Anaheim Property Management Blog

Some clients are uncomfortable with the fact that we use (and I own) Sierra Maintenance Services, the company that provides handyman services for properties we manage.  We found, that once we were managing 200+ properties, having an in-house maintenance company was critical to our success and providing the customer services expected by our owners and tenants.

• In good economic times, it is difficult to find a reasonably priced handyman who will show up for a job less than $250. People like to spend money on their home when they have the excess cash.  Handymen go from persona non grata in recessions, to the most popular guy in town during recoveries.  Since a handy is less expensive than a licensed general contractor, people use their services when they can.  We can’t wait a week for a garbage disposal to be repaired, or a vacant property to be “trashed out”.  We know our guy can be there quickly.
• In good economic times, a handyman focuses on the highest paying job first. It is human nature and good business policy to take care of your highest paying job first.  A handyman is going to pursue the $5,000 job over a $150 one for us.  Unfortunately, we have a legal and contractual responsibility to address any healthy and safety issues quickly.  A broken front door lock must be remedied before a sconce is installed in a bathroom remodel.
• Some handyman stand by their work, others, not so much. If our handyman does not do the job in a workmanlike fashion, or the problem is not fixed, our guy will go back out and do it right.  There is usually no guarantee a third party handyman will be so accommodating.
• He is our spy. Our handyman knows what to look for when at a rental.  Was the damage caused by the tenant?  Are they maintaining the unit properly?  Are there pets at the unit that shouldn’t be there?  Are there additional tenants?  Our handyman communicates with our Property Managers and advises us when there are breaches in the contract.
• Sometimes we take one for the team. Even if our handyman spends 2 hours at a job and it turns out it was an electrical issue but instead, a burned out light bulb, we aren’t going to charge our owner $150.  We will reduce that bill to a reasonable amount and make it up somewhere else.
• You still need the right vendor for the right job. In California, a handyman can bill up to $500 and not have a license.  We don’t let our handyman do electrical or plumbing work that should be done by a licensed and insured professional.  Our handyman may turn off the water because of a leak, but he is not re-piping the property.

We bill $75 an hour for our handyman, and even though he worked over 1,500 hours last year for our company, we were happy to break about even in this department.  Sierra Maintenance Services may not be a big money maker, but it is a life saver for Progressive Property Management.