As rental property management in San Diego, facilities will be in need of repair continuously. How is this to be accomplished most efficiently? What is most cost effective and what is most expedient? Your particular rental property will have to be analyzed for its needs and standard operating procedures worked out by an experienced San Diego rental property management company.

First, if the apartment complex is large, there probably needs to be a chain of command to authorize repairs over a certain amount. The On Site Manager will be the first to discover the need and a Property Manager, Cluster Manager, or Supervisor will approve the expense. In a smaller development, the OSM probably will be authorized to make repairs and expenditures of items up to a certain amount, but would need authorization from ownership to spend more. Forms and paperwork should be designed to facilitate the process but should be kept as simple as possible. Remember that the forms are designed to serve us. When we become slaves to the forms and they slow us down, it's time to revise our system.

One of the desirable characteristics of the OSM is that he or she be handy. In a small development, the OSM should be able to handle most routine repairs and maintenance. In a large complex, it will not be possible for the OSM to be quite so hands-on. Services may be contracted out or a full-time handyman may be hired for the routine repairs and maintenance. The OSM must analyze the relative cost effectiveness of each method.

When it comes to cleaning, most management hires this service to be done. The job should be thorough, disinfecting and deodorizing, but probably will stop short of scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush.

Do not neglect maintenance. It's easy to get setup and say, "OK, I'm done improving my units.", but in reality, that job is never done.