If you are in possession of and running a Southern Prince George’s County rental property, sooner or later, your tenant will call you with a petition for maintenance or repairs. It’s salient to know the best ways to respond to different tenant requests. If you are handy, there are some things you could under any circumstances deal with yourself. On the other hand, there are times when trying to fix something yourself could make matters worse. To realize when to call in a maintenance tech, here are particular questions you can use to assess any given situation.
How urgent is the problem?
If your tenant has contacted you regarding a repair or maintenance issue, you should first look over how urgent the problem is. Although your tenant may be frustrated regarding a badly functioning dishwasher or dripping faucet, these are maintenance items that do not actually call for an emergency visit. But take note, on the flip side, if your tenant reports an issue that would make the property uninhabitable, you should take immediate action to straighten out the snag or problem. A handful of examples are significant water leaks and damage or a non-functioning furnace or air conditioner. In these types of things, it is conventionally better to refer to professionals for expert help and assistance.
Do you know how to do it yourself?
If you have experience with working on maintenance and repair tasks, you may be the ideal person to answer a tenant’s request. Especially true if the task is a sufficiently quick and simple one or something you already know how to do. At the same time, mending something in an emergency without the proper tools or know-how could spell failure. This is exactly why, if you are either not firmly sure on how to manage the problem or disturbance or don’t have time to do it as quickly as possible, it’s 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 useful 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 significant things, whether managing your investments or spending quality time with loved ones. If you estimate how much your time costs, it may be more economical to hire a service tech instead.
Do the repairs require a licensed professional?
A bunch of maintenance and repair items are simply easy, do-it-yourself tasks, like replacing filters or cleaning the refrigerator coils. Others, though, may require the services of a licensed professional. Such issues are either too dangerous or difficult for untrained Southern Prince George’s County property managers to do themselves. Electrical problems, major plumbing issues, and concerns with an HVAC unit should all be dealt with by a professional service technician.
Is regular maintenance being scheduled?
To keep your rental property in good condition, you will need to ensure that regular maintenance is completely implemented. If your tenant seems unable or unwilling to help you with some routine maintenance tasks, either decide to do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. In any circumstance, proactive maintenance is one of the perfect methods to eliminate those late-night emergency calls and keenly observe 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 content and happy.
If property maintenance and repairs are not your most cherished part of owning a rental home, we surely can help! At Real Property Management Gold, we service a proactive approach to property maintenance. We also have easy access to a network of quality service providers who can keep your property in the right condition for less than you’d perhaps pay on your own. Contact us online to learn more!
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