Scheduling and Appointments

[Jay Flaggs]

Hello BP, 

I self manage a couple properties and I often get tenants who expect me to schedule appointments for repairs and/or be present for such repairs when they cannot be there. These are usually non-emergency repairs on appliances. I usually try to help as much as I can, but I'm noticing that I spend a ton of time doing this. Some examples include: Brand new dishwasher dripping, brand new dryer not heating, bathroom sink clogged with hair, front door handle loose, etc. Part of this is okay with me because I can choose a reputable company to go out and fix issues, but the other side of it is that I feel like the tenant should be available to coordinate with that repair company and be there to let them in. 

Please don't push property management as the solution. I hired a PM at one point and was totally unsatisfied with their service. What I took away from that experience is just how little effort some management companies put into their properties. They were basically just a middleman between the tenant and my wallet -- which is something I can achieve with with online PM software.

So my question is should I continue scheduling appointments for my tenants? If there is a line to be drawn, at what point can I expect them to schedule their own repair appointments? 

[Michael Brattelli]

@Jay Flaggs if it’s a pain for you to get there just ask the tenant what their availability is to be home and coordinate with the contractor/whoever is doing the work. If they can’t accommodate and it’s not an emergency then they will have to wait for the service until they’re available to provide access. I would only go for an emergency or if it’s something I wanted to be present for. Establishing you are in charge is important. Hope this helps.