If you are an owner of a Dearborn rental property, sooner or later, your tenant will call you with an appeal for maintenance or repairs. It’s primarily important to understand the best ways to respond to different tenant requests. If you are handy, there are some things you could probably deal with yourself. On the other hand, there are times when making an effort to fix something yourself could make matters worse. To properly understand when to call in a maintenance tech, here are some questions you can use to assess the condition.
How urgent is the problem?
If your tenant has contacted you related to a repair or maintenance issue, you should first ascertain how urgent the problem is. Though your tenant may be troubled and upset with respect to a badly functioning dishwasher or dripping faucet, these are maintenance items that do not necessitate an emergency visit. Having said that, if your tenant reports an issue that would make the property uninhabitable, you should take immediate action to correct the dilemma. Some examples of these are significant water leaks and damage or a non-functioning furnace or air conditioner. In these types of situations, it is typically right to turn to professionals.
Do you know how to do it yourself?
If you have experience completing maintenance and repair tasks, you may be the perfect person to answer to a tenant’s request. This applies in particular if the task is just a quick one or something you already know how to do. Though, mending something in an emergency without the proper tools or know-how could spell trouble. Thus, if you are either not quite sure about how to confront the obstacle or don’t have time to do it swiftly, it’s potentially 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 vital 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 things, whether managing your investments or spending quality time with loved ones. If you look into how much your time costs, it may be more economical to hire a service tech instead.
Do the repairs require a licensed professional?
Different maintenance and repair items are comparatively effortless, do-it-yourself tasks, for instance replacing filters or cleaning the refrigerator coils. Others, on the flip side, may involve the services of a licensed professional. Such works are either too dangerous or difficult for untrained Dearborn property managers to do themselves. Electrical problems, major plumbing problems, and problems with an HVAC unit should all be commissioned to a professional service technician.
Is regular maintenance being scheduled?
To keep your rental property in good condition, you should ensure that regular maintenance is executed. If your tenant seems unable or unwilling to help you with some routine maintenance tasks, you must either do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. In any case, proactive maintenance is one of the appropriate ways to evade those late-night emergency calls and watch 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 preferred part of owning a rental home, we can definitely help! At Real Property Management Metro Detroit, we make use of a proactive approach to property maintenance. We equally have access to a network of quality service providers who can keep your property in excellent condition for less than you’d probably pay on your own. Contact us online to learn more!
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