptcy.

But if you use a tradesman with the appropriate public liability insurance in place, a claim you make against them for property damage or personal injury will be covered by their insurance company.

Whilst a broken window might not be too serious, if a tradesman’s actions resulted in substantial property damage or a serious injury to you or one of your family members, you will certainly be in a better position if the tradesman has the right insurance in place.

What you need to check

For most jobs the main form of insurance you’ll want to check is public liability.

To do this you will need to ask your tradesman for a copy of their insurance certificate of currency.

Most tradesmen will be used to providing this certificate when they do work for others, so don’t be afraid to ask them for a copy.

There are three main points you should check on the certificate:

• Does the name on the certificate match the name of the tradesman?
• Are the business activities listed on the certificate consistent with the work to be done?
• Is the policy still current? This can be checked via the expiry date.

If your tradesman is unwilling to provide a copy of their certificate, you may want to think twice about whether or not you want this person working around your home and family.

By taking the time to check these couple of points you could save yourself a lot of heartache down the track if something goes wrong during the renovation works.

For more information about insurance for tradesmen please contact Trade Risk.

Related posts:

Why Hiring Your Mates to Help You Remodel Could Cost You Is Your DIY Electrical Project Actually Breaking the Law? Creating a Healthy Home – Part 3 The Bathroom