{"id":19048,"date":"2023-03-24T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/?p=19048"},"modified":"2023-03-24T10:49:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-24T17:49:34","slug":"how-to-prep-for-a-maintenance-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/how-to-prep-for-a-maintenance-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prep for a Maintenance Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One of the advantages of renting vs buying your home is that you are not required to handle any of the complex maintenance costs associated with owning a home or apartment. Whether you are dealing with routine seasonal maintenance tasks that need to be performed, or you are facing a maintenance emergency such as a burst pipe<\/a>, having a professional handle the details can be a big plus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While handing off the job to a professional can be a huge benefit, there are a few things that you need to do to prepare for a maintenance visit as a renter. This can ensure that the maintenance goes smoothly, that you\u2019re not in violation of any lease terms, and can simply make it easy for maintenance personnel to tackle the task (which could lead to a quick response time in the future since they can count on checking off your request efficiently).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Should I Put in a Maintenance Request?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your landlord or property manager needs to know any time there is an issue at your residence that needs to be addressed. Your lease agreement should outline how to correctly report any issues or request maintenance. This request could be done via phone, email, text, or via an online tenant portal or tenant portal app on your mobile device, depending on your landlord or manager’s instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing when and how to request maintenance is key, since not alerting your landlord could lead to long-term damage to the property. In a worst-case scenario, if you neglect to alert your landlord or manager to an issue that could be causing damage, you could be responsible for the cost of the repairs due to negligence. These costs could be deducted from your security deposit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emergency Maintenance Requests:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Emergencies are usually easy to identify. An issue such as a kitchen fire that caused damage, a flood in the basement, or a broken HVAC system could all require an immediate response since it affects the habitability of the dwelling. Not dealing with the issue promptly will result in severe damage. For these kinds of requests, you may need to forgo the usual maintenance request procedure. Many property managers will have an emergency line to call so that your urgent repairs can be done immediately rather than waiting for an emailed response or response via an online tenant portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Maintenance Requests:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyday maintenance requests can often be more important to report than you would expect. With renters\u2019 busy schedules, it\u2019s not surprising that requesting a work order or repair may be pushed to the back burner if the issue seems non-emergent. Unfortunately, leaving some issues to get worse on their own could cause damage that you would otherwise not be responsible for. This is especially true for water issues since water damage can be very costly to repair. If you notice a leaky pipe or dripping faucet, be sure to report it via your landlord\u2019s preferred method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seasonal and Non-Urgent Maintenance Requests:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your landlord likely performs seasonal maintenance to keep the rental property in its best condition. Renters generally don\u2019t request these tasks, but you will need to expect or prep for their completion since you will likely have a maintenance crew member or your landlord completing these tasks on the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seasonal maintenance can include tasks such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n