Nicki Thielen's Blog

Question for all of you in Property Management. 3rd party management companies often have maintenance techs on staff and utilize their services on small properties. When I refer to small properties, I'm referring to properties too small to support a maintenance tech on the site's payroll.

Question, as a 3rd party management company, how do you charge that maintenance cost back to the property? or do you? Are they treated as a vendor? Or is there a charge or % for maintenance built into the management fee? Any advice or help on this topic is much appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!!!

I started working in this industry in 1994 at a 238 unit community.  I can remember working and living on-site and how I truly enjoyed going to work everyday.  Each day brought new challenges and was always fulfilling.  I loved my property and treated it as if it were my own personal investment each day.  I worked long hours (because I wanted to), did landscaping on the weekends, decorated the property for the holidays, and so much more and enjoyed every minute of it. 

What do we have today?  Today I see people who grumble as they walk in the door because they would rather still be in bed and they don't want to deal with that resident today and they are not shy to tell you that. If they don't tell you that you can probably read it on their Facebook page. We have people who tell prospects they can't view an apartment without an appointment. I mean after all, who do they think they are walking in our offices without notice? We have people who refuse to talk with a resident because they are "off the clock".  We have people who refuse to bend over and pick up trash while walking property because it's not their job.  We have a "Maintenance Department" and an "Office" and neither should ask the other a question. The last time I checked, one can not function without the other can they? And this list can go on and on.