As we enter the hottest months of the year we have to prepare for tenants running their air conditioning systems much more frequently on the homes they are
renting. This of course also means that tenants need to be on top of changing a/c filters regularly to not only ensure that they are getting adequate airflow, but also to avoid any costly a/c repairs. While it is highly recommended that
property managers regularly perform inspections on the home, typically these are performed every 6 months. It is unrealistic that a property manager can perform a home inspection every other month to make sure something like regular a/c filter replacement is being performed. However, if the tenant is not swapping out these filters in a timely manner, then the
rental property owner
could be facing unexpected repairs or replacement that is not only expensive but could possibly end up disrupting their cash flow. So how can this challenge be solved?
As a homeowner, even I have a hard time remembering when its time to change my a/c filter. Sure I have a reminder service on my thermostat that even emails me when it's time to change, but now I have to make time to run out to the store to buy one. If even I find this simple task an exhausting one on my own home, just imagine what is running through a tenant's mind when they are faced with the same situation on a home they are renting. Procrastination ensues.
We took this challenge and decided to do some research on how we could address this. With some internet research and discussions with property management groups we were introduced to the
Second Nature Filter program. With this program we were able to enroll our tenants into a subscription program that delivers high quality filters to their doorstep every other month. Essentially they have a reminder to change their filter on their doorstep and it removes them needing to make time to go to the store to purchase one. Going one step further, these filters are stamped with dates to help us make sure that they are being changed regularly. Second Nature even provides us a web portal which makes it easy to to start, stop and pause subscriptions as well as other features such as tracking shipments and the ability to order replacements for any damaged ones. The tenants pay a very small monthly fee that is included with their per month rent and is similar to what they would be paying if purchased at the store. In the long run it even saves them money since the up-to-date clean filters help avoid reduced a/c efficiency which tends to lead to higher utility costs.
A win-win situation in that the tenant's rental property is staying cool and comfortable while the rental property owner is reassured that they are getting the best value out of their
investment property
while avoiding any unexpected surprises and costs.
11400 Sean Haggerty Suite 202B
El Paso, TX 79934
915.757.3445
