Being a DIY Landlord means cutting costs is always at the forefront of your mind. DIY is one of the simplest ways you can save money, Of course, all while enhancing your property. Armed with the skills, tools, knowledge, Google and a little bit of luck, you can save yourself thousands.

Remember, even if you can do repairs yourself, you can’t handle them all individually. Repair tasks that relate to electricity, heating, cooling, plumbing, etc. are better left to the professionals. Most of the time you need certification to carry out approved maintenance work.

In addition to reading this post, Before you get started check out the life-hackers extensive guide to a beginner’s first toolbox here.

HVAC Maintenance

The key to maintenance is becoming proactive rather than reactive. Your options are limited on what to do when your cooling or heating system breaks down. However, you can take matters into your own hands and perform several maintenance tasks yourself, to help evade those costly heater bills.

These repairs include: Checking and changing filters regularly, general cleaning, changing fan motors, etc. SnapInspect suggests familiarizing yourself with your HVAC cleaning procedures.

Ensuring that regular checks and maintenance runs are carried out will prolong the life of your HVAC unit drastically.

Savings: $500

Appliance Troubleshooting

Issues with dishwashers, washing machines, fridges, DVD players and other appliances are often easily fixed. Things that are easy to fix are; loose wires, missing screws, faulty parts and malfunctioning electrical pieces.

While there’s no official “DIY Landlord appliance guide” most appliance repairs are a lot easier to fix than expected.

If you don’t have the user manual that came with the device, chances are it will be reachable through a quick google search.

If you don’t take time to examine the issue and what’s causing it, you can easily assume it is out of your reach to fix. Appliance repairs are easier than

Savings: $100

Basic Plumbing

Leaks waste water and wasted water costs money. Most times, it’s merely a matter of taking apart your faucet and replacing the worn gasket or washer. Usually, a plumber call out would set you back around $150. How-tos and demonstration videos are scattered everywhere you look online. Alternatively, you can find the instructions for completing the job on the manufacturer’s website.

While you may not be an expert in plumbing, you should at the very least know how to turn the water supply off for your house in case you experience a significant leak that needs a professional.

Top Tip: Every issue that pops up with your rental property is a chance to better yourself and upskill at DIY. Approach every problem the same, and you will be on a fast path to becoming a DIY Master.

Savings: $150

Painting

Painting isn’t complicated but takes time to master a solid style and routine.
Paying a professional to paint your property can set you back up to $900 per room. Do the math, and repainting your interior can become very costly, very quickly.

In summary, going DIY Landlord can save you thousands and becomes the obvious substitute for paying a professional to do it. Remember to keep it simple to start; you can always add more paint later!

Savings: $200-500 per room

Landscape For an easier Future

The key to a low maintenance garden? Mulch. Lots of it. Say goodbye to hours of weeding with your new best friend mulch. Plant plants that are easy to maintain and require little ongoing care. Plants that need little constant nurturing will help you save on summer water bills.

We suggest hardscaping areas that are run down and overgrown with grass etc. Regardless, the more places you can prevent from becoming overrun means the less need your property will have for routine maintenance checks.

Savings: $200