How Property Managers Can Deal with Rising Costs and Labor Shortages in Maintenance with Ray Hespen – Part 2
Nov 16, 2023
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Ray Hespen from Property Meld discusses challenges in property maintenance, addressing workforce shortages and rising costs. They explore the importance of preventative maintenance, vendor collaboration, and using data for business improvement. The podcast also touches on embracing self-awareness for entrepreneurial success.
Property managers find that increased maintenance actions per year lead to better owner retention rates despite lower overall maintenance costs, emphasizing the value of preventative repairs.
In the face of labor shortages and rising costs, property managers must focus on resident renewals, preemptive maintenance programs, and strengthening vendor relationships to navigate industry challenges.
Deep dives
Impact of Maintenance Analytics on Owner Retention
Analyzing data on maintenance activities revealed that properties with higher maintenance actions per unit per year had better owner retention rates, even with lower overall maintenance costs. The surprising correlation showed that more preventative repairs led to higher tenant satisfaction and ultimately better renewal rates, highlighting the importance of proactive maintenance strategies in property management.
Challenges and Strategies in Addressing Labor Shortage for Tradespeople
The podcast delved into the current shortage of labor for tradespeople and vendors, affecting property management companies. With escalating prices and demand for repairs, strategies like focusing on resident renewals, maximizing preventative programs during off-peak seasons, and improving vendor relationships were discussed. The conversation emphasized the need for property managers to adapt and innovate in light of industry-wide challenges.
Solving Labor Shortages Through Enhanced Vendor Relations and Operational Efficiency
Insights were shared on enhancing vendor relations by simplifying scheduling, communication, and payment processes to incentivize tradespeople to work with property management companies. Emphasizing the value of recurring work and efficient operations, the podcast highlighted the importance of reducing scheduling friction and providing reliable sources of income for vendors. The discussion underscored the significance of operational efficiency and beneficial partnerships in addressing labor shortages within the industry.
In typical fashion, we ended up covering so much ground with Ray Hespen of Property Meld that we had to split our full conversation into two episodes. In Part 1, we discussed what maintenance analytics is, why it’s important, and what it can do for a property management business. This is Part 2 of […]