Distant Landlord carrying Repairs or Home Warranty

[Jacob Beg]

Hi All:

How do you deal with your repairs if you rentals are located in another state? Recently, bunch of properties are having plumbing issues and even very expensive furnace issues. I got overwhelmed by the sheer expense of calling separately a plumber, electrician and carpenter for different jobs. Is it worth having warranty of some sort on all your appliances or HVAC? Any suggestions about how to deal with repair side of things? 

I do not use a management company as most my tenants are long term tenants and I've built good rapport with them. 

Any advice is appreciated. 

[Nathan Gesner]

A property manager typically has long-term relationships with a variety of vendors that do quality work for a fair price and are responsive. I have plumbers and electricians that will put me to the top of the list every time I call because I send them a ton of work and pay them on time. I buy appliances at a discount because I purchase more than anyone else in town.

Without someone helping you in the local market, you'll have to put the effort in yourself and it may not be easy. You chose to manage on your own to save 10% a year which sounds like a smart choice...until feces hits the rotating oscillator.