By Steve Boudreault, Buildium, Boston, MA

Here in Boston, one doesn’t even need to set foot outside to know that the first Arctic blast of the season is upon us. Twitter hashtags like #brrrr and #cantfeelmytoes tell a frigid story. Facebook posts like “It’s colder than a tin toilet seat on the shady side of an iceberg!” really paint a picture. It’s cold.

Well, like it or not, winter is well and truly here, and for property managers and landlords that means winterizing the property to avoid the headaches and expenses that this harsh season can bring with it. Here are a few tips and tricks to get you through until the forsythia blooms once again.

Heating the Empty Spaces

The idea of keeping the heat on in a unit that isn’t even occupied may chafe you to no end, but the bill for the destruction that frozen pipes can cause will be even worse. You don’t need to set the thermostat to Florida, but make sure it’s at least North Carolina.

Sealing the Deal

Speaking of heat, did you know that windows, doors, and even wire entry points that aren’t caulked or stripped properly can cost you 10% more on annual heating costs? That’s just burning money, honey. A $5 tube of caulk can save you big over the long haul.

Keeping the Fire Burning

Because they tend to be tucked away in service closets or spooky basements, heaters can tend to be out of sight, out of mind. But heaters need love too. Be sure to get them serviced at least once a year to make sure they’re running at peak efficiency and to stave off any problems. They’ve got a long season ahead too.

Storming the Castle

If you’ve got storm windows on your property, now’s the time to drop them into place. You can either send out a request to your tenants, asking them to swap screens for storms, or let them know that a maintenance person will be coming by to do so. Either way, batten down the hatches.

Laying it Flat

The jump from the heating bill in August to the heating bill in January can be a little jarring. Some utility companies will bill you at a flat rate — that is, they’ll take all 12 months of the year and average them out, and then charge you the same amount every month. If you’re in a seasonal climate and you can get in on this deal, it will likely spare lots of cursing when the cold rolls in.

Here in New England, there’s not much more we can do in the winter than hunker down and wait it out. Hopefully these ideas will help you do just that. Anyone else got some cold-surviving tips they’d like to share?

You’ve almost finished those turkey leftovers and the boxes of holiday decorations have been dug out from the depths of the closet and are ready to be hung. This can only mean one thing: colder days are on the way. And for financially-savvy landlords and property managers, cold weather means winterizing. Last year we looked at the top seven things every landlord should do to prep their properties for the winter months (to ensure that you’re doing everything possible to keep heating costs down and unit temperatures up, be sure to take a quick refresher look at that post). And for even more tips and ideas for winterizing with the best of ‘em, read on.

Door stoppers.
Most of us have been programmed to make sure that any gaps between the front and back outside doors and the floor are filled in with rubber door stops. But don’t stop at the exterior doors. Consider doors inside of your building that may be allowing heat to escape. Doors leading to attic stairwells are a prime example of an often-overlooked heat vacuum. Survey your property carefully to make sure that all doorways (both interior and exterior) are fitted with weather-stripping and rubber stops as necessary.

Pre-set temperatures.
If you’re providing tenants with controlled heat, investing in an electric, programmable thermostat will likely save you a lot of money in the long-run. While you certainly don’t want to freeze your tenants out, it’s also not necessary (or comfortable, for that matter) to keep the heat cranked up to maximum levels 24/7. An electronic thermostat will allow you to pre-program temperatures according to the time of day. For example, you may want to increase the temperature by a few degrees in the morning and evening hours, when the weather is likely cooler and tenants are home. Remember, these thermostats will allow you to over-ride the automatic settings should it become necessary to increase or decrease the temperature at any given time.

Roofing repairs.
Because it’s not the most easily visible part of your property, missing shingles or other gaps in the roof that allow the warm air to get out can be easily overlooked. As we all know, heat rises, so ensuring that your roof is in good repair is an essential part of keeping the heat in and the cold out. Depending on the size of your property, either you or a contractor should conduct a thorough examination of the roof to make sure that any missing shingles, tiles, or nails are replaced; that any gaps are fully caulked; and that any warped or darkened areas on the roof are identified and treated as necessary.

Electrical outlets.
They’re easy to miss, but electrical outlets can be exactly that—a perfect way to let costly heat out of your building. It may be a bit tedious, but it’s to your benefit to go through your property at least once a year, removing electric outlet covers to make sure that any spaces left by electrical outlets are filled in. These gaps can be easily filled with foam, which will eliminate the problem.

Taking care of these easy-to-miss heat escapes will go a long way to keeping heating costs under control during the winter months. Also remember to ask for your tenants’ help. Particularly if they are not directly paying for heating costs, it can be easy to forget the important difference simple actions like closing storm windows and removing cooling units can make during those winter months. Provide them with a list of simple winterizing reminders and be sure to offer your assistance with any of the requested items as necessary.

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