All Forum Posts by: Sam DeLuca

Hi everyone,

For those of you managing triplexes, quads, or other small multifamily properties; how do you handle common area upkeep and oversight?

From what I hear, the same issues keep coming up:

• Tenants complain if halls, stairs, or laundry areas aren’t maintained.

• Owners don’t always know about damage, leaks, or safety issues until they’ve already become expensive.

• Doing the cleaning yourself (or relying on tenants) isn’t reliable long term.

I’ve been helping some Philly landlords with regular common space cleaning, and one thing they value is that it doubles as basic property oversight. Every visit isn’t just about cleaning; it’s also an opportunity to spot and report back problems before they spiral.

Curious how others here handle it:

• Do you just focus on keeping things clean, or do you also expect someone to keep an eye out for damage/issues?

• If you outsource, do you ask your cleaners/contractors to provide reports?

• What’s been your biggest challenge keeping common spaces tenant-ready?

Would love to hear how you approach it, and happy to share what I’ve seen working for landlords in Philadelphia.