93 cents of every dollar earned from rental income goes towards operating expenses. 27 cents cover residential maintenance, insurance, and utilities.
Texas is one of the states with the lowest profit margins at only 5 cents per dollar. How can you make upkeep easier and more efficient so it takes less of your earnings?
Read on to learn techniques to handle residential maintenance requests.
Create a Routine
Create a consistent timeline for all your residential maintenance duties. Put tasks on your calendar so you don't forget them.
Tenant maintenance requests can come at any time, but you can plan for them. Determine how they should submit them and whether the process differs for emergencies. Consider how long you'll take to respond, fulfill, and follow up on them, and keep the timeline consistent.
Decide Who Fixes What
Landlords have a legal responsibility to keep a property habitable. This means maintaining the appliances, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and water. You're also responsible for pest control, removing mold, and upholding the property's structural integrity.
Tenants have a legal responsibility to maintain the property as well. They must take out the garbage, follow building codes, maintain cleanliness, and prevent damage.
They can take on more duties in exchange for reduced rent. Most revolve around outdoor maintenance, such as:
- Cutting grass
- Putting down salt
- Cleaning gutters
- Shoveling snow
- Raking leaves or picking up branches
Include a clause in the lease agreement about who's responsible for which maintenance issues. This clear communication prevents disputes later.
Communicate Clearly
Prompt responses to maintenance requests help convince tenants to renew their leases. This reduces your vacancy rates and turnover costs.
Notify the tenant that you've received their request as soon as it comes in. Ask them what the best time to come and fix it would be.
Texas law requires you to provide 24-hour notice before entering the property except in emergencies. Send them a message again when you've fixed the issue.
Create a Budget
Your maintenance budget should be split into two components. Part of the money should be for routine maintenance, and the other should be for emergencies.
It's not a question of if but when you'll have a serious maintenance problem to solve. Plumbing issues could leave the property flooded or an old roof could collapse. Saving money for these issues in advance lets you fix them faster without having to worry that you can't afford to.
Get the Right Help
Finding the right contractors, such as hiring electricians for electrical problems, is an important part of maintenance coordination. Many landlords don't realize this is only one way to get help and not even the most effective.
Hiring a property manager is a more comprehensive solution. They have a full team of maintenance staff ready to step in.
Property manager duties in terms of maintenance include:
- Handling tenant requests
- Paying vendors
- Reviewing invoices
- Scheduling
- General repairs
- Landscaping
- Inspections
- Testing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Emergency repairs
Who Can Help With Maintenance Coordination?
Handling residential maintenance requests becomes easier with the right preparation. Create a routine, delegate tasks, communicate, set up a comprehensive budget, and hire professional help.
Rental Network Property Management, Inc. has over 30 years of experience. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive services, quick responses, reasonable rates, and flexible hours. Contact us today.