Does Property Management Include Maintenance?

What Maintenance Do Property Managers Handle?

Traditionally, property managers have been responsible for the hands-on coordination and sometimes even execution of maintenance for the properties they manage. This includes:

• Handling maintenance requests from tenants
• Diagnosing issues
• Hiring contractors for repairs
• Obtaining quotes and approving invoices
• Shopping for parts/materials and providing for contractors on-site
• Inspecting work quality and completing
• Communicating with tenants on repair timelines/updates

For property managers without dedicated maintenance staff, this can quickly become a burden that detracts from other revenue-driving activities. However, many feel maintenance coordination is intrinsically part of property management.

The Benefits of Partnering With a Maintenance Company

More recently, an increasing number of property management firms have partnered with dedicated maintenance companies to hand off the time and labor-intensive duties associated with property upkeep. Doing so provides several key benefits:

• Improved Responsiveness: Dedicated maintenance teams can respond to emergencies and tenant requests much faster. Quicker response times lead to higher tenant satisfaction.

• Increased Efficiency: Maintenance teams focus solely on repair coordination and execution versus property managers juggling competing priorities. Specialization leads to greater efficiency.

• Enhanced Quality Control: Seasoned maintenance professionals often deliver higher quality work than non-specialized contractors sourced by property managers. This reduces callbacks and the need to return to the same issue multiple times.

• Reduced Costs: Bulk purchasing power combined with specialized expertise allows dedicated maintenance teams to often complete requests at a lower overall cost. These savings benefit property management clients.

• Higher Revenue Potential: Outsourcing maintenance gives property managers time to focus on leasing, tenant acquisition, client relationships and other revenue-driving tasks instead of sinking hours into repairs.

As you can see, joining forces with an experienced maintenance company holds tremendous advantages when it comes to managing your properties more effectively.

Choosing the Right Maintenance Partner

Of course, all maintenance partners are not created equal. When evaluating companies, keep the following traits in mind:

• Proven Track Record: Look for years in business, number of clients served, client testimonials and reviews. This establishes a solid reputation built on experience.

• 24/7 Availability: Emergencies don’t just happen Monday through Friday. Make sure your partner provides reliable around-the-clock support.

• License and Insurance: Appropriate licensing and ample insurance ensures you’re working reputable professionals equipped to handle specialized repairs.

• Staffing and Inventory: Having technical staff and parts inventory on hand is crucial for faster response. Make sure they’re well resourced.

• Communication Skills: Central to any property is keeping tenants happy and in the loop. Ensure any potential partner demonstrates transparency with residents and proactively keeps you informed.

• Cost Structure: The financials should make sense for your business. Look for reasonable per-request pricing, service packages or even flat-rate monthly agreements that provide value and won’t blow your budget.

Is Outsourcing Maintenance Right for You?

While most property management firms stand to benefit greatly from partnering with a dedicated maintenance provider, evaluate the fit based on factors like:

• Current Staffing: If you have in-house technicians handling most repairs, outsourcing may provide less benefit although it could fill gaps in specialty skills.

• Repair Volume: Is your maintenance request volume high enough to justify a full-time partner? If not, the flexibility of an on-call arrangement may better suit your needs.

• Property Types: Specialized knowledge is required for certain buildings like public housing, subsidized housing, historical buildings and more which may limit potential partners.

• Existing Systems: Heavily customized software environments can create integration challenges with outside maintenance tracking/dispatch systems. These should be addressed ahead of onboarding.

• Ownership Preferences: Some property owners strictly prefer handling repairs internally. Make sure to align agreements with their requirements.

While evaluating whether to hand off maintenance entirely or in part, run the numbers comparing your current costs to a proposal from a dedicated provider. Generally you can expect enhanced service levels and repair quality in exchange for reasonable per-request or monthly fees that ultimately provide overall value.

Reliable Support Yields Happy Tenants, Owners and Properties

In summary, outsourcing maintenance allows property management companies to optimize time towards revenue-focused business activities while accessing specialized support purpose built to keep properties and tenants satisfied. Joining forces with a seasoned maintenance provider like Octo Property Services means tapping into years of expertise you’d otherwise have to build in house.

And with maintenance coordination off your plate, you’re free to strengthen leasing velocity, tenant retention and owner relationships through an unrelenting focus on what you do best – delivering exceptional property management services. The result is maximize revenue and growth for your business.

Partner With Octo Property Services

As a full service maintenance company we stand ready to become that reliable partner so you can say goodbye to the headaches of repairs and upkeep. Our commitment to responsive service, transparent communication and high-quality work means your properties hum along smoothly while you grow your business.

Contact Octo Property Services today to learn more about how outsourcing maintenance can benefit your property management business!