With Investopedia reporting that renting is now much wiser than buying for many Americans, we are about to see a lot more U.S. renters. With that comes more maintenance and difficulty organizing said upkeep. So, what is the best way to ensure you can handle tenant requests seamlessly and keep your renters happy long-term?
In this article, discover tips and tools to help with maintenance coordination, including:
- Property maintenance planning
- Leveraging maintenance management tools
- Strengthening tenant communication
- Saving money by coordinating maintenance tasks
Read on to discover maintenance scheduling tips that can work for you.
1. Implementing a Property Maintenance Plan
Start by creating a maintenance agreement when discussing the contract with potential tenants. Such a document can outline the scope of each party's responsibilities, preventing disagreements later on. You will want to include things such as:
- Seasonal tasks
- Routine inspection
- Emergency repairs
- Basic cleaning and maintenance
Prioritize these tasks based on urgency to mitigate disruption and keep both parties happy.
Tenants will not want to increase their rent to help with maintenance. According to Forbes, Americans spend more than 30% of their income on rent. So, instead, set aside a portion of the renter's payments towards such tasks.
2. Utilizing Technology for Maintenance Management
To ensure all parties stay up-to-date, use maintenance management software tools to report, track, and schedule tasks in the home.
Provide the tenant with a portal into this tool to allow them to:
- Submit maintenance requests
- Offer feedback
- Make suggestions
- Discuss ongoing issues
Using such tools will save you both time and money and may even help you predict future needs, allowing you to take proactive and preventative action.
3. Strengthening Communication With Tenants and Contractors
Always keep open lines of communication with a tenant, even when it may be difficult. Establish expected response times and ensure they are aware of your ongoing availability, too.
Lastly, keep documentation of all discussions for your business records.
4. Streamlining Financial Planning for Property Maintenance Efficiency
Create a detailed annual maintenance budget to anticipate future needs and for accounting purposes. You can also use historical data from other issues to estimate maintenance costs better.
Leverage accounting software to track and manage maintenance expenses, keeping a reserve fund to cover unexpected repairs. With these tools available, you can be more transparent with the tenant and resolve issues together.
5. Ensuring Compliance With Local Regulations in Putnam, CT
Connecticut landlords must respond to repair requests within 15 days. The timeframe is, of course, much shorter in an emergency.
When you enact repairs, keep a detailed record of what you do and when the maintenance occurs. You can use these as evidence during inspections and audits or as records for your and your tenant's needs.
Ensuring Efficient Maintenance Coordination
Adopting the above best practices will streamline your maintenance coordination efforts and simplify the process for you and your tenants. Effective and efficient repairs and upkeep can then lead to more competitive rental prices and long-term renters.
If this is too much effort, you can always engage with a property manager such as PMI Putnam, who can make maintenance seamless for you and your tenants. Their expertise can optimize the upkeep of your portfolio and help you stay ahead of issues. So, contact PMI Putnam and ensure the satisfaction of both landlord and renter today.
