Spring Cleaning on HOA-managed Properties

As soon as winter ends, Southern California property management companies start getting busy with spring cleaning. Winter, with the rain and snow it brings, leaves behind a ton of damage, especially for older, poorly-maintained communities. It also brings a ton of debris, such as fallen branches and rocks strewn about the property.

One of the first things property managers do is to conduct an inspection of the premises, coordinating with housekeepers and grounds maintenance personnel in removing loose debris. In the case of Southern California, winter tends to be a wet and windy season, with snow and frost in some locations. This results in broken tree branches, particularly for trees weighed down by frost and hail. Sleet and hail could also cause broken windows, floor tiles, and pavement. Rain could seep inside existing cracks in stone and cement, which then expand as the water freezes in sub-zero night temperatures. While this phenomenon affects some areas more than others, an inspection of all exposed concrete surfaces is in order.

Cold weather could have other unwelcome side effects. For example, water could accumulate inside drainpipes and downspouts, resulting in clogs, leaks, and cracks. Combine this with loose debris, and property managers suddenly have a maintenance headache in their hands. Properties with swimming pools are also at risk, as little-used and cleaned swimming pools can develop an algae colony over the lean winter months. It is advisable to make declogging the drains and removing algae from pools a priority, as the transition from winter to spring in Southern California can be very brief and residents might want to use the pool once the cold snaps end.

Spring is also the time for power-washing all exposed surfaces, such as tennis courts, pool decks, and sidewalks. Rain and snow runoff can contain debris from a number of sources, and this sort of accumulated dirt cannot be washed off using ordinary garden hoses alone. This, pressurized water hoses come in handy during spring cleaning.

Finally, once everything has been cleaned, it’s time to restore the plants to their former condition. Lawns have to be reseeded, perennial plants in flowerbeds need a new topsoil cover, and sprinklers have to be up and running. Thus, spring cleaning will not be complete without checking both the soil and the plumbing.

It is the job of Southern California property management companies to ensure that everything is in tiptop shape in time for spring. To find out more about the services offered by the top Southern California property management company, visit our website.