Offering to winterize the property, or to proactively winterize before your next tenants move in, can help keep everyone nice and toasty all winter long. Being proactive in your actions, can often spearhead any unfortunate maintenance issues, and can even possibly minimize any additional costs incurred from secondary issues that may arise from a lack of proper winterization. 

Take a look at these suggestions for cost effective ways to keep your rental property warm, so you can get a better idea on how to keep everyone happy without breaking the budget - yours or your tenants. From ideas that are free and easy, to ideas that are slightly more costly and may require professional help, these ideas will get you started down the right path.

To many people’s surprise, ceiling fans are a great way to help keep a room warm. Although it seems contradictory to use them in the winter since they help keep rooms cool in the summer, hot air rises. Having the fan on the right setting creates an updraft and forces the heat back down into the space.

In the winter fans should be set to rotate clockwise, in order to circulate the warmer air throughout the room. Alternatively, in the summer your fan settings should be set to circulate in a counter clockwise direction. This will create a downdraft and will have a cooling effect on the room.

The switch to change the direction of the fan blades is located on the motor box of the fan itself. It is a small square switch and is easy to find and to change. The hardest part about winterizing your fan is getting the ladder to safely access the switch. As a landlord, you may want to consider making this part of your routine winterization checklist. 

Worn out, improperly installed, or inadequate insulation is a huge factor in causing sky- high energy bills. Listen carefully to your tenants if they tell you about drafty rooms, cold air coming through the windows, or light visible around the door frames. These are all signs that the home may be improperly insulated.

The easiest and most cost effective way to keep your rental property warm is to check the weather stripping around the doors and windows. Replacing weather stripping is a simple DIY project and it is also fairly inexpensive. Your tenants will be appreciative of your attention to this detail.

Checking the roof for proper insulation, to avoid heat escaping through the ceiling, isn’t necessarily as difficult as you would think. A trip to the attic can quickly tell you where there may be gaps that could easily be reinsulated.

The windows are most likely the most costly factor that may need to be considered. However, when new energy efficient windows are not in the budget, consider purchasing a few window insulation kits. These kits contain a film that can be applied to most windows, and it will act as an additional protective barrier between the cold outdoor elements and the living space of the rental property.

Another cost effective way to keep your rental property warm is to insulate the water heater in the rental. Most people don’t realize that a properly insulated water heater could decrease a winter energy bill by nearly 15%. That adds up to big savings over the course of the colder months each year. 

While it is not reasonable to replace a perfectly good water heater that is working as it should, adding an insulated water heater blanket may be just the thing to help keep this appliance working as efficiently as possible.

The insulated blankets come in various pre cut sizes. They can be purchased inexpensively at any of your local home improvement stores and they are easy to install.

Taking the time to check on these simple cost effective ways to keep your rental property warm, lets your tenants know you care and any future tenants will reap the benefits of lower utility bills as well. 

Thousand Hills Realty is Branson’s premier property management company. If you would like to discuss how we can help you keep your tenants a little warmer this winter, give us a call at (417) 337-8081. We would love to discuss signing a property management agreement with you, to relieve you of the burden, and allow you to have more free time to do more of what you love.