Rental turnover rates hit around 20% in Chicago last year.
Tenants choose to leave rentals because they think they can do better. The most common reason for rental turnover has to do with unresolved maintenance issues. If you can't properly maintain your rental properties, you may have to seek out a new tenant.
Today, we're going to mitigate the risk of these issues by discussing maintenance coordination. With the right maintenance strategies in place, you can satisfy your tenants and protect your property at the same time, so keep reading and learn how rental management really works.
1. Maintenance Scheduling
One of the ways that you can protect your property and prevent costly repairs is to schedule regular property maintenance. There are certain things you know you should do either annually or every few months, so the best thing to do is get ahead of it and keep the property in good repair.
Whether it's seasonal roof and gutter cleaning or HVAC inspections, staying on top of these tasks will show tenants that you're invested in their well-being.
2. Property Inspections
It's also crucial to perform regular property inspections to catch any maintenance issues as they arise. Encourage your tenants to report problems as soon as they notice them.
Inspections can also keep tenants in line and help you identify when a tenant is breaking your lease. Create an inspection checklist and go through the property at least once per year to ensure you're doing your due diligence.
3. Keep Tenants in the Know
Whenever you have scheduled maintenance on the horizon, it's important to keep your tenants in the know. According to the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, you must give your tenants two days' notice before entering the property.
In general, keeping open lines of communication with tenants will ensure positive landlord-tenant relationships. This is one of the best ways to keep tenants in your properties and decrease vacancy rates.
4. Prioritizing Property Repairs
No matter what maintenance you've got scheduled, you should always prioritize major repairs. If your tenant makes a maintenance request, that should be the first thing you do before any less important maintenance.
The faster you get on top of repairs, the easier it'll be to maintain your property long-term. Letting damage get worse will only make the repairs more costly and alienate your tenants.
5. Hire Property Management
One of the surefire ways to deal with maintenance and repairs is to hire a property manager to help. Property managers are proven to improve the condition of rental properties, as well as tenant relations.
A good property manager can take care of everything from tenant screening to property repairs. You just sit back and wait for your rental payments to come in each month while the property manager takes care of the hard work.
Better Maintenance Coordination Today
These maintenance coordination tips will ensure your property is in good repair and your tenants are happy. Maintaining a single property is difficult. Maintaining multiple properties is a full-time job.
If you don't have the time to deal with property maintenance, we can help. Chicago Style Management is a top property manager in Cook County, bringing friendly professionalism to rentals across the city. To learn how we can help improve your maintenance process, contact us today.
