Getting a rental ready for storm season

Wind and wind-driven rain from a hurricane can do major damage to a house, and the damage isn't only on the coast. Rain, wind, flooding and even tornadoes can reach far inland. The eastern Pacific season runs from May 15 to November 30, and the Atlantic and central Pacific seasons from June 1 to November 30. The weeks before the season are the time to get a rental ready.

The house

• Have the roof inspectedGet loose shingles secured and sealed, and leaky flashing around skylights, chimneys and valleys fixed.
• Have the soffits checkedWind-driven rain can get in through loose soffits.
• Have the gutters cleaned and the downspouts extendedGet the debris cleared and the downspouts pointed away from the house.
• Seal gaps and cracks within reachFrom the ground, caulk around windows, doors, electrical boxes, vents and pipes on the outside walls.
• Have the trees trimmedHave an arborist remove branches over the house and any dead, dying or diseased trees.
• Service the garage doorThe garage door is often the largest opening in a house and the most vulnerable to wind. Have it serviced at least once a year.
• Plan for the outdoor furnitureDecide who brings in or ties down the furniture, grills and other loose items when a storm is coming.

The paperwork

• Review the insuranceKnow what the landlord policy covers and what it doesn't, and keep the agent's contact details in your phone.
• Record the property's conditionMake a video or a detailed list of the house and anything in it that's yours, and store it somewhere off-site.
• Keep copies of the documentsStore copies of the policy and other important papers in a secure, password-protected digital space.

The tenants

• Share the storm planTell tenants who to call before and after a storm, and what you'd like them to do with the outdoor items.
• Point them to the evacuation zoneTenants in an evacuation zone may have to leave quickly. They can look up their routes and follow the instructions of local emergency managers.
• Suggest the alertsThe FEMA app gives National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations, and local community alerts are a sign-up away.

Hurricane season prep to do in May covers the same season for a home you live in.