One of our homeowners recently got a call from their tenant in Naples, Florida informing them that their air conditioner had leaked and shorted out their water heater. Both of these appliances were in need of repair. So, what do you do when you have a rental house problem and you live over 2,000 miles away?
Here are five steps to take to resolve emergency rental home repairs long distance:
First, act quickly. Twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the initial renter phone call is the time to take action to fix the problem immediately. Your renter is your priority, so make them feel like it.
Second, during the initial call with your renter ask their availability. What is the best time for them to be available to let the service person inside the rental home. If you have a local friend or property management contact who has a set of keys perhaps they could come by to let the workers in, if the tenant is busy.
Third, do a Google search for at least 3 companies. Read any reviews, check out their websites, then call the companies directly to explain your problem and get a quote. If you get three different quotes you’ll have a better understanding of the real cost to repair the appliance. Always ask if the service person can do any work after 5 p.m.—some tenants are flexible to later arrangements and many installers offer after hours service—especially central air service in hot climates.
Fourth, after finding the ideal repair business, contact your tenant to confirm the service time. You don’t want to overly bother your renter, so a quick call to verify is okay. Then make the appointment for the service. As soon as possible!
Fifth, after the repairs, follow up with your tenant first to make sure everything is working properly again, and then call the service company back to review the work that was done and to get the final cost for the job.
That’s it! In our out of state homeowner‘s case, he worked with two companies and coordinated their appointments around each other on the same day! The homeowner and renter were completely satisfied with the professional service.
Remember your number one goal as a landlord, is to ensure that your tenant is happy and your rental home is rented. Swift action, including follow up phone calls, is key to any successful home or condo rental.
Learn more about how to rent your Florida home.
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Long-term and Seasonal Home Rentals in Southwest Florida
When you rent a home in Southwest Florida, you’d like to know what there is to do, right? Maybe you’d like to:
