I can't express enough how important a GOOD, MOTIVATED maintenance team is in the success of your property.  This is not an epiphany, I am not a genius because I'm saying this - I know this!  But, what are we doing day to day to keep our maintenance teams motivated?  Although I hope I don't have to tell you why it is important to keep them motivated but I will so we are on the same page.

WHY keep them motivated?

• Motivation builds loyalty and engagement - what they deal with daily is a challenge - I mean when was the last time that YOU unclogged someone else's toilet?
• We frequently forget when we have events or meetings to include maintenance so they are forgotten
• They know what is happening on your property and in your units -- if you connect with them and make them feel like they are part of the team then they will feel more comfortable telling you what is happening on site.

I want to give you all a few quick activities to help you get started in maintaining good, motivated teams:

• Have a make ready contest - take a perfect make ready and stage some things in it that are out of place, i.e.,  missing vent, minor leak in sink, lights out, missing rod on blinds, etc.. then have a timed race for who can find the most errors in the make ready - give gift cards, etc..
• Attach customer comments to the work orders and give away gift cards to the team member that gets the most positive ones returned wins something
• Have a vendor come in and host a training meeting and then give them lunch
• Trading Spaces for the day -- have the leasing agents work in the maintenance shop and the maintenance work in the leasing - make sure the entire teams don't switch on the same day but have them change jobs for the day so they build a level of respect for each other and appreciation
• Host a mini maintenance mania
• Let the maintenance teams train your office team on basic maintenance troubleshooting