In the excitement of moving into a new apartment, renters often don’t think about having to repair or maintain things down the road. Your landlord or property manager is usually required to fix anything major that goes wrong, like the plumbing and heating/cooling systems. But what types of things are you likely to fix yourself?
Read Your Rental Agreement
Issues like building/apartment maintenance should be spelled out in your rental agreement. Be sure to read it carefully so you know what the building’s owner is required to maintain in good order for tenants. As a broad example, providing a safe living environment for tenants is usually covered under real estate laws. Ask questions if you aren’t clear on situations in which to call the landlord to fix something.
Mr. Fix-It
Making minor repairs to your apartment yourself is doable. All it takes is knowledge, a good basic set of tools and some effort. In addition to fixing things, you’ll also need tools to hang pictures and complete other household tasks, making it a worthwhile investment. Add the following hand tools to your maintenance arsenal:
- Screwdrivers (different sizes of both flat and Philip’s head)
- Hammer
- Pliers
- Wrench
- Tape measure
- Level
If you want to go beyond basic hand tools, a power drill can be extremely useful. Another great tool? Your smartphone! You can now download apps like Handy Man DIY to your phone or tablet to assist you with apartment maintenance projects.
The Most Common DIY Repair: Wall Damage
Major damage to a wall due to a water leak falls under the landlord’s maintenance requirement, but if you gouge a wall trying to hang a picture or ding the drywall moving your couch, you’ll need to fix the hole yourself. With spackle and a putty knife you can easily cover up small dings and nail holes. A top coat of paint to match the surrounding wall may be necessary afterwards. To repair more serious damage to the drywall, refer to this helpful article on patching holes.
Now you’re all set to take on minor apartment fixes yourself!
