Who is PAYING for this?

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What do you others do?....I have learned that a routine repair at a rental property can be thrown totally out of proportion by the tech, handyman, professional saying something that the tenants misconstrue  when fixing a problem  after a  tenant calls me with an issue....  So, I tell them (tech, handymen etc) before they go in my property that they are not to discuss matters relating to the repair with my tenants if they are home.

Jim Adrian · Answer

I am present with any repair person at time of service so this is a non issue for me or my fault for running long.  A tenant can't or shouldn't make decisions about my property on how best to fix the issue.  If additional decisions need to be made then I can make them and keep work moving forward in one trip.

Peter Mckernan · Answer

@Christine Mwai Yes, I have had this happen with third party rentals. The plumber goes in fixes the leak and then tells the tenant one thing, then me the other thing. It makes for hard discussions especially when that situation it was ultimately the tenants fault.

I would just have any vendor going into the property get into the property, get the job done and get out! Nothing needs to be said to the tenant more than the issues is resolved, or there needs to be more work done and the vendor will be back the next business day. Done!

Rich N. · Answer

If I find a handyman or contractor doing, I drop them and look for another one.  I am in it for the long haul and once you find the right one....you are all set.

Scott F. · Answer

@Christine Mwai

I tell my guys the same thing. Don't talk to the tenant and get them all confused and concerned about things that to me are just another day, to them it's the end of the world, talk to me.

Kim Meredith Hampton · Answer

@Christine Mwai I agree, I put my contractors thru a little interview process before they ever set foot on any of the properties!!!!

Colleen F. · Answer

Try not to use a chatty Cathy handyman. They do need to talk to the tenant to get to the bottom of some issues but generally I tell them that they should call me  with problems.  Many times it is something the repair person mentioned casually that causes an issue. Now the repair person can listen to you or not, you aren''t there.  However I do find if it is someone who is a talker there is more likely to be a problem.

Christine Mwai · Answer

Thanks all for your responses above. Great to see I'm not alone in this boat and to hear how others handle that aspect of being a landlord or landlady.

Who is PAYING for this?

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