Property manager say use lockbox to coordinate plumbers

[Mikel Kaubfa]

I have a few plumbers coming out to inspect some leaks and provide quotes. They are asking for someone to be at property, but I am out of state. I asked my property manager to meet them, but they say they can't but will install a lockbox for the plumbers to get access. This kind of upset me because I thought property managers are supposed to assist and be present in situations like this. Am I setting my expectations too high or is just setting up a lockbox good enough?

[Russell Brazil]

Imagine a property manager with a 1,000 property portfolio to manage. Now imagine a world where each property needs 1 contractor per year to visit. Most of my properties have multiple times per year a contractor has to go to them. That would be 3 contractors per day the PM needs to meet individually at properties. That would not be a sustainable business, as they literally would not be able to do anything else except drive from property to property meeting contractors.