How are repairs addressed with Property Managers in my building

Maintenance and Repair Costs

Good maintenance and repairs keep tenants happy and preserve the value of your investment which make them a very important part of land-lording. By hiring a management firm you gain access to both their in-house maintenance staff, as well as their network of licensed, bonded and insured contractors who have already been vetted for good pricing and quality work. This can translate into significant savings compared to going through the yellow pages and hiring a handyman yourself.

*South Florida Property Management Association has our own Vendor & Business Member directories these members directly aid our Management members giving them cost savings for any work needed in the buildings they manage. This savings means savings for the building owners.

Increased inspections means happier tenants, It aids in the value of your investment

Preventative maintenance is achieved through putting systems in place that catch and deal with maintenance and repair issues early on, before they grow into larger more costly problems. This requires a written maintenance check program, detailed maintenance documentation and regular maintenance visits. The management firm can also offer you suggestions and feedback on upgrades and modifications, both how they will affect the rent you can charge, as well as their impact on maintenance and insurance.

Evaluate the property and determine an accurate rental rate

• Perform detailed documentation of the interior and exterior including photos
• Offer recommendations on repairs and cosmetic improvements that maximize monthly rent while providing good ROI.
• Gather data on rental rates in the area and work with owners to determine the optimal rental rate. Rent research will vary, but should include looking at the recently rented comparables according to size and type.
• Discuss with owners the pros and cons of different policies such as accepting pets, allowing smoking etc.

Market the property for rent

• Prepare home for rent
  • Clean home and optimize interior appeal
  • Manicure landscaping to increase curb appeal
• Create ads tailored to the property and advertising medium. Some of the mediums commonly used are:
  • Paid and free rental listing websites
  • Print publications
  • Signs
  • MLS
  • Fliers
• Work with other realtors and leasing agents to find a tenant
• Provide a 24-hour hot-line where prospective tenants can listen to detailed information about the property
• Field calls from prospects for questions and viewings
• Meet prospective tenants for showings throughout the week and weekend.
• Provide prospective tenants with rental applications that are legally compliant with fair housing laws
• Collection applications with application fee
• Perform a background check to verify identity, income, credit history, rental history, etc.
• Grade tenant according to pre-defined tenant criteria
• Inform tenants who were turned down
• Draw up leasing agreement
• Confirm move in date with tenant
• Review lease guidelines with tenant regarding things like rental payment terms and required property maintenance
• Ensure all agreements have been properly executed
• Perform detailed move in inspection with tenant and have tenants sign a report verifying the condition of the property prior to move-in.
• Collect first months rent and security deposit
• Receiving rent
• Hunting down late payments
• Sending out pay or quit notices
• Enforcing late fees
• Filing relevant paperwork to initiate and complete an unlawful detainer action
• Representing owner in court
• Coordinating with law enforcement to remove tenant and tenants possessions from unit
• Advise in the event of a legal dispute or litigation
• Refer owner to a qualified attorney when necessary
• Understand and abide by the latest local, state and federal legislation that apply to renting and maintaining rental properties.
• Perform periodic inspections (Inside and outside) on a predefined schedule looking for repair needs, safety hazards, code violations, lease violations, etc.
• Send owner periodic reports on the condition of the property
• Provide accounting property management services
• Make payments on behalf of owner (Mortgage, insurance, HOA dues, etc.)
• Detailed documentation of expenses via invoices and receipts
• Maintain all historical records (paid invoices, leases, inspection reports, warranties, etc.)
• Provide annual reporting, structured for tax purposes as well as required tax documents including a 1099 form
• Advise owner on relevant tax deductions related to their rental property
• Provide easy to read monthly cash-flow statements which offer a detailed breakdown of income and itemized expenses
• Provide and oversee an in-house maintenance crew
• Establish a preventative maintenance policy to identify and deal with repair needs
• Provide an network of licensed, bonded and fully insured contractors who have been vetted for good pricing and good work that is up to code.
• Assign jobs to different parties (in-house employees, handyman and professional contractors) based on who will do the best job for the best price.
• Maintain outdoor areas
  • Leaf and snow removal
  • Landscaping
  • Removing trash and debris
• Maintain and monitor a 24 hour emergency repair hot-line
• Larger renovation or rehab projects
  • Provide recommendations on how the project can maximize rental income.
  • Prepare preliminary cost estimates
  • Get multiple independent bids for the work
  • Act as general contractor overseeing the work
• Inspect unit and fill out a report on the property’s condition when the client moves out
• Provide tenant with a copy as well as estimated damages
• Return the balance of the security deposit to the tenant
• Forward any portion of the owner’s portion of the tenant deposit to the owner or hold in owner reserves for repairs.
• Clean unit and perform and needed repairs or upgrades
• Re-key the locks
• Put the property back on the market for rent

How does the community association manager track incoming resident maintenance requests and the subsequent work orders?

A software solution should be in place here. You want to find a manager with a system that does not allow maintenance requests to fall through the cracks and require multiple tenant requests before the work is done. Ideally, tenants should be able to submit maintenance requests online. ( Add the Page of all PM, Landlord Software )

How are after hours maintenance requests and emergencies handled and who handles them?

Make sure its someone qualified to handle the problem. The last thing you want is an answering machine or someone saying you will have to wait till Monday to get your or your tenants issue resolved.

What system do they have in place to practice preventative maintenance?

Preventative maintenance is the mechanism a manager uses to maintain the value of your property and avoid letting small issues become larger more expensive problems down the road. This involves things like a predefined maintenance and inspection schedule as well as promptly addressing known issues. This of course assumes owners are willing to make the necessary repairs when they come up. Slum lords may balk, but successful real estate investors know that when you’re in for the long haul you have to engage in sustainable practices that maximize property values, not short-term practices that delay (and multiply) costs.

Do they have their own maintenance crew?

If the answer is yes, are they covered by workers compensation and are they licensed, bonded and insured? Additionally are they available 24/7/365 for emergencies?  As a member of SFPMA we have a full listing of vendors & business members on our directories for them to choose from.

What contractors do they work with?

Do the contractors carry workers compensation and are they licensed, bonded and insured? Does the management company oversee the contractors’ work for quality, code compliance and cost effectiveness? Some owners like to take the extra step of researching the primary vendors that will be used to make sure there are no red flags. All SFPMA members are checked making sure they have the proper licenses and insurance a requirement for membership.

What rules do they have in place regarding contractors entering occupied properties?

Make sure they have an established policy here. Anytime contractors and maintenance personnel are entering occupied units there is potential for trouble if the situation is not handled carefully.

Do they provide itemized statements with receipts for the work performed?

This adds accountability and transparency to the billing process. You don’t want to work with a management company that is unwilling to provide solid documentation of where your money is going.

Do they let tenants perform repairs?

Tenants perform inferior quality work, and their lack of insurance coverage, liability or workers compensation could leave you liable in the event of an accident or injury. Why take the risk of having them accidentally fall off a roof or ladder, electrocute themselves, or flood your home? If they don’t allow tenant repairs, make sure this is written into the rental agreement. If you are comfortable allowing them, at least have the tenant sign a waiver and agree that the repairs must be approved by the manager.

Do they allow tenants to hire their own handyman?

This is also inviting trouble, and the rental agreement should prohibit this. In some cases written into a single family home lease some repairs are included in the rental agreement, Find out if there are any agreement such as this. Check to make sure this is not considered a liability hazard although providing these services eliminates the issue of tenant neglect and can improve tenant satisfaction which helps with retention.

What is involved in their process for preparing a property to be re-rented after a tenant has vacated? How long does this process take?

The property should get the usual cleaning, paint job, re-keying, etc. but this is also a good time to consider strategic improvements that will maximize your rental revenue. You want to find a property manager that will proactively offer this kind of feedback on an as needed basis. Obviously the quicker the turnaround time, the better.