Maintenance Management is Critically Important
It may seem like common sense that maintenance is a key part of owning a rental property, but as the old saying goes, “common sense is often far from common.” And as it turns out, a new survey conducted by OTRS Group reveals that maintenance is far more crucial to long-term rental success than many property managers realize.
OTRS Group recently surveyed 250 people who are either current or past renters to gain insight into just how valuable proper and reliable maintenance is. The outcome was glaringly clear:
Attract and Retain More Tenants
In fact, before a would-be renter signs a rental agreement, they have already been thinking about maintenance. The survey revealed that 64 percent of those polled think it is very important to consider reliable maintenance before renting. Another 25 percent believe maintenance is somewhat important to consider before signing a lease.
And maintenance consideration doesn’t end once the renter has signed on the dotted line. Half of those surveyed said they would move out if maintenance requests weren’t met, while another 38 percent said they would at least consider moving out.
Improve Building/Property Operations
And it’s not enough to just complete the maintenance task; it must be done in a timely manner. Almost half of those surveyed thought it was necessary to have the task completed within two days of submission. 24 percent said they would be alright with a three-day window. Still 8 percent said repair issues should be addressed the same day the repair ticket was submitted.
Boost Referrals
And finally, don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth (or should I say, word-of-keyboard?) advertising. With technology at everyone’s fingertips these days, online renter reviews hold more power now than ever before. If maintenance tasks aren’t addressed promptly, you can bet your renters will leave negative reviews saying as much.
A smooth-running facility and happy tenants will ultimately benefit your bottom line in the long run. Investing in a customer service ticketing system facilitates both:
- Streamline support and maintenance processes,
- Oversee the influx of task requests from tenants,
- Manage resources
- Ensure clear and communication between renters, property managers and service teams
- Track equipment and assets
- Provide a central point of contact for tenants.
OTRS offers simple, easy-to-implement systems that can make a difference for you and your investments. Learn more about how customer service ticketing systems are used to support revenue goals.
