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How to Handle Weston Rental Maintenance Requests During COVID-19
April 30, 2021
The COVID-19 crisis never went away as quickly as we had hoped, and even now while vaccines are available, it’s going to take some time to get back to “normal.” Landlords and property managers in Weston have to be creative in the way homes are leased, managed, and maintained.
Deferred maintenance is always terrible for your investment property. It leads to more expensive repairs and the deterioration of your property. It’s important to work with your residents and your vendors to ensure routine and
preventative maintenance continues at your property, in a way that’s safe and respectful of your tenants.
If you’re wondering how to handle maintenance calls during this pandemic, we have a few tips for you.
Work with Tenants to Avoid Unreported Maintenance
Your tenants may hesitate before reporting a minor maintenance issue, especially if they’re nervous about people coming into their home.
That’s not what you want.
You always want to know that there’s a problem, even if it’s minor and even if you won’t respond to it right away. Talk to your tenants and educate them on the importance of reporting repair needs right away, even if it’s nothing urgent. You want to hear about problems as soon as they’re discovered.
Empathize with their hesitation if they don’t want to open their doors to maintenance personnel. Explain the safety measures that are taken when you do send workers over to the home. Ask them to report the problems even if an immediate solution is not required. This will give you a documented list of things that need to be done. You can then prioritize them and measure the safety of your residents and your maintenance crew against the maintenance needs of your investment property.
Implement Extra Safety Precautions
You’ll want to continue responding to maintenance. When there’s a leak, a problem with the water heater, electrical problems, or air conditioning issues, you’ll want to get a vendor out there as soon as possible.
Maintenance work can be done safely, especially when you and your team of vendors and contractors are willing to follow a few extra safety features. Some of the most common measures include:
Suggesting that the tenants not to be at home when the repair is made.- Requiring masks and gloves to be worn whenever possible by your maintenance team.
- Instructing your maintenance contractors or vendors to provide extra cleaning on any surfaces that were touched during the repair.
- Taking extra pictures and notes to document who was in the property, what was done, and what the end result looked like.
If tenants are unable to leave during the repair, make sure they understand the requirements of social distancing and advise them to wash hands and clean thoroughly before and after the maintenance vendor is in the property.
Communicate Openly with Residents about Expectations and Limitations
Let your tenants know that you care about their safety and health. Talk to them about the types of repair requests that will be responded to right away and which will have to wait. Your good residents will understand the unique circumstances we’re all dealing with right now, and they won’t be too upset if a cosmetic repair can’t be made right away.
When you and your tenants and your maintenance providers work together, it’s not terribly hard to continue making repairs that are necessary and important to both the condition of your investment property and your tenant retention goals.
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Welcome to the May edition of the Investor Newsletter! This month, the rental market is proving that strong returns are no longer just about rent growth. With operating costs taking center stage, investors are sharpening their focus on what really drives long-term returns. Inside, we cover these rising operating costs, take a quick look at ADUs, and round up the latest headlines shaping the market right now. The Quiet Profit Squeeze: Why Operating Costs Now Matter More Than Rent Growth Something is quietly changing inside single-family rental performance, and it is not something you will find in rent growth headlines! Even in markets where rents are holding steady or slowly growing, many portfolios are seeing a different pattern emerge; Net operating income is tightening, and the pressure is coming less from revenue and more from rising operating costs. Insurance has become one of the most unpredictable expenses for property owners. According to a recent article , premiums across commercial real estate are projected to rise another 8-15% annually in 2026. This is predicted to be driven by severe weather, higher rebuilding costs, and tighter underwriting standards. Bloomberg also recently noted that U.S. home insurance costs continue to rise as insurers adjust to growing climate and replacement cost pressures. For SFR investors, insurance is no longer a predictable line item. It is a cost that can impact cash flow from one renewal to the next. Maintenance and repairs are adding pressure as well. What many owners once viewed as routine upkeep has become a form of invisible inflation. According to a recent report , repair and maintenance costs have risen nearly 14% year over year and roughly 50% since 2020 in many locations. Deferred maintenance is also becoming more expensive to delay, often turning into much larger expenses down the road. Property taxes are another growing concern. Unlike insurance, tax increases tend to move more gradually through reassessments and municipal adjustments, making them easier to underestimate during underwriting. A Business Insider article highlights how taxes, insurance, and fees are becoming a larger share of “hidden costs” for property owners. Another article reported that property taxes and insurance now account for more than 21% of monthly housing costs in many markets. The takeaway for investors is that operational execution matters just as much as acquisition strategy. Strong returns depend on how well expenses are managed through proactive insurance reviews, preventative maintenance, tax monitoring, and disciplined renewal management. With rent growth normalizing in many areas, protecting NOI, rather than focusing only on revenue growth, may be becoming an even more important part of long term rental performance. Did You Know: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Everything You Need to Know in 60 Seconds! You might have heard them called "granny flats," "carriage houses," or "casitas," but in the real estate world, they are known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). As housing demand continues to rise nationwide, and many investors are looking for creative ways to maximize returns on existing properties, ADUs are a flexible option that can increase rental income, property value, and long-term investment potential. What is an ADU? An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, secondary living space built on the same property as a primary home. To be a legal ADU, it must have its own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area. They can be detached, attached or repurposed from a home. Who uses an ADU? Homeowners and real estate investors often use ADUs to maximize their land and profits. It can provide a secondary housing option for additional tenants, multi-generational families, or short-term guests. For single-family rental investors, ADUs can turn one property into more income. Where are ADUs located? ADUs are appearing in neighborhoods across the country. As housing demand and affordability challenges continue to grow, more local governments are updating zoning rules to allow investors and homeowners to add these secondary living spaces to existing properties. When should an investor consider an ADU? ADUs may make most sense when a property has excess space, rental demand is strong, and local zoning allows secondary units. Many investors use this when they want to increase cash flow without purchasing another property. Why Are ADUs Important? ADUs are becoming a major trend in residential real estate. They can potentially: Increase rental income Help with housing shortages Offer flexible living arrangements Boost overall property value SFR Trending Headlines Stay Up to Date on the Hottest SFR News & Stories Wave of Price Cuts Arrives Before the Summer Heats Up Selena Gomez Eyes $1.6M Profit on Former Tom Petty Home Zillow and Redfin Brace for Major Legal Fight Are Tenants Saving by Not Owning ? Zuckerberg’s $170M Deal Breaks Miami Record Rate Update: We've Partnered with LendingOne to Bring You The Best DSCR Rates & Terms! DSCR Loan Advantages: Rates Often Lower Than Banks No Personal Income Requirement No Tax Returns Needed Not Reported on Credit Faster Closing Times Specialized Loans for Investors Only! Click for Financing Options! Until Next Month! The Florida Property Management Services Team
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An Update in 2026
