Property Maintenance - What to Do When Important Things Wrong in 2023
Whenever you need to call a contractor or a property maintenance worker to come in and address a problem on one of your properties, the expectation is that they will do the best job they can so that you can carry on with your investment in a timely manner. However, sometimes after going through the maintenance process you can find that things have gone wrong.
So, what can you do about it?
Discovering problems with your property maintenance and renovations can be an incredibly frustrating process. After all, even if you could get the problem resolved for free, the time it will take to rectify the issue is still going to take money out of your pocket. However, instead of panicking or allowing yourself to become frustrated, you need to take a breath and make sure you are handling the situation properly.
Did you know that failing to upkeep your property maintenance can sometimes impact your mortgage? To ensure you are aware of all of your mortgage terms, click the link below to book a free strategy call today.
Access The Problems with The Property Maintenance
The first thing you need to do is assess what exactly has gone wrong during the property maintenance process so that you can begin to solve the problem. After all, sometimes certain issues are simply inconveniences and not full-blown problems that you will need to work hard to solve.
Some of the main problems you will encounter are:
The Workers Left a Mess Behind
While some degree of dust and debris is to be expected after property maintenance, occasionally workers will leave behind construction waste and used supplies on the property. This can be incredibly frustrating, but it is not the end of the world. While a responsible contractor or property maintenance professional should always leave their job site clean for the property owner or resident, some workers will try to get away with leaving a mess behind in order to get to the next job sooner.
In order to protect yourself from this, start by making sure there is a clause in the contract you sign with the contractor that ensures that they are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Then, if this happens, you should take photos of the waste left behind and send it to the company demanding that they come to clean it up. If they do not take care of it, you can threaten to withhold payment until things are resolved. Alternatively, you can also opt to hire your own cleaners and bill the company for not cleaning up after themselves.
The Job Was Left Incomplete
When you hire someone to complete your property maintenance, you expect it to get done. So, naturally if your contractors leave their work on the property incomplete, you are going to be frustrated.
First off, if the contractors have stopped working but the job was not completed, do not pay them for the remainder of the job. After all, why would you pay someone for work they have not completed?
Then, give them a call and demand that they return to work to finish the job. If they refuse, then inform them that they are forfeiting the remaining payment for the job and that you will be carrying on with a new contractor.
Discover Residential Property Management With This Step By Step Guide
The Work Was Not Up to Standards
Sometimes, after dishing out the funds to complete an update or renovation, you may find that the work that was done is not up to your standards. Perhaps the lines on a set of cabinets are not level, or a staircase you had repairs done on is squeaking.
If the work completed is not up to par, then you should call the contractor to voice your concerns. Sometimes, they will come back to fix the job and make things right. Otherwise, go and leave the contractors a poor review with photos of their work to warn future clients of the poor standards they are maintaining.
The Property Was Left in Worse Condition or Caused Additional Problems
One of the biggest nightmare scenarios that you can encounter is when you come to view the result of a renovation or property maintenance job and the property is left in worse condition than it started in. This could be an electrical rewiring job where holes were cut in the wrong spot and left in the wall, or a plumbing job where the workers were trying to fix a leak in one spot causes flooding in another.
In either case, do not panic. Instead, take photos and videos of the result and then call the contractor. Explain the situation and ask for them to either come to fix their work or ask them to make a claim to their insurance provider to cover the damages that were caused. (After all, as long as you are working with a licensed contractor – which you always should – they should have insurance to cover these circumstances.)
If the contractor does not cooperate, you will then have the option to take them to small claims court to try to receive compensation for the damages. While no one likes the process of going to court, more often than not the courts are likely to side with you as long as you have proper evidence of the condition things were left in.
Before You Call a Contractor – Check Their References
Contractors, like most other real estate professionals, build their careers off of the backs of good referrals from past clients. So, whenever you go to hire a contractor, make sure to ask for references and look them up to see any public reviews that may be left. If they cannot produce good references and reviews for you to find, they are likely either unqualified or inexperienced. Either way, this will not be someone you want to work with.
Speaking of experience, if you want to get the best available mortgage solution for your next investment property, then you need an experienced mortgage broker at your side. That is why at LendCity we are proud of our rich history of helping investors such as yourself get the best available rates every single time.
For more information visit us at LendCity.ca or give us a call at 519-960-0370. Alternatively, click the link to book a free strategy call today.