The Small Maintenance Problem That Cost One Investor $4,200

[Amanda Riggs]

A few years ago, I learned an expensive lesson about deferred maintenance.

A property had a minor plumbing leak that seemed insignificant. The tenant reported it, but the repair was delayed because it wasn't considered urgent.

Three months later:

• Water damage behind the wall
• Mold remediation
• Drywall replacement
• Temporary tenant relocation

Total cost: over $4,200.

What started as a $150 repair became a major expense.

One thing I've noticed managing rentals is that owners often focus on the large capital expenses while underestimating the cumulative impact of small maintenance issues.

Today we track maintenance requests based on potential risk, not just current severity.

A small leak can become a large insurance claim.

A loose handrail can become a liability issue.

A clogged gutter can become a roof problem.

I'm curious:

What's the most expensive "small problem" you've seen turn into a major repair?

[JD Martin]

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

In the construction industry, you learn quickly that 'water is the enemy'...I used to tell my crew when they were framing/siding/installing window/etc, to 'think like a raindrop' lol......

The worst thing I experienced on a rental of mine was a small drip on a sewer line turning into a swamp of sewage underneath the house (raised foundation).

 Worst thing I've seen was on a 4-plex (not mine thank god). The main sewer lateral leaving the building apparently developed a clog that either the tenants reported and the landlord didn't get to, or the tenants didn't report it fast enough. Either way, one of the tenants went down into the basement and used a hammer to bust a massive hole in the cast iron waste line so all of the sewage drained straight into the basement. Eventually the basement filled up far enough with sewage that the liquid began seeping out around the hopper windows and filling the yard with putrid black water, which is when the neighbors started calling in about a terrible odor, water in the alley and a nasty smell. The basement had been turned into a virtual cess pit.