"Rental question" Topic

We've become landlords for the 1st time, & I was wondering what the "etiquette" was for waiting for repair people? Is it common for the landlord to wait for the repair person when they have a 2-4 window of when they'd show up? Or does the tenant wait?

As the landlord, I would feel that I should wait in my car since I wouldn't want to wait in the house, & sitting in my car for up to 2-3 hours wouldn't be fun. OTOH, the repair is my responsibility, so it feels a bit wrong to make the tenant take time off work to wait.

Thanks

Speaking as a Realtor and Property manager trainer – I would never wait in a unit for more than a few minutes. If it is necessary to meet a repairman have them call you as they are en route and wait at a nearby coffee shop or bookstore. Don't wait outside in your car for more than 20 minutes or so, the tenants or neighbors can take it as creepy.

Besides being more professional, it intrudes less on the personal space of the tenants, which ultimately is what they are paying for. Always remember that as a landlord you are running a business. How would you prefer to be dealt with.

Ditto. Have them call you when they are on route or about 10-15 minutes out.

I also have the repair person call. Usually the appointment is set-up with the main office. In turn, the repair tech will call me when ready to leave his or her last jobsite. Another thing that is helpful would be to purchase a lockbox. They cost about $25.00 USD. As long as you know and/or trust the repair service, you can leave a key in a lockbox on the apartment door. The boxes have a programmable code that you can supply to the repair person. Inside is a key to enter the unit in need of repair.

Thanks for the suggestions, they're very helpful. But my question was more who should wait for the repair person (me or the tenant), not what is the best process I should follow when I'm waiting.

As far as who waits… The ultimate responsibility is the property owner's to make sure that the work gets done. I have already made arrangements for workmen to meet the tenant only to have the tenant not be there when they show up. That could cost you a call out fee from the company. If I do arrange to have the workers meet the tenant, I make sure that they have my cell number just in case. I keep a key box full of all my property keys with me along with a bunch of tools. That saves time and hassle just in case I have to get in somewhere when this sort of thing happens.

Having been the maintenance guy, I've had it both ways when the big time guy was needed. (AC/Heat) I've lost whole days having to wait.