Maintaining a Rental Property: Should Property Owners DIY?

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By Rentwell

Are you considering taking care of maintenance yourself for your rental property? While it may seem like a good idea, there are several reasons why hiring a professional property manager is best. 

Today, our experts discuss why it's not always a good idea to do the maintenance yourself for rental properties, including preventive upkeep tasks and maintenance emergencies. We'll also talk about the benefits of hiring the best DelCo property management company for maintaining your rental property.

"Can" You Do It Yourself?

"Can you DIY repairs" is a tricky question to ask. If you're handy and the repair is simple, it can be tempting to take care of it yourself. For example, changing a lock or unclogging a toilet is something you may be able to handle without too much trouble. 

However, if you don't have the skills or tools for the job, attempting to repair something yourself can be dangerous and expensive (even if you think you're saving money and staying under budget by not hiring a professional). Additionally, if you don't have the right insights, you may make the problem worse than before.

Taking too much time to make multiple trips to the hardware store can also be frustrating to tenants who just need the problem fixed. They're relying on you to take care of the issue promptly, and if you're not able to do so, it can lead to tenant dissatisfaction and even turnover.

So, instead of asking yourself if it's something you "can" handle, think about if it's a repair you "should" attempt on your own vs. hiring a property manager to take care of maintenance for you!

Young Woman Shaking Hands To Male Plumber With Clipboard In Kitchen RoomWhy Hire a Property Manager?

Hiring a property manager for maintaining your rental property is the best way to ensure that all maintenance issues are handled efficiently and effectively. Here are some benefits of hiring a property manager for maintaining a rental property.

Expertise and Resources

A professional property manager has the experience and expertise to handle all types of maintenance issues. They have a network of professionals and handymen who are skilled and experienced in handling all types of maintenance issues. 

Additionally, they can help you avoid potential DIY disasters by fixing things correctly the first time. 

Save Time and Money

Hiring a property manager for rental property maintenance can also save you time and money. They take care of all routine maintenance and repairs, which means you don't have to spend your valuable time and money taking care of it yourself. 

The right property managers in the DelCo area have the resources to purchase any necessary tools and equipment for ongoing maintenance or repairs, which can save you money in the long run. Why buy something you'll only use for a repair once when you can rely on a company that has the necessary tools for any repair at any time?

Tenant Satisfaction and Retention

When tenants know that maintenance issues will be handled promptly and effectively, they're more likely to stay in the property long-term. On the other hand, if maintenance issues are not handled in a timely manner, it can lead to tenant dissatisfaction and even legal issues. 

By hiring a property manager for rental property maintenance, you can ensure that all maintenance issues are handled promptly and effectively, leading to higher tenant satisfaction and retention.

Young man collecting leaking water from ceiling at home, space for textYou're Not on the Front Lines

When property owners take on their own rental property repairs, tenants may start coming directly to you with their maintenance requests rather than going through your property management company. This can create confusion and lead to scheduling issues, particularly if you're not always available to handle these requests.

When your property manager handles all maintenance tasks, including receiving maintenance requests, you don't have to worry about tenants contacting you after hours (or repeatedly) with a maintenance issue. Your property manager is on the front lines and handles all communication, schedules work orders, and ensures maintenance and repairs happen as planned. 

Rentwell's BOSS Program Can Help

We know that many property owners realize they shouldn't handle rental property repairs. However, they also don't need full property management services. So, why would they need a property manager for maintenance? 

If you already have your own vendors but need help receiving and scheduling maintenance services, our new BOSS program (Back Office Support Services) be ideal for you. With BOSS, you remain "the boss," while Rentwell helps with back-office support. We can send maintenance requests to your vendors and communicate with tenants, taking care of all the administrative tasks, so you don't have to.

We can also send maintenance work orders to our vetted contractors if that fits your needs better. Property owners can take advantage of our maintenance services without committing to additional property management services. 

Maintaining a Rental Property is Better With Expert Help

While it may be tempting to handle maintenance and repairs on your own, it's often best to leave it to the experts. By hiring a property manager, you can ensure that all maintenance tasks are handled promptly and efficiently, which can help keep your tenants happy and minimize turnover. 

If you're interested in learning more about Rentwell's DelCo property management services, including our BOSS program, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Topics: Delco Property Management Rental Property Maintenance Maintaining A Rental Property