Landlord at Property During Maintenance?

[Bailey A.]

Hi Everyone,

I’m currently self managing and each time I’ve needed an electrician/plumber I meet them at the property myself. I’ve only got one property but I wanted to hear from someone who has the experience in self managing and multiple properties. Do you take it upon yourself to meet contractors there or do you have them coordinate with tenants?

[Scott M.]

100% Personal choice.  In the beginning I met contractors all the time.  Both to learn from them, see what is involved in doing something I may think is easy and most importantly to build a relationship with them.  Find out what treats they like and bring them along for a midday snack/coffee/pop etc.....When you have 1 house you need to build a personal relationship with them because that is all you have.  When you have 100 houses and are using them weekly things can be different but I have found almost everyone likes to have a personal relationship.  

Someone else said there is NO reason you have to meet the contractor at the property, and frankly I think that is silly short sided.  Again, when you have 1 house and you need something, there is an emergency, who do you think that contractor is more likely to respond to.  The person he never met and only has 1 house or that super nice guy that always meets him and has a coffee waiting?  

At times you live and die by your contractors.  Pretty sure it is daily here on BP that I read someone is looking for a good contractor.  Use every opportunity you have to make sure you have a solid contractor and then build up a relationship.

Today, we have hundreds of homes and while both I and other staff build relationships with contractors we obviously don't meet them onsite at jobs very often.  But the relationships are still very important.