What Maintenance Issues Are Emergencies and What Can Wait for Regular Business Hours?

If you plan on being a landlord, be aware that the hours can be unpredictable, especially when you need to address property emergencies. These can happen when you’re asleep or at unsociable times during the night.

It’s great to be prepared and learn how to handle emergencies after hours. But by their nature, emergencies can happen anytime, and, at Taylor Street, we believe it’s best to learn how to eliminate situations that lead to urgent property issues.

Even if situations cause panic, discomfort, or inconvenience, it might not be considered a property emergency. When a problem occurs past regular work hours, you should evaluate if it’s categorized as an emergency.

Defining a Maintenance Emergency

A situation that could end up harming or causing injury to your renters or threatening their safety in any way could count as an emergency. This includes potentially damaging your rental unit.

Here are some concrete examples of emergency maintenance concerns:

• Flood occurring in your rental place
• Fire breaking out
• Lack of heat during wintertime
• Lack of air conditioning unit under extremely hot conditions
• Electrical issues
• Leaks in your roof
• Extended power outage
• Break-ins by intruders

Defining Non-Emergency Maintenance

If the situation or damage does not threaten the health, safety, or the state of the property then this isn’t labeled as an emergency. Below are some examples of maintenance requests that can be resolved during normal working hours:

• No hot water
• No air conditioning (if the outside temperature is below 90 degrees)
• No heat (if the outside temperature is below 50 degrees)
• Malfunctioning appliance
• Noise complaints
• Minor leaks
• Burnt-out light bulbs
• Parking disputes

Handling Emergency Maintenance

Knowing how to deal with tenant requests is vital for landlords since this can be an important factor in your relationship with the tenants. It also contributes to keeping up a well-maintained rental home.

Here are vital factors in dealing with property emergency maintenance:

1. Be reachable.
2. Have access to emergency services.
3. Practice open communication and create a lease.
4. Perform your landlord duties and know how to classify an emergency.
5. Be informative.
6. Exercise patience and empathy with renters.
7. Remember to document the emergency.

Create Good Vendor Relationships

In the course of running a rental, you’re bound to arrange for property repairs. This is why it’s necessary to cultivate a positive relationship with a maintenance vendor. Having a solid network, you can rely on during property emergencies is essential.

For this reason, vendor screening is every bit as important as tenant screening. Here are tips when looking for an excellent vendor who will have your back during urgent situations:

Check the Vendor’s Reputation

It’s important for vendors to have a great reputation so property owners can trust them. Reading reviews online can help you assess whether a vendor is right for you. You can also source for referrals from your network.

Ensure that the vendor you end up choosing has experience in working for rental homes, so they’re more familiar with the process and required speed.

Request for Insurance Coverage

Make sure that the vendor has full general liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Otherwise, it will be hard when problems arise and you’re not satisfied with the work done. You might end up covering all the associated costs whether legal or medical.

Hire A Property Management Company

Landlords who have achieved success in their rental business often partner with outstanding property management companies to earn optimal returns from their investments. They understand that managing tenants can take up time and to reduce that, you must pick an excellent firm to work with.

You can start by asking for more information. Excellent companies have a good idea about the misgivings you’ll be feeling about letting someone take over the rental property management. They will welcome the queries you have.

Here are tips on what to seek in a potential property manager:

• Area of expertise – A lot of firms have specializations when managing rental units. Some are more focused in multi-family buildings while others may concentrate on vacation homes or commercial properties. Make sure they’re also well-versed in the local laws and familiar with the local market.

• Number of support staff – It’s crucial for a company to have adequate staffing. This includes property managers and support staff, such as administrative personnel, bookkeepers, and maintenance staff.
• Offered services – Since you want to reduce your workload as a property owner, it’s important to weigh what the company provides and charges. Ask about their process in marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, and the terms and conditions they have.

Bottom Line

Are you searching for a trusted property manager in your area? If yes, then contact Taylor Street Property Management today!

We offer high-quality services in marketing your vacant unit and provide superb customer service. Your income potential is our main focus and we make sure to maximize that by ensuring your rental is well taken care of, especially during property emergencies.