The Maintenance Checklist is the second step in The Turn Process. When we onboard a new property and are getting it ready for Leasing or when taking back possession from a resident after a Move-Out, it is important to know what is needed to get the property Move-In Ready for a new resident. Enter... the Maintenance Checklist. The Maintenance Checklist is a tool we use here at Good Steward Property Management to help accomplishes three things:
- Maintenance: Helps identify maintenance items that need to be repaired or replaced.
- Reporting: Provides a clear and easy-to-read report to keep owners informed. You can view a sample report by clicking HERE.
- Complete Work: Helps save costs as we group items, dispatch them to the appropriate vendor and have them completed with the minimum number of service calls possible prior to a resident moving in.
HOW ITS USED
The Maintenance Checklist is a checklist categorized by room and their main components. Bedrooms can have lights, outlets, window coverings, fans, etc. Kitchens have appliances, faucets, sinks, disposals, stop valves, etc. We go through the property with the Maintenance Checklist testing out each component looking for anything that may need to be repaired or replaced. We also make recommendations based on a components age, condition, and/or safe practices for both the resident and the property. Below are a few sets of examples.
REPAIR EXAMPLES
- Shutters missing pins that open and close slats
- Small leaks in the plumbing under a sink
- Rescreening window screens
- Doors not latching properly
- HVAC not heating or cooling
REPLACEMENT EXAMPLES
- Replacing a dirty air filter
- Replacing a rusted light fixture
- Replacing a leaky kitchen faucet
- Replacing a non-working garbage disposal
- Replacing non-working outlets and switches
- Replacing rusted stop valves under sinks and toilets
OTHER RECOMMENDATION EXAMPLES
- Perform a sewer-line inspection
- Perform a HVAC tune-up
- Perform a fireplace inspection to make sure it’s operational
- Removing a kitchen sink filtration system
- Removing and disposing of old refrigerator and laundry machines
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
It is important to note a few things about the process of using the Maintenance Checklist.
- Not Licensed Inspectors: We are not licensed inspectors therefore this process is not an inspection. Instead, it is a service we provide that gives a general idea of a property’s maintenance status. We do our best to go through the property to locate items that need maintenance; however, we don’t hold any licenses in this arena.
- No Warranty: As with any property, an item can be working perfectly one day and break down the very next. We test items to make sure they are working at the time of the walkthrough and its timeframe. For instance, we run both the hot and cold water out of a kitchen sink faucet. We then look under the sink and check for signs of leaks or clogs. We run the garbage disposal checking to see if it runs, again checking under the sink for signs of a leak. It's not likely, but it has happened before that two weeks later, we receive a call from the new resident that there is a leak under the kitchen sink. How was this missed? It is likely that sediment filled any cracks or weak joints. In the 5 to 10 minutes that we ran the water to test it during the walkthrough, the sediment held things together and water didn't seep through. However, after two weeks of use the sediment came unlogged and allowed water to pass through. This is just an example of a possibility. Things like this don't happen often, but they do happen.
- Scheduling the Work: It is our practice to dispatch the appropriate vendors as soon as possible. Our vendors have been vetted and give us competitive pricing as compared to the general marketplace. They may not have the lowest prices that can be found, but there is a better handle on quality control and therefore owner and resident satisfaction. We do go over items and costs with our owners through email, phone calls or both. If an owner would like to use their vendor, we are happy to facilitate the work through that vendor. It is the owner's responsibility to let us know they want their vendor to be utilized and to send us the vendor's contact information.
CONCLUSION
Our objective to protect our owners and their properties while keeping costs to a minimum and The Maintenance Checklist helps us do so. By using it, we can contribute to a healthy property that generates the highest possible return on investment.
