Landlords in California are legally obligated to provide a safe and habitable living environment for their tenants. A well-maintained property has benefits beyond helping you comply with the law.
Property owners often wonder if they're responsible for their rental property maintenance costs. Using a property management firm can improve your maintenance coordination. Professional management can lower your maintenance costs, but it won't eliminate them.
Learn more about maintenance coordination and how to get the most out of your maintenance dollars.
What Does Maintenance Coordination Include?
Maintenance coordination is the schedule of maintenance, repairs, and inspections for your rental properties. The property manager works to protect your investment. They communicate with tenants, owners, and service vendors.
Maintenance coordination covers general maintenance and unexpected repairs.
Emergency and Non-Emergency Maintenance Requests
You can choose the type of maintenance services you want. Full-service maintenance coordination covers all emergency and non-emergency maintenance requests. If you're a more hands-on property owner, you may prefer that the property manager handles only emergency repairs.
Do Property Management Fees Cover Rental Property Maintenance?
No, property management fees don't cover maintenance and repair costs. Fees pay the property manager to coordinate the maintenance and repair process. The property owner is responsible for the cost of the repairs.
Common Strategies for Paying Rental Property Maintenance Costs
Property owners may be able to ask for an invoice for repairs. Otherwise, owners commonly set up a reserve fund.
A reserve fund lets the property manager handle repairs more efficiently. The owner maintains an agreed-upon minimum balance in the fund. You can decide if you want the manager to inform you before completing repairs above a certain cost.
Benefits of Professional Maintenance Coordination
Keeping your property well-maintained is important for several reasons. You have a legal obligation to ensure the property is safe and habitable for tenants. Timely rental property maintenance can extend the life of properties and equipment.
A well-maintained property is more likely to attract and keep quality tenants. The property value is higher, so you can charge a higher rent.
A property management company can help with your maintenance coordination. Professional maintenance coordination can streamline your processes. You can give better customer service while maximizing cash flow.
A property management company has a list of reputable contractors. They may be able to get you a better rate on repairs.
Most property management companies will set up an online portal where tenants can submit maintenance requests. Tenants can track the status of their request.
If you choose full-service maintenance coordination, the property manager will handle after-hours maintenance calls. You know your tenants are getting a rapid response at any time.
Streamline Your Maintenance Coordination
Good maintenance coordination is essential for your rental properties. It makes your properties more attractive to quality tenants. You can charge more in rent.
The property owner is responsible for paying the maintenance costs. You may pay less when you choose the right property management firm.
PMI First Choice can help protect your Newport Beach, CA investment with responsive maintenance coordination. We handle emergency and non-emergency requests. We negotiate reasonable rates with our network of quality contractors.
Schedule a consultation with us to discuss how we can help you provide better maintenance service at a competitive price.