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Finding the Best Property Maintenance Services

346 views March 2, 2024 Karina Jugo 2

Rental property owners with long-term success take great care of their investments. They realize that even though it can be tempting to ignore minor issues in homes and buildings to save a few bucks, it pays to keep these properties in good shape. That’s why property maintenance services are so important.

Whether you own a residential or commercial rental property, you’ll need the best property maintenance services. Fortunately, the routine maintenance regimen is relatively similar for both avenues.

property maintenance services

Typical Property Maintenance Services

Below is a list of services you may need to handle maintenance needs in a residential or commercial property. These services can include but aren’t limited to: 

  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Heating & Air Conditioning
  • Carpet Cleaning & Installation
  • Pest Control
  • Network & Cable
  • Insurance
  • Landscaping & Yard Maintenance
  • Hospitality

As you can see, property maintenance services cover a wide array of property needs. However, all these are equally yoked in urgency and the need to be addressed with the highest customer satisfaction standards.

Residential Management Needs

As I stated earlier, the needs of both residential and commercial properties will often overlap. However, there are a few maintenance needs that tend to swing one way or the other or will lean heavily toward a particular sector. 

Yard Maintenance

For residential properties, there is a greater emphasis on keeping up appearances. For example, I live in an apartment complex where the groundkeepers or landscapers have an almost constant presence on the premises. They are forever cutting the grass and hedges or planting flower beds regularly to ensure a consistent supply of fresh flowers throughout the year! 

Keeping the exterior of the property well-maintained, including landscaping, sidewalks, and building facades, is essential to create a positive impression and attract potential renters.

Carpet Cleaning

Another general service I see is carpet cleaners or the installation of new carpets. Children and pets are often detrimental to carpets; unfortunately, when tenants move out, those carpets have to be cleaned or replaced. Speaking of children, did you know that over 40% of single-family renters have kids? For this reason, carpet cleaning is a must in every rental property.

property maintenance services

Heating & Cooling

Rental properties are also sensitive to the changing weather throughout the year. That means that heating and air conditioning repairs or replacements will be a constant worry for residential property owners. This is particularly true in southern regions, especially during the summer. In the winter, this is more of a concern in the northern areas. 

Regular inspection and servicing of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems is essential to ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency.

Cable & Internet

Tenants living in residential properties also expect access to quality networking and cable options. Most apartment complex landlords do not allow satellite dishes to be installed on their units. For this reason, network cables will often be run into the complex by local internet service and cable providers.

While it is the service provider’s responsibility to repair any damage or faultiness in cables, it is up to the landlord to place the service call. For instance, the cause of a cable or internet problem can lie outside the home or underground. If this is the case, the landlord has to provide explicit permission for the service provider to dig up older lines.

Unfortunately, this comes at a cost to the landlord, and in my personal experience, landlords may be slow to authorize the digging up of cables, especially if outages aren’t widespread. 

Commercial Management Needs

For commercial properties, the needs will vary greatly depending on what the property will be used for. Restaurants, for example, may focus on cleanliness as a top priority, and pest control is one service they will use most often.

Pest Control

Routine pest control in commercial properties is typically conducted to prevent and manage pest infestations. The specific methods and procedures may vary depending on the type of property, the nature of the business, and the severity of the pest problem.

Commercial pest control is typically an ongoing process. Regular monitoring is essential to detect any new pest activity or changes in the existing pest population. Monitoring devices such as traps or baits may be used to aid in this process.

It’s worth noting that commercial properties with food handling areas or sensitive environments (e.g., hospitals) may have additional regulations and stricter requirements for pest control to ensure public health and safety. Therefore, pest control in these settings may involve more rigorous protocols and documentation.

Electricals & Temperature Control

Temperature control is also a vital concern for those properties that may be involved in the food industry. Ensuring industrial freezers and backup power is available could make or break a business. Therefore, the electrician you hire must ensure appliances that require lots of energy will work efficiently without overloading your local energy grid.

You may think, “I only own the property; how my tenant runs their business is their concern.” That may be true, but the electrical and maintenance choices may be up to you, and how you respond could determine the impression you make to future tenants as their landlords. 

Fire and Life Safety Systems

Fire and life safety systems in commercial properties are designed to protect the building’s occupants and assets in the event of a fire or other emergency. These systems are essential for ensuring the safety of people inside the property and minimizing potential damage to the building and its contents. Common fire and life safety systems in commercial properties include fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and emergency lighting that protect occupants in case of emergencies.

Regular inspections, testing, and maintenance of these systems are essential to ensure their proper functioning when needed most. Additionally, commercial property owners and managers should conduct fire drills and provide fire safety training to occupants to ensure everyone knows how to respond appropriately during an emergency.

Waste Management & Recycling

Waste management in commercial properties involves the collection, segregation, disposal, and recycling of waste generated within the premises. Effective waste management practices are essential for maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, minimizing environmental impact, and complying with local regulations.

Regularly checks must be conducted on waste containers to monitor their fill levels. This helps identify areas where waste generation may be higher, allowing for adjustments in bin placement or collection frequency. Specific procedures must also be implemented for the proper handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste.

Cleaning and maintenance of waste collection areas must also be carried out to prevent odors, pests, and potential health hazards. This includes cleaning bins, washing spillage, and sweeping waste collection zones.

Making the Right Choices

Maintaining your properties can often be time-consuming, overwhelming, and even costly if you don’t take the proper precautions promptly. In addition, your choices regarding the property maintenance services you provide immensely affect your impression on current residents and potential tenants.

Making sure everything about the operation or upkeep of your properties is efficient and operational should be a top priority. You should have several top-notch maintenance services on speed dial that encompass all your property needs. On top of that, you need an efficient tracking system to make sure every concern is addressed in the proper time frame.

The method you use doesn’t matter all that much, as long as it works best for you. Some landlords stick with pen and paper, and just keep their portfolio with them all the time. Others like spreadsheet programs including Microsoft Excel, or more customized software packages suited to the rental industry.

Summary

Whether you own residential or commercial rental properties, ensuring that your maintenance needs are met is a crucial and monumental task. Short-changing them isn’t an option, especially if you are considering your return on investment.

With so much on the line, managing your property maintenance can become overwhelming, and finding reputable contractors to fulfill your needs can take time and effort. Property management software and agencies are here to help if you need them. Your real estate goals are what you make them, so don’t hesitate to hire only the best when it comes to property maintenance!

Authors

  • Karina Jugo

    Karina Jugo is a content administrator at RentPost who works directly with real estate and property management experts to create resources and guides for property managers. She has more than 15 years of experience in content research and writing for various industries.

  • Jacob Thomason

    Jacob Thomason is the CEO and co-founder of RentPost, software platform providing property managers, landlord or owners with the tools necessary for property management. Jacob is a software entrepreneur with with a vast array of expertise ranging from business concept design to software architecture and development. He is running RentPost for more than 14 years and helping property managers and property owners.

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