Vital Property Maintenance Services

Welcome to our comprehensive look at property maintenance services which are central to a property management company.

Maintenance affects every aspect of your rental business from asset value to tenant satisfaction to lower operating costs.

Without excellent maintenance, many properties are really not investible and asset depreciation will become an issue for the owner. A good number of landlords tend to let maintenance services go which is on the list of big landlord mistakes.

Toward Predictive Maintenance

Besides a regular schedule of maintenance practices, property maintenance pros too whether on staff or outside provider can help you focus on predictive maintenance and the power of work automation.

This service/capability exceeds the results from only scheduled maintenance and reactive maintenance (fixing things that wear out or break right away) by inspecting and foreseeing when equipment will wear out and thus conducting proactive actions. This is how landlords prevent sudden, costly big expenses.

10 Key Benefits of Property Maintenance

1. Increases Property Value: Regular maintenance and upgrades can significantly increase the property’s market value, ensuring a good return on investment.
2. Attracts and Retains Tenants: Well-maintained properties are more attractive to prospective tenants and can encourage current tenants to renew their leases, reducing vacancy rates.
3. Reduces Overall Repair Costs: Addressing issues early can prevent minor problems from becoming major, costly repairs.
4. Improves Tenant Satisfaction: Tenants are more likely to be satisfied with their living situation if maintenance issues are promptly addressed, leading to better tenant-landlord relationships.
5. Ensures Safety and Compliance: Regular maintenance ensures that the property meets safety codes and regulations, reducing the risk of accidents and legal liabilities.
6. Enhances Energy Efficiency: Maintenance of HVAC systems, insulation, and windows can improve energy efficiency, reducing utility costs for both landlords and tenants.
7. Maintains Property Aesthetics: Keeping the property looking good maintains its appeal, which is important for both tenant satisfaction and neighborhood standing.
8. Prevents Larger Damage Costs and Issues: Regular checks can identify and mitigate risks like water damage, pest infestations, and structural issues before they escalate into something truly costly.
9. Boosts Rental Income: Well-maintained properties can command higher rents, increasing revenue for property owners.
10. Protects Investment: Overall, regular maintenance protects the property owner’s investment by ensuring that the property remains in good condition and continues to generate income over time.

Maintaining Asset Value and Business Revenue

Maintenance service companies as an example, not only keep properties in tip top shape, but also help maintain good tenant relations, keep tenants safe, and generate the amazing tenant experience everyone expects.

Property maintenance services are the collective responsibilities of inspecting, cleaning, repairing, and regularly scheduled upkeep of a building or property to avoid safety issues, tenant dissatisfaction, legal costs, and emergency repair of equipment and assets.

Since repairs have to be done immediately in most situation, the cost of emergencies is a significant issue. Often, rental owners lose sight of the dollar value of maintenance services, which might be why maintenance is underappreciated. It’s important for property managers to calculate the dollar value so owners will invest in long-term property management.

Finding a Credible Property Service Provider

And if you’re a landlord considering hiring a property maintenance company or a maintenance technician in-house to assist with the upkeep of your properties, and handle various seasonal maintenance projects, you want to hire well.

Property Maintenance Staff Salaries

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a maintenance service worker is $33,337. In Boston, the rate is $54,718, while in San Francisco, pay is $59,297, and in New York City the pay is $50,652 per year.

The level of salaries depends on the age and condition of buildings/houses in those regions. Older neighborhoods and cities, such as Boston and New York and New Jersey would have greater need for maintenance, especially on historically-designated properties.

Consider the amounts local governments invest in maintaining buildings, properties and landscaping, and you realize the emphasis is on safety, preservation, and getting maximum value from assets. Long term value (LTV) is a factor for owner profits and asset resale value.

Maintenance Pros UVP:

• keep equipment serviced and appliances clean, lubricated, and optimized for heavy-duty work
• provide specialized skills/training or older or newer equipment
• ensure operations meet government safety standards and other regulations to avoid costly fines and lawsuits
• keep shared common areas and pedestrian paths clean and safe
• respond to emergencies at any time of day or night
• work indoors or outdoors often in uncomfortable conditions
• respond to risky assignments on ladders, cramped conditions, heat extremes, near dangerous machines
• responding to accident/disaster remediation

It’s advised to set your property maintenance budget at 2% to 4% of the property value. For that small amount, you may get an excellent return in work provided. And using your property management software time efficiencies helps you accomplish more.

What Do Property Maintenance Staff Do?

• learn best practices associate with maintenance planning and scheduling
• routine inspection of property, appliances, structural conditions, and machinery
• purchase and replace damaged materials, parts, and equipment
• understanding mechanical systems and where they are likely to deteriorate or break down (preventative maintenance plan)
• maintenance of heating and cooling systems, plumbing systems, doorways, windows, roofing
• recording maintenance and repair work done
• acquire and maintain their own tools such as floor and power-washing tools, specialized tools, and service trucks (saving you the cost of buying or leasing these)
• track and organize work orders via property management system
• arranging for hiring of contractors for any specialized repairs/replacements needed
• ensuring safety systems and fire detection systems are in working order
• installing new furniture, cabinetry, ceiling fans, lights, fixtures
• repairing/replacing rooftop A/C systems (spiders, bug, snakes)
• working on plumbing, electrical, lighting, swimming pool machinery
• cleaning windows, painting, repairing drywall, and driveway snow removal
• repairing concrete, asphalt driveways and sidewalks
• painting and graffiti prevention & removal
• trash removal
• interior & exterior facade coating and painting and repairs
• cleaning roof gutters and storm drains
• cleaning and repairing signs

What is the Cost of Not Hiring a Competent Property Maintenance Service Provider?

One way to appreciate the value is to consider the cost of not doing maintenance at all. How much would the property depreciate and by how much would your rent revenue fall, tenant complaints and tenant turnover rise? At first, the damage isn’t apparent but as months pass, the collective price is revealed in emergency visits, materials delays, angry tenants, tenant churn, turnover costs and leasing difficulties.

Consider these losses:

• expensive machinery and other assets wear out faster and break down causing expensive repair bills
• mistakes and lack of attention mean you’re not aware of your property’s condition and foreseeing big repairs you’ll suffer
• property and buildings look unclean, unsafe, and working poorly thus reducing property value and rent price potential
• tenants are less loyal, complain more, and are more likely to leave their leases
• lack of certainty about future value of property and the costs to maintain properties
• lengthy, costly periods of non-operational features
• reduces property management staff morale and tenant relations
• repairs, equipment and labor become too expensive for you
• prevents you from scaling up your business for greater profitability
• bills for burst pipes, HVAC system breakdown, roof water leaks, and other emergencies is expensive

Property Maintenance Tasks by the Season

Service people keep your property safe and optimized 365 days a year.

Since property maintenance is a physical job, you must prepare for and manage seasonal-related matters. These services ensure you don’t have to deal with repairs at the worst times where costs might really get out of hand. It’s likely you know about all that by now.

Getting things done before winter sets in is vital.

Winter Maintenance

Snow, wind and ice are formidable forces for any type of real estate. Here’s what your winter maintenance does to ease that erosion of value:

• roof inspection to discover potentially damaging weakness in roofs such as loose/missing shingles, gaps in water runoffs and near chimneys
• snow and ice clearance on sidewalks, parking lots and near doorways
• insulating and winterizing pipes and shutting off external water supply to avoid frozen pipes/spiggots
• protecting vulnerable plants, bushes and trees from harsh winter temperatures and wind
• landscaping, tree pruning of weak branches, and debris clearance
• flushing water heater to keep it in working order
• inspecting windows for leads and energy wastage
• checking HVAC and fireplaces for issues before winter sets in

Spring Maintenance

After winter’s long, punishing conditions, your technician will need to check for broken or worn out components as spring arrives. Cracked PVC pipes, torn shingles, wood rot on external structures, ice buildup damage on eavestroughs, side walk tiles heaved, water drainage issues, debris in A/C unit, swimming pool condition, irrigation systems all require inspecting. It’s not summer here yet, so painting, lawn care, tree trimming, and roof repairs may have to wait.

Summer Maintenance

Summer’s heat, humidity and rain storms test your buildings and landscaping in a whole new way. And summer provides us with a great time to inspect and do repairs. Hopefully, your spring maintenance inspections helped you identify what is needed now. In summer, your maintenance service provider will:

• check trees for weak branches
• check roofing for loose shingles where wind and rain will generate problems
• inspect for damage after major storms
• check for structural issues in the house
• powerwash sidewalks, wood decks, walls, and driveways
• prune and clean out problem vegetation
• check lawns for bug infestation
• aerate soil, cut  lawns, fertilize  and seed  the lawn
• inspect for early insect and pest infestation
• wash windows and replace worn-out or damaged screens
• inspect water tank, garbage disposal, furnace, and clean washers and dryers

Fall Season Maintenance

Fall provides a quiet time for cleaning and preparing for the winter season. During the fall your provider will:

• paint exterior surface while temperatures aren’t too hot or cold for the paint to adhere and dry properly
• check eavestrough gutters for good structural condition and clear away leaves and debris
• check for loose shingles on roof for any gaps or cracks that allow water leaks
• straighten and affix gutter water drainage pipes
• blow out irrigation pipes and clean out HVAC ventilation pipes
• replace batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide detectors and test frequently
• drain garden hoses and later turn off exterior water valves
• check insulation in attic and walls
• inspect windows for leaks, cracks and worn sill boards where water will get in
• store summer furniture
• replace air furnace filter and check furnace operation
• check exterior siding is well affixed against coming high winds
• provide with salt, sand, shovels, or other seasonal provisions

Multifamily and apartment building maintenance service firms will have additional facilities, infrastructure and equipment issues to attend to, including elevators, pool systems, common area cleaning, winter use preparation, summer furniture removal, parking lot snow removal, and building mechanical systems. Those buildings/developments often required licensed and skilled trades specialists.

Steps to Conduct Maintenance Well

• find a modern property management system which includes service maintenance tickets and work order management
• using your property management system, take inventory of all your assets and what maintenance work is needed to keep in a good condition
• determine whether you need specialized expertise, or a part-time or full-time general contractor
• determine what your yearly maintenance service budget is
• know what services you and your current in-house staff can reliably perform
• understand what your future maintenance needs to be if you grow your portfolio of properties
• use your property maintenance/management software to assign tasks and create a team communications channel
• use the property management software’s reporting system to keep up on all maintenance tickets in progress

The decision on what you can afford to do, and who you should hire is specific to you and your budget. Rather than focusing on the present only, consider the long-term value of good maintenance and what your property value and revenue outlook will be in 5 years.

See more on hiring a property maintenance company, and selecting an excellent property maintenance software solution.

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