Own Rental Property? 3 Ways To Ensure Effective Response To Emergency Maintenance Issues
If you own rental property, you need to take maintenance calls seriously. This includes those emergency maintenance issues that might pop up. Speedy response to emergency maintenance issues will help keep your rental property in good condition. It will also ensure that your tenants are happy in your rental properties. Here are three steps you should follow to ensure an effective response to emergency maintenance needs.
Set Up an Emergency Reporting System
When it comes to emergency maintenance issues, the first thing you need to do is set up an emergency reporting system. Once you have that system in place, you need to share it with your tenants. A good way to do that is to include the information with the rental packets you provide at move-in. Your emergency reporting system should include the following details.
Who to Report to
Knowing who to report to in an emergency maintenance situation is vital information for your tenants to have. If you have a property management company that handles your day-to-day details, your tenants should contact them for emergency maintenance. However, if you manage your own rental properties, your tenants will need an emergency contact number for you.
How to Report
Knowing how to report a maintenance emergency is also important information for your tenants to have. If you have a web page for your property rentals, include a link that will provide immediate access to reporting information. If you prefer phone calls and texts, let your tenants know that, as well.
When to Report
When it comes to reporting maintenance emergencies, your tenants need to know what constitutes an emergency situation. It's a good idea to provide details about the types of situations that constitute a maintenance emergency. For instance, a toilet that's overflowing does constitute an emergency. However, low water pressure in the bathroom is a maintenance issue that can wait until normal business hours.
Maintain a Complete Emergency List
If you own rental property, it's crucial that you maintain a complete emergency response list. This list should include professional service vendors that you can contact in an emergency. You don't want to be searching for a plumber to use when the water heater in your rental home bursts. For maximum efficiency, maintain a vendor list that includes plumbers, roofers, electricians, locksmiths, and other property maintenance professionals.
Expand Your Response to Emergency Maintenance
When you send an emergency property maintenance team out to provide assistance for your tenants, take the opportunity to move past the emergency situation. This is the perfect time to have your service technicians identify other potential issues that they might notice. Preventative maintenance can help reduce the need for emergency response.
