Whether you are a single unit operation or manage a large apartment complex, choosing your maintenance contractor is very important decision. The demand for good maintenance professionals continues to increase while the availability decreases.  Whether you are refurbishing a rental unit for a new tenant or doing repairs to a leased unit, you may be faced with having to hire someone other than your regular handyman. The service pro is described as someone proficient in a variety of abilities in repair and maintenance. They must have the experience and inventiveness to assess problems and solutions to small jobs in the rental unit. This includes fixing any sort of mechanical, electrical or structural problem as well as performing routine measures to prevent potential problems from arising. 

  Hiring the right maintenance contactor, also known as a handyman, should be a process that involves much care and attention to detail. A haphazard hiring process can cause more problems and cost more money than the original need required. Property managers should treat the hire like any major purchase or job because the ramifications are the same. The following are seven tips that will guide you to making to making a good decision.

Landlord Staffing:  

Determine your needs. Before scheduling an appointment, it is wise to detail exactly what your needs are. Take an inventory of your property by physically inspecting every square foot of the unit and testing all mechanical and electrical devices.   It is important to develop a checklist in order to save time and give attention to detail. Keep this checklist on file for your future use. This list is a very valuable asset to the property manager. Having this list will also demonstrate to the contractor that you are knowledgeable and organized. It may influence the price of the job.

Qualify the Job- After determining your needs, it is important to assess if the job requires a special licensing. Such jobs include plumbing, electrical and structural repairs. Most cities will not issue permits without proper licensing. Bringing in a contractor without properly qualifying will waste everybody’s time and money. You may have to pay a trip charge by bringing in a contractor without the proper licensing.  It is not always less expensive to hire a handyman than a professional to do a job.  A professional can diagnose and fix a problem faster.  

"Hiring the Right Maintenance Contractor"

Landlord Staffing:            

Qualify the Contactor-It is very important to determine if a particular contractor is in good standing with the business community. Always check with the Better Business Bureau and the local chamber of commerce to see if the contractor is in good standing by consistently following good business practices. In addition to checking with business organizations, never forget to ask for a least three references. Once you have the references, never forget to follow up. Always ask the references about their satisfaction with the contractor as well as the appearance and professionalism. Remember, these contractors may have contact with your customers and this contact could be a factor which could weigh heavily when its renewal time.

 Be present at walkthrough-Always walk the property with the contractor. Do not expect the contractor to know how to fulfill your needs without your presence. Never forget to bring your checklist so that you don’t omit all the details of the job. Nothing cuts more into the bottom line than having to bring in a contractor for a quote multiple times because of incomplete job details. This will also assist the contractor in giving you an accurate price because he will have the opportunity to ask you questions and voice concerns. The dialog alone will enlighten you to many aspects of the job that you may not have considered.  You will also have the opportunity to detail your expectations and vision for the job.

 Get multiple bids- It is always good to get different contractor to bid on the job. Not only is it good to compare prices but opinions as well. Different people may have different solutions on how to fix a particular problem. It is a great benefit to give yourself as many options and perspectives as possible.

 Determine the price- The price quoted to you may have different inclusions such as trip charges and fees. Many contractors offer the option of purchasing supplies yourself. You may find it a benefit to go the hardware store and not pay for the contractor’s drive time.

 Assessing the completed job- Once the job has been completed, make sure that you walk through the property to confirm that all your needs have been met. Bring your checklist and contract to compare the actual work with your expectations. If you are satisfied with your service and price, keep the contractor for future service. The more a contractor is familiar with your operation, the easier it is for him to diagnose and repair future problems. This will translate into great savings and added confidence in handling maintenance issues.