If you maintain a Saratoga Springs rental property, sooner or later, your tenant will call you with an immediate request for maintenance or repairs. It’s great to truly comprehend the best ways to respond to different tenant requests. If you are handy, there are some things you could surely deal with yourself. On the other hand, there are times when aiming and trying to fix something yourself could make matters worse. To distinguish properly when to call in a maintenance tech, here are a certain number of questions you can use to assess the case.
How urgent is the problem?
If your tenant has contacted you relating to a repair or maintenance issue, you should first find out how urgent the problem is. Even if your tenant may be dismayed and annoyed regarding a poorly and unreliably working dishwasher or dripping faucet, these are maintenance items that do not entail an emergency visit. Yet, if your tenant reports an issue that would make the property uninhabitable, you should take immediate action to settle the concern. Considerable examples include significant water leaks and damage or a non-functioning furnace or air conditioner. In these types of circumstances, it is oftentimes suitable to get help from professionals.
Do you know how to do it yourself?
If you have experience complying with maintenance and repair tasks, you may be the best person to resolve a tenant’s request. This is all the more true if the task is a quick and simple one or something you already know how to do. However, fixing something in an emergency without the proper tools or know-how could spell disaster and failure. For this exact reason, if you are either not absolutely sure how to find a solution to the problem or don’t have time to do it immediately, it’s surely best to send a service technician to take care of it for you.
Is doing it yourself REALLY the best use of your time?
Another critical question to consider is whether going over to your rental property and completing repair and maintenance tasks is the best use of your time. Every hour you spend on property repairs and maintenance is an hour you are not spending on other more important things, whether managing your investments or spending quality time with loved ones. If you take stock of how much your time costs, it may be more economical to hire a service tech instead.
Do the repairs require a licensed professional?
A small number of maintenance and repair items are almost worry-free, do-it-yourself tasks, namely replacing filters or cleaning the refrigerator coils. Others, though, may really need the services of a licensed professional. Such responsibilities are either too dangerous or difficult for untrained Saratoga Springs property managers to do themselves. Electrical problems, major plumbing problems, and difficulties with an HVAC unit should all be delegated to a professional service technician.
Is regular maintenance being scheduled?
To keep your rental property in good condition, you really need to ensure that regular maintenance is carried out. If your tenant seems unable or unwilling to help you with some routine maintenance tasks, you will either need to do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Anyway, proactive maintenance is one of the best things you can implement to steer away from those late-night emergency calls and follow closely on your property’s condition. By maintaining and replacing things before they break or wear out, you can reduce your maintenance and repair costs and keep your tenants pleased likewise.
If property maintenance and repairs are not your favorite part of owning a rental home, we can surely help! At Real Property Management Utah County, we apply a proactive approach to property maintenance. We also have access to a network of quality service providers who can keep your property in fine condition for less than you’d surely pay on your own. Contact us online to learn more!
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