Property manager expectations

[Ben M.]

Hello, I am on my 5th month owing my first rental property in Texas City, Texas. We had a situation where an electrician has to run a dedicated circuit for a space heater due to the space heater blowing the fuse repeatedly due to it being on a shared circuit. Per my last discussion with the property manager the electrician was supposed to come take care of it today. The problem was reported 3 days ago. I sent a text to the property manager to follow up to see how the repair is going but no response. Am I being too much by asking about how repairs are going and also asking for pictures? Is it not standard process to get an update and status on repairs and to let the owner know when repair has been completed? I am new so I just don’t want to do things that may annoy the property manager. Maybe I’m asking too much. What is everyone else’s experience? Thank you.

[Nathan Gesner]

There are a lot of unknowns here.

First, space heaters are not a good option for regularly heating a home so you should be investigating different options that are permanent and safe.

Second, we don't know if you are in a small town or a big city. In my area, it can sometimes take a week or so to get an electrician. If it's hunting season, it may take 2+ weeks. Maybe your PM is having a difficult time finding an electrician or maybe they're having a hard time coordinating access with the tenant.

Third, your manager is there to protect your asset, your income, and your time. They are not there for you to babysit and micro-manage. When I get permission from an owner to do work, I do it and don't expect the owner to call me daily for updates. It's not that important, nobody will die if it takes a few more days, there are no major decisions to be made that require your input. When the work is done, there is no need for you to see pictures of the new breaker or how the space heater is set up in the room. That's wasteful nonsense. You gave permission, the PM does the job, you see evidence the job was done when the charge is reflected on your monthly statement along with a copy of the invoice showing the work that was done.

You need to schedule a quick call with your PM to learn when they should communicate and how they will communicate regarding maintenance. Figure out the boundaries and then respect them.