Renters and Property Managers Posted by: rehabber7 Full Time Investor/Realtor, Coach
Posted on : 3/11/2010 2:14:04 PM I've know for a while that renters are typically some of the dumbest people on the planet, but now I need to add property managers to that list.
I just got a call from one of my property managers. He said that he had received a text from a renter who informed him that all of her outlets just went out in her house. He wanted to know if I wanted him to go fix it.
First, are renters too dumb to know how to check to see if they tripped a breaker by plugging too much into the same circuit? Second, are property managers too dumb to know to ask the renter if they tripped a breaker before they call me wanting to get paid for a service call over a tripped breaker?
Sure, it might be something more than a tripped breaker, but blank-it, I don't want to get a phone call until the property manager has used his bleeping little brain a little bit to try to work it out in the most efficient way possible - ideally without having to call me. That's what I hired him for! So I wouldn't have to get phone calls! Renter calls him, and he immediately calls me without trying to resolve the issue first. ARRRRGGGH! |
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one thing that does happen is.... Posted by: David Krulac
Posted on : 3/11/2010 4:38:33 PM GFI outlets tripping. Today codes require those outlets in kitchens, baths, launfry, garage, basement, and outside. There is talk of even bedrooms. They are very sensitive and can trip by turning off a switch, a fan on something else. It doesn't trip the breaker only the GFI.
David Krulac
www.centralpennlots.com |
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Yes and Yes......... Posted by: Nate-WI
Posted on : 3/11/2010 5:25:58 PM Rehabber7..you said "First, are renters too dumb to know how to check to see if they tripped a breaker by plugging too much into the same circuit? Second, are property managers too dumb to know to ask the renter if they tripped a breaker before they call me wanting to get paid for a service call over a tripped breaker?"
Yes and yes. Both are hard to come by and more often than not are clowns.
I've heard so many stories of bad mgmt companies and how the LL has to babysit them.
Nate-WI |
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Re:Renters and Property Managers Posted by: Dana
Posted on : 3/12/2010 5:38:55 AM I gotta ask, what does your signed One Year Lease Agreement say on a matter like this? Does it demand the tenant fix at his expense? Or, does it demand the the property owner to fix it at his expense? How about the agreement you signed with the property management company; are they responsible for minor repairs, or are you?
If there is no language in either, the job is now yours as property owner to call tenant and talk him through resetting the circuit breakers, no texting. Make a note of call; when, how long, who talked to, subject of call, put in their file (for next time).
Seriously, you ALL need to have some verbiage on repairs in writing before you start doing business, otherwise it WILL drive you crazy with time consuming things such as this. Have a clause in either contract such as; tenant/property management is responsible for the first $100 of repairs each month. It's your business, insert what you need, not what everyone else needs of you.
Being a landlord/landlady is an art and a long term endeavor. To have longevity you need to train everyone with your business standards and the only way to do this legally is by written, legally enforceable written agreements.
Dana
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renters and property managers Posted by: rehabber7 Full Time Investor/Realtor, Coach
Posted on : 3/12/2010 7:48:30 AM After writing the initial post, I remembered that I had this happen with the previous tenant, and it was a GFI that needed to be reset. I was managing the property myself at the time, so my current property manager wasn't aware of that.
Best I recall, the property management agreement with the property manager says that he will cover minor repairs. REGARDLESS, this idiot shouldn't have called me until AFTER he had tried to trouble-shoot the problem with the tenant over the phone with them. I hired this guy to manage my property. He is not supposed to simply be a message forwarding service. I've had other issues with him lately as well, such as when he missed the advertising deadline for the newspaper when we had a recent vacancy. His excuse was, "my card didn't go through". NOT a valid excuse. |
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