Choosing Good Handymen & Maintenance

[Joshua Christensen]

Boy oh Boy if choosing Good Handymen & Maintenance isn't a full time job, I don't know what is.  One of the biggest challenges in property management is managing the upkeep and turn overs of vacant units as well as occupied units.  I'm celebrating my 1 year anniversary of our Property Management company on April first and I can honestly say, I had no idea what I was in for on this front.  

We started last year with my own 4 plex and a 16 unit complex.  Today, we've grown to 63 units (by mid May - 2 properties are under contract currently with buyers).  As we grow finding reliable and trustworthy people has been a challenge.  I've had great talent that took a full time position with a friend (I made the recommendation).  I've had a couple of alcoholics who showed up late or never.  I've had promises without delivery.  I've had guys look at an obvious flaw in their work and not see it as I pointed it out - still wanting to be paid of course.

Amazing how much time and energy it takes to oversee and manage all this as we are growing.  We finally found a great team that I'm going to do everything we can to keep.  Eventually, we'll get to the point that we'll be able to hire a full time maintenance staff.  These are the growing pains.

What are some of your experiences out there and how did you overcome them while you were managing a smaller portfolio?