Home Maintenance Program - Ideas, Suggestions, - Page 2 - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

plazaman · 09-22-2009, 07:57 PM

Wow, thats amazing, but dont you think thats too many visits? I mean, thats 360 visits assuming 1 per client. Do you mind sharing that 80 point list? What is your average inspection time?

wizendwizard · 09-22-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

Wow, thats amazing, but dont you think thats too many visits? I mean, thats 360 visits assuming 1 per client. Do you mind sharing that 80 point list? What is your average inspection time?

I will answer the first question last.

I have 2 guys to do the inspections with me. We usually take 2 hours per site. I takes about 1/2 hour per report. We have all sites completed within 2 weeks of the month.

I will track that list down tomorrow. Sean is going to send it to you.

I work only on rental properties. Once a month lets me stay updated on needed repairs of the property. Paint, broken windows, broken doors, water leaks (high priority).

I know exactly when these things need to be addressed and when they can be put off. It lets me also keep ahead of damages caused by tenants that the HO needs to know about.

wizendwizard · 09-23-2009, 11:45 AM

This service is offered to rental property owners. We provide maintenance check-up services to your properties. You can stay ahead of unreported damages and progressive problems a tenant may not be aware of. These damages may start out as small problems that if left unchecked, can become major repairs in just a few weeks or months.

Let's examine a small problem a tenant may not make you aware of until it gets out of hand.

A slow leak in a bathroom drain line.

If caught early enough it may be a $5.00 fix by replacing a worn out P-Trap. However, if left unchecked for weeks you may have to replace the entire vanity at $200.00+. If left unchecked for months, you may now have to replace flooring. That is now a major problem and will cost thousands of your dollars to repair.

We offer solutions to problems such as this with our monthly maintenance check-ups of your properties. When we perform our check-ups, we get in touch with you concerning the issues and work out if they are in need of immediate or progressive attention.

In most cases our company can perform needed repairs. We can also advise you of what type of contractor will be required to perform repairs that are outside of our services. These contractors can be searched out by you or we can choose from our list of licensed, insured and qualified contractors.

Our list of items to be checked monthly are as follows:

1.) Water lines in to all toilets, sinks, showers and tubs.
2.) Drain lines out of all toilets, sinks, showers and tubs.
3.) All electrical outlets, light fixtures and switches.
4.) Interior paint in all rooms.
5.) Exterior Paint on home.
6.) Roofing, shingles, vents, metal roofing.
7.) All cabinetry, including handles, hinges and finishes.
8.) Underpinning on mobile homes.
9.) Condition of interior walls, such as sheetrock, for holes.
10.) Duct lines for HVAC.
11.) Under home insulation.
12.) Siding condition.
13.) Condition of all subfloors, and floor coverings.
14.) Condition of moldings and trim.
15.) Condition of windows, doors and door frames.
16.) Condition of all door knobs and locks.
17.) Vent line for range hood.
18.) Decks or stairs to entrance of home.
19.) Soffit and facia, all exterior trim.
20.) Condition of shower and tub surrounds.

Our home maintenance services occur on a monthly basis. We also offer these incentives as options.

1.) Exterior power wash once every 6 months.
2.) Monthly HVAC filter change.
3.) HVAC vent cleaning once every 6 months.
4.) Carpet steam cleaning once every 6 months.

Please call or email for our rates!

plazaman · 09-23-2009, 05:52 PM

hey thanks for the list...

Vision Custom · 09-24-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizendwizard

I will answer the first question last.

I have 2 guys to do the inspections with me. We usually take 2 hours per site. I takes about 1/2 hour per report. We have all sites completed within 2 weeks of the month.

I will track that list down tomorrow. Sean is going to send it to you.

Would you mind sharing that list with me? I am just about ready to launch a home maintenance division, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

I do a lot of work for property management companies, so this will hopefully add to my business with them and also provide more appealling angles with those I approach once I get things up and running.

Do you deal with any of these companies, or is it just HO's?

Thanks, Don

plazaman · 09-27-2009, 09:41 AM

My Vision, would to have an dedicated truck on the road with stocked tools just for the maintenance division and a full time employee only for maintenance.

Then again, I'm wondering..... is this whole setup even worth it? Or Should I concentrate on bigger ideas?

I am shooting for the idea of 15 hours of labor, 1 Pressure Wash, 1 gutter cleaning, 1 initial home inspection. No materials Included. After doing the numbers, it seems a Flat Fee of $1500 seems reasonable for me, up to a certain Sq.ft Home.

Vision Custom · 09-27-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

My Vision, would to have an dedicated truck on the road with stocked tools just for the maintenance division and a full time employee only for maintenance.

Then again, I'm wondering..... is this whole setup even worth it? Or Should I concentrate on bigger ideas?

I am shooting for the idea of 15 hours of labor, 1 Pressure Wash, 1 gutter cleaning, 1 initial home inspection. No materials Included. After doing the numbers, it seems a Flat Fee of $1500 seems reasonable for me, up to a certain Sq.ft Home.

I'm set up with a 14' trailer full of tools and misc. parts/supplies. I won't have anyone full time until it is a necessity.

I have a tiered system to provide different schedules and focus on different aspects in different homes, and my base price is +/-$1800.00, although I'm still sweaking it a bit.

I have a home inspection checklist as my guide, and it is very complete (54 pages), but I still have added a few things to it. I've also deleted some so it is not as redundant in some aspects. The paperwork, both description and contract, has alot of details for liability and clarity reasons.

Some material costs are included, like batteries for smoke detectors, furnace filters, cooler pads, etc.

wizendwizard · 09-28-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

Then again, I'm wondering..... is this whole setup even worth it? Or Should I concentrate on bigger ideas?

I am shooting for the idea of 15 hours of labor, 1 Pressure Wash, 1 gutter cleaning, 1 initial home inspection. No materials Included. After doing the numbers, it seems a Flat Fee of $1500 seems reasonable for me, up to a certain Sq.ft Home.

Plaza, I'm going to place my numbers here for the month of January,2009. This was my highest month for the program so far. Just as an example. These numbers are only for Home Maintenance and related repairs and remodels for those addresses only. These figures are calcutated at my rates, I am not announcing those rates.

January, 2009 -
Total sales (maintance plan) = $2550 (Per month division)
Total sales (repairs) = $8064.13
Total sales (related remodeling) = $14,843.57

Total materials = -$6,287.27
Total payroll = -$4,400.33
Total OH = -$1856.93

Total sales = $25,457.70
Total expenses = -$12,544.53

Total profit = $12,913.17

Now keep in mind, I don't get repair work or related remodeling every month. So normally the profit margin isn't that high but that does show the potential of this program.

plazaman · 09-28-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizendwizard

Plaza, I'm going to place my numbers here for the month of January,2009. This was my highest month for the program so far. Just as an example. These numbers are only for Home Maintenance and related repairs and remodels for those addresses only. These figures are calcutated at my rates, I am not announcing those rates.

January, 2009 -
Total sales (maintance plan) = $2550 (Per month division)
Total sales (repairs) = $8064.13
Total sales (related remodeling) = $14,843.57

Total materials = -$6,287.27
Total payroll = -$4,400.33
Total OH = -$1856.93

Total sales = $25,457.70
Total expenses = -$12,544.53

Total profit = $12,913.17

Now keep in mind, I don't get repair work or related remodeling every month. So normally the profit margin isn't that high but that does show the potential of this program.

im unclear about your numbers..lol could you explain? How many plans did you sell @ 2250?

wizendwizard · 09-28-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

im unclear about your numbers..lol could you explain? How many plans did you sell @ 2250?

$2550, thats a breakdown. I charge $999.00 per year and set it under payments of $85.00 per month on average.

Some HO's will pay yearly all at once but very few. I set up the monthly payment plan with the forsight that they may need to use the rental money to pay the maintenace plan fee.

That also alleviates the burden of high payment that they don't seem to justify as well as a monthly payment for some reason.

plazaman · 09-29-2009, 06:19 PM

So when you sign someone up @ $999, what do you offer them?

wizendwizard · 09-29-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

So when you sign someone up @ $999, what do you offer them?

For $999.00 it is 12 months of the 80 point check-up/with report. Change HVAC filters, and vaccum out HVAC ducts.

plazaman · 09-30-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vision Custom

I'm set up with a 14' trailer full of tools and misc. parts/supplies. I won't have anyone full time until it is a necessity.

I have a tiered system to provide different schedules and focus on different aspects in different homes, and my base price is +/-$1800.00, although I'm still sweaking it a bit.

I have a home inspection checklist as my guide, and it is very complete (54 pages), but I still have added a few things to it. I've also deleted some so it is not as redundant in some aspects. The paperwork, both description and contract, has alot of details for liability and clarity reasons.

Some material costs are included, like batteries for smoke detectors, furnace filters, cooler pads, etc.

Don,

I would'nt hire anyone right away. I still have my current crew, I could always dispatch them for calls right now until the point where it is necessary for additional help.

For the $1800 what do you offer?

I know it would seem right for me to ask you for that 54 page list, but could you PM me with an Asking price?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizendwizard

For $999.00 it is 12 months of the 80 point check-up/with report. Change HVAC filters, and vaccum out HVAC ducts.

From my understanding, no labor is included if repairs have to be made? How do you bill the labor out?

wizendwizard · 10-01-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

From my understanding, no labor is included if repairs have to be made? How do you bill the labor out?

I don't quite get what you mean by "no labor is charged for repairs."
The $999.00 covers the check-up report and filter changes/duct cleaning.
Anything and I mean anything else is charged extra.

I go out, do the checkup. Write the report. Call HO. Anything that needs to be repaired immediately is discussed. Work order is written up/priced. HO signs and returns with payment.

Pricing is determined by what the job is, under normal circumstances I charge by T&M for smaller repairs and standard pricing for larger repairs or remodels.

plazaman · 10-01-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizendwizard

I don't quite get what you mean by "no labor is charged for repairs."
The $999.00 covers the check-up report and filter changes/duct cleaning.
Anything and I mean anything else is charged extra.

I go out, do the checkup. Write the report. Call HO. Anything that needs to be repaired immediately is discussed. Work order is written up/priced. HO signs and returns with payment.

Pricing is determined by what the job is, under normal circumstances I charge by T&M for smaller repairs and standard pricing for larger repairs or remodels.

Ok I understand now. Your lucky to get clients to buy in @ that. I wish i could push for something like that. I dont think my clients would buy that, for $999, they would want to see something in return, besides me showing up every month. High End Residential rental, yes, those landlords might think its worth it. The Average homeowner IMHO wouldn't think so. Im not knocking you, just in my neck of the woods, they would want to see something in return.

Who do you primarily target? Homeowners or landlords?

wizendwizard · 10-01-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

Who do you primarily target? Homeowners or landlords?

Rental property owners.

I have one customer that owns 16 properties in S.C. He lives in Washington State. This is why my customers go into this set up.

They usually won't see their own properties for 2 to 5 years.

His typical rental is between $875 and $1400.00 per month. Not exactly high end but definately not the slums.

On your side of that you could offer other services to the HO to ofset your pricing.

Example:
CAULK SINKS, SHOWER, TUBS, WINDOWS, DOORS
CLEAN ALL SINK TRAPS
FLUSH WATER HEATER
SERVICE TOILETS
SERVICE GARBAGE DISPOSAL
ADJUST ALL DOORS AND HARDWARE
CHECK ALL FIRE/CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
CLEAN A/C COILS
GENERATE REPORT OF HOME CONDITION AND REPAIRS NEEDED INCLUDING PICTURES

plazaman · 10-01-2009, 05:54 PM

I look @ it both ways.... Lets say my fee is $1500 per year or $125 per month. Some people would have a hard time paying $1500 upfront for service. And the ones that do, will make sure they get every last bit of work they paid for the $1,500, which i dont blame them for and id prefer to work that way..

Or... lets say if we do monthly, $125, i could very well see it will become a problem for sending that check out, for 1) Ahh, what the heck hes on the maintenance man, I'll pay him later, or easy to miss payments. Then it would become a hassle for me to try to collect my payments.

Or i can offer Annually And biannually . I could have a clause stating with bi payments, no more than 50% of labor hours to be used until account is paid in full.

SLSTech · 10-01-2009, 06:05 PM

Rich - what I would consider for the monthly portion is setup direct billing where it is automatically paid via credit card or withdrawn from their checking account. Just don't forget that most banks will charge for that, so instead of 125 a month you charge 130, or you could charge 150 a month & for those that sign up annually you give them a two months free. Win - win

plazaman · 10-01-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLSTech

Rich - what I would consider for the monthly portion is setup direct billing where it is automatically paid via credit card or withdrawn from their checking account. Just don't forget that most banks will charge for that, so instead of 125 a month you charge 130, or you could charge 150 a month & for those that sign up annually you give them a two months free. Win - win

Hey great idea. Does you bank offer this service or a separate service provider does the recurring billing?

SLSTech · 10-01-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

Hey great idea. Does you bank offer this service or a separate service provider does the recurring billing?

Most banks do, but you can also use other services like Paypal, other CC Processing services, etc...