Owning an investment property in Austin, Texas comes with perks, but it also requires smart planning. Rental property maintenance is more than just upkeep, but how you protect your property value, attract better tenants, and get them to stay longer. Plus, it lowers your average maintenance expenses, putting more cash in your pocket. In Austin, where the weather can be extreme, rental property maintenance demands extra attention. 

You never know when you’re going to get hit with blazing heat, flooding, freezing, or hail the size of golf balls in Austin. This can strain your HVAC units, damage your roof, and impact the condition of your investment property. Rising CapX expenditures and unpredictable weather make sticking to an annual maintenance schedule a must. Here’s how to gear up your Austin rental for whatever the weather throws at it. 

Plan for Roof Repairs or Replacement

In Austin, violent storms are the norm, and roofs take the biggest hits. Massive hailstones, like those from the May 2024 storm that battered homes with six-inch hail, can puncture shingles, create leaks, and lead to structural wear. Left untreated, these small damages can quickly escalate into larger, costlier repairs. In the worst cases, you might even need a full roof replacement, which can drastically increase your average maintenance expenses. With fierce hailstorms on the rise in Austin, regular inspections and timely repairs are critical to protect your investment property from significant damage. 

The cost of replacing a roof varies on the size and materials, but averages around $7,500, representing one of the most substantial CapX expenditures you can face. While homeowners insurance can come in handy, they won’t always cover the expenses, as it depends on the policy you hold and how bad the damage is. 

To keep these expenses from spiraling out of control, it’s important to conduct regular inspections as part of your rental property maintenance. Look for loose or missing shingles, punctures, or any signs of damage after major storms. Preventive measures, like hail-resistant roofing materials, may have a higher cost upfront, but these proactive property maintenance steps can drastically extend the lifespan of your roof and save you money in the long run. 

Upgrade Your HVAC System to Handle Extreme Weather

In Austin, the weather can be unpredictable, with the highest recorded temperature sitting at 112°F and the lowest at -2°F. Residents are used to summers that soar above 100°F, and while winters are generally mild, the city occasionally experiences freezing temperatures. During Winter Storm Uri in 2021, temperatures plummeted to the single digits, leaving thousands of homes without power for days. 

As an investment property owner, it’s important to invest in high-quality HVAC units that can handle these weather swings. Tenants rely on you to maintain a liveable, comfortable space, and ensuring your heating and air conditioning systems are in proper order is essential. Consider it not just an investment in comfort, but in compliance with Austin’s legal requirements for habitable properties. Regular HVAC servicing should be part of your annual maintenance schedule to prevent unexpected failures. 

With so many Austinites working from home, reliable climate control is even more important. To protect your investment property against power outages during storms, a backup generator can be a valuable investment. While the initial cost may be high, it can prevent more costly repairs like burst pipes during freezes. Maintaining high-quality HVAC equipment is essential for reducing long-term CapX expenditures, and it’s an important part of property management in Austin, especially if you want to keep up the appeal of your investment property.

Get Ready for the Flood Zone

Austin is located in an area called “Flash Flood Alley,” which is one of the most flood-prone places in North America. In 2015, relentless downpours caused flash floods that overwhelmed the city’s waterways, damaging homes and even costing some their lives. Even if your investment property isn’t in a designated flood zone, flood-proofing should still be high on your property maintenance checklist. 

To protect your investment property from water damage, it’s important to install drainage solutions like French drains or culverts to direct water away from the building’s foundation. Regularly cleaning gutters and downspouts of debris will further help prevent water from gathering on the roof or around the structure. Inside the investment property, a sump pump in the basement or crawl space can mitigate water damage, quickly removing any water that finds its way inside. 

Flood-proofing is an essential part of rental property maintenance in Austin, especially given its location. Taking these steps can help you avoid high CapX expenditures and make sure your tenants stay safe even when heavy rains hit unexpectedly. 

Consider Installing a Backup Generator

If you haven’t considered a backup generator for your Austin investment property, now is the time. Power outages during storms are almost inevitable. Without power, your property’s HVAC, water systems, and crucial appliances stop working, making life difficult for tenants and leading to expensive repairs like fixing pipes that have burst after freezing. 

Backup generators keep things running smoothly, even when Austin’s power grid goes down. They may be expensive at first, but they’re like a safety net, helping you avoid massive maintenance expenses later on. Whether it’s the summer heat or a winter storm, a generator ensures your  investment property stays livable. Your tenants will thank you, and your CapX expenditures will stay under control. 

Securing Your Investment Property for the Long Haul

Feeling the strain from these CapX expenditures? Roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, and flood-proofing can drain your wallet fast, but ignoring them is a bigger, costlier mistake. In Austin, Texas, where the weather can turn extreme in a flash, staying ahead of rental property maintenance is the secret to protecting your investment property and keeping tenants happy. 

Don’t let weather-driven damage ruin your income stream. Tenants can break their leases if your investment property becomes uninhabitable due to poor property maintenance. Avoid that by sticking to an annual maintenance schedule and being proactive. If the workload feels impossible to do alone, partner with a property management company like Evernest. We take the stress out of rental property maintenance by handling your leasing needs and ensuring your CapX expenditures are kept in check. That way, you can focus on making money off your investment property without the constant worrying about unpredictable Texas weather.