Michigan Winter Property Prep: The Landlord & Community Manager Guide

August 15, 20267 min read

Winter-prepped manufactured home with sealed skirting and cleared walkway

Michigan winters break properties that aren't ready for them. One frozen pipe, one collapsed section of skirting, one un-cleared walkway with a slip-and-fall — any of those costs 10× what an hour of prep would. This is the checklist we use for rental portfolios and manufactured home communities across Southeast Michigan.

Exterior water

Shut off every exterior water bib at the interior shutoff, then open the exterior valve to drain.
Disconnect and drain every hose. Store hoses inside if possible.
Insulate any exposed pipe runs (crawl spaces, garages, unheated basements).

Skirting and crawl spaces

Walk every side of every manufactured home. Fix cracked, missing, or lifted panels before the first freeze.
Confirm all vent panels are closed or covered for winter.
Check heat tape on exposed water lines and confirm it's plugged in and working.
Verify vapor barrier is intact if you can access the crawl.

Roof and gutters

Clean gutters after leaf drop (usually early-to-mid November in SE Michigan).
Confirm downspouts drain 4+ feet away from the foundation.
Inspect roof edges for missing shingles or damaged flashing.
Address ice-dam-prone areas with attic ventilation or heat tape before snow starts.

Interior HVAC and safety

Fresh furnace filter; verify a full heat cycle.
Set every occupied thermostat to safe minimum (55°F on any vacant unit).
Test smoke and CO detectors and replace batteries.
Confirm water heater is set to 120°F.

Vacant units

Winterize (drain plumbing + pour antifreeze in traps) OR keep heat at 55°F minimum plus weekly checks.
Interior cabinet doors open under sinks on exterior walls.
Leave a slow drip on the coldest-facing faucet during hard freezes.

Community & common areas

Snow response plan — plow contract signed, salt on-site, priority routes mapped.
Walkway ice management — sand or ice-melt at every entrance and common walkway.
Signage and mailbox reinforcement before snow.
After-hours emergency contact posted for residents.

Want us to handle winter prep on your portfolio? See our preventive maintenance service, or request a plan.

Frequently asked questions

When should Michigan property owners start winter prep?

Start no later than mid-October. First hard freeze in Southeast Michigan can hit in early November. Getting exterior water shut off, hoses disconnected, gutters cleaned, and skirting sealed before that first freeze is the goal.

What's the biggest winter risk for rental properties?

Frozen pipes. A single burst pipe in an unheated wall or crawl space can cause $5,000–$25,000 in water damage. Skirting integrity, pipe insulation, and keeping the thermostat at 55°F minimum on vacant properties prevents almost all of it.

Do vacant rentals need to stay heated in winter?

Yes. Set the thermostat to 55°F minimum, leave interior cabinet doors open under sinks on exterior walls, and either fully winterize (drain the plumbing) or make sure someone checks the property weekly.

What about manufactured home communities?

Communities have extra items: skirting integrity, vacant home winterization, salt supply and snow plow routing, common-area walkway ice management, and mailbox / signage snow damage checks.

Can you set up a recurring winter maintenance plan?

Yes. Recurring plans handle fall shutdown, mid-winter checks, snow response, and spring startup on a schedule — you don't have to remember any of it.