First of all Congratulations!!! Sounds like you have a great team. There are always things that you can find for someone to do be it checking all unit smoke alarm battery's, to changing out all the HVAC filters and prep for summer on your AC units. I liked when I read that you are what I called pretty laid back and not a slave driver. I managed apartments years ago and had the same type of attitude. I'm sure you have a corporate office so I don't know how they would take this but I use to have fun with my staff. I would cross train them. Usually I found that the leasing department would have no idea what the Maintenance staff went through nor did the Maintenance staff understand exactly what the office staff did. Each position deals with a lot more than the other department is aware of. I would take a day here and there and make them switch roles. I remember during the summer months and during the extreme cold I would have a leasing agent complain because they leased an apartment and could not understand what the big deal was to get it ready in a day while maintaining other needed items. I would take that leasing agent and tell them to ware Jeans the next day and put them with one of the Maintenance staff and the same with Maintenance and leasing, Maintenance would have to dress and work in the office. Of course they were not turned loose but under the supervision of the Maintenance supervisor I would have them work the full day in the heat following and helping as though they were part of the staff. Believe me by the end of the day it was rare to ever have them want to do this again and they had a much better understanding of what the other person goes through. I would also like to mention it always seemed to make them have a better relationship and understanding of each other. Just a team building exercise. I might also mention that I was not mean but I would make sure that what ever supervisor was in charge that day I had already had a conversation to make sure that the person following was in for a very lets say fun filled day of hard work and the extreme tempetures. Try it sometime, its a lot of fun and usually your staff will have a great understanding for each other

I have my maintenance team work on a Preventative Maintenance Schedule when not working on service requests, grounds and make readies. Changing outs ac filters, testing smoke alarms, inspecting lights, sprinkler heads, pressure washing, cleaning pool furniture, BBQ area and Pet stations.

I also have them touch up paint throughout the community, including curbs and entrances. In addition, I have them go through their binders to make sure everything is up to date such as MSDS, Freon Logs, Pool Logs, Inventory, etc.

This is also a great time for them to catch up on their Gracehill Courses.

I would love to know what other suggestions you receive. Love getting new ideas!

Have a great Day!

Hi, That's a great question to ask. so here is the break down

A) in the navy, there is a statement, "if it moves, Salute. If its still, paint it"

with that in mind, Hire a 3rd party company, and get a property inspection done, you want another set of eyes.

So my check list goes like this ( southern florida, I had list for other area's )

Priority : water away from the property is always a good thing

A) Roof review, gutters and pipes cleaned out

B) drainage clean out.

C) Leak discovery and repair.

D) dryer venting repair/replacement. ( fire hazard prevention )

E) Door repair and security check ( out of normal cycle but it's always a good thing )


Secondary :

A) Foundation cracks discovery and repair

B) sidewalks crack discovery and repair

C) Elevator cleaning and basic maintenance ( monster fees for repairs, so keeping them top shape is well worth the effort )

D) creation of a paint priority list. You would be surprised what has never been painted.

E) A/C window and property air leak research

F) plan to split the parking lot, and look to reseal, topcoat, and paint the bumpers.

G) make a landscape repair plan including the sprinkler system.

H) out of schedule on hot days, wash the solar panels with water. No one complains about cool water spraying on a hot day. it's BS work since is water wash no rags, just a lazy cool down.


I am going to guess that everyone has a scheduled power wash routine and other to do list routines. this is my out of cycle list.


I once ran a firm, we never had downtime because these list are living list of
things to do and repair.

Great time to take online courses such as the ones HD Supply and other vendors offer.

Basketball keeps them moving

Check trip hazards, drains, inspect light fixtures, notate siding repairs, make sure there aren't holes in gutter run offs... Depending on where you are located you can do preventative cleans on exterior HVAC units (in SC guys cleaned them in winter).