If you’re ready to call in a pro to help with regularly maintaining your Greenwich, CT area property there are several things to consider to ensure you’ll get the most out of the relationship. Residential property management companies can help with small projects that can be managed by a handyman or they can bring in pros year round to service and maintain every part of the home. By going this rout you have one point of contact for plumbing, HVAC, roofing, plowing, landscaping and all other trades. At Greenwich Home Management we handle everything from changing light bulbs to installing a new home theater system.

Understanding the Process

Before you hire a residential property management company, be prepared with questions so that you have a firm grasp on what to expect. The following questions will help:

How do you charge?

You’ll want to know how you’ll be billed. Ask if the fees will be based on an hourly rate or per project. A good home maintenance company will typically bill monthly for general upkeep based on an agreed upon list of tasks. Ask ahead of time, however, how billing will work for projects that come up beyond the scope of the monthly or yearly program.

What Are My Payment Options?

Make sure to get an understanding of what form of payment is accepted. This can effect how you plan to manage your money. You may want to know if your property management company accepts credit cards, if they accept large installations up front, and/or what time of the month invoices will arrive and are due.

What are the Qualifications of Your Subcontractors?

The people that work under your contractors are just as important as the contractors themselves. Ask about subcontractor qualification and experience. Greenwich Home Management only hires trusted, experienced, skilled labor to handle client work. Fly by night operations or moonlighters should be avoided.

How Do I Provide Entry to My Home and Who Do I Come to With Issues & Questions?

You’ll want to have one point of contact for all work to be done. At Greenwich Home Management we provide a single source for communication. This individual will be the only person with key access to the home. At your discretion they allow trades to gain entry to the house and outbuildings when work needs to be completed. If you have any issues or questions at any time you can contact your maintenance rep for resolution.

What is your Experience With Obtaining Permits?

Permits are required for a range of different projects. You may want to build a new pool house or install a new HVAC system. Applying for and obtaining permits in Greenwich, CT and the surrounding area requires knowledge of the local system, regulations and experience in the range of fields. Be sure that your property management company has knowledge of the permitting process in your area.

Preparation

When hiring a reputable handyman and property management company you’ll be getting experienced professionals across the entire line of trades. To ensure this is that case you’ll want to prepare before hiring. Check licensing and insurance paperwork. Don’t chase the lowest price – oftentimes you get what you pay for. Ask for references from clients that have used the service in the past. And discuss how they plan to resolve any issues that may arise.

Additional preparation prior to meeting your home maintenance professional should include creating a list of short and long-term projects as well as ongoing tasks that you’ll want help with. Consider the tasks for each season as you create the list and take a walk around your property to identify the areas that you would like help with. With the right help you’ll have more time to focus on the things that are most important to you.

The concept of residential property maintenance is relatively new in the Greenwich, CT area. Homeowners are realizing the value of having one point of contact for all upkeep and repairs. Experienced property maintenance companies, like Greenwich Home Management, can handle virtually any job around the house, from changing light bulbs to installing and maintaining HVAC systems. They do so by employing trusted professionals across the full range of trades. 

The key to a successful property maintenance solution comes down to bringing in the right pros. It can be hard to find trusted, reliable trades. Greenwich Home Management has been in the luxury home building and remodeling business in Greenwich for decades. As a result we’ve developed relationships with top area pros in HVAC, plumbing, roofing, electrical, pool maintenance, handyman services and many other trades. Our group of talent is highly experienced and skilled so customers always know the job will be done right. 

The benefits go beyond just quality workmanship. You’ll no longer need to manage communication, estimating, and invoicing from multiple workmen. Your maintenance company representative will be a single point of contact for all billing, accountability, inquiries, and follow up. And in the event of an emergency, such as an HVAC failure while you’re away, your representative will be a single key holder that can provide access to pros when needed. 

Homeowners know it’s just a matter of time before something comes up that needs attention. Repairs are common, but homes also require standard maintenance and upkeep. The following outlines a few of the more common items that residential property maintenance companies help with.

Seasonal Upkeep & Minor Repairs

Each season in Greenwich, CT brings its own set of home maintenance tasks. Spring is a good time to address paint and staining needs, fix minor issues with roofing and masonry and start on spring cleanup, mulching and landscaping. Summer means pool maintenance and repair, lawn mowing and gardening. Fall requires leaf cleanup, chimney cleaning, and trimming of trees. And winter brings plowing and can be a good time to upgrade safety equipment such as aging smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 

Unexpected Repairs

Major mechanical system failure can be extremely stressful. Having someone reliable to properly diagnose and fix HVAC, plumbing and electrical issues can be a major weight off your shoulders. Other areas of the home that can require significant work include the chimney, large appliances, and hot water heaters. And minor issues such as garage doors and entry gates can be a major inconvenience when they go down. 

Preventative Maintenance 

To keep your systems running at peak efficiency, and to avoid premature breakdowns, furnace and AC systems should be inspected and cleaned before the start of each season. Other preventative maintenance includes refrigerator coil cleaning, inspection and repair of damaged boards, and/or roofing. Having a property maintenance service for these tasks is critical to helping prevent issues before they become major problems. 

Water Infiltration  

Wet basements and garages can be a big problem in Greenwich, CT. We get plenty of rainy days and properties close to the sound can have a high water table. The same is true for garages. Dealing with water issues requires the knowledge and skill of experienced professionals. Your property maintenance company can help you assess and fix water issues as well as help prevent future leaks. 

It can be exhausting when you consider all that goes into maintaining a home in Greenwich, CT. Hiring a residential property maintenance company can provide major relief. You’ll be assured that all of the work will be done right and you’ll have one point of contact for all of these tasks. The end result will be a well-maintained property and you’ll have time to focus on what’s important to you. 

Dealing with property management projects can be time consuming and costly. Waiting them out, however, can lead to even larger jobs with higher costs. In and around the Greenwich, CT area the ever-changing weather constantly tests our homes. Fairfield County, CT climates bring heavy rains, heat, cold, snow, ice, and wind. These elements put strain on your HVAC system, erode roofing and siding, etc. Keeping up with maintenance can save you in the long run, whether you do the work yourself or employ a residential property management company. The following projects require attention before they lead to bigger issues.

Frozen Pipes

You may have had frozen pipe issues in the past that were fixed by simply thawing them with a hair dryer. Some, however, don’t get so lucky and the pipes burst. Frozen water inside of plumbing causes water pressure to build up behind the blockage. That pressure can split the pipe. When this happens rooms can flood, leading to major cleanup and repair costs. To avoid this issue make sure that all susceptible plumbing is properly insulated or moved to a different space. Water pipes that run along outside walls are more apt to freeze. Adding rigid foam insulation behind these pipes and/or wrapping the pipe in heating tape is a good preventative measure. And it’s always a good idea to raise the thermostat a bit when long cold spells set in.

HVAC Maintenance 

Regularly maintaining your heating and air conditioning systems is one of the most important maintenance steps to take as a homeowner. Doing so will help you avoid more costly breakdowns later. This type of work typically requires the skill and experience of a residential property management company. Their HVAC professionals are licensed to conduct regular maintenance as well as any repairs. Furnaces should be inspected and cleaned once per year in later summer of early fall. Central air conditioning units should be inspected yearly in late winter or early spring. Regular maintenance of HVAC systems can reduce the risk of major, costly breakdowns by as much as 95 percent. In addition it can help extend the life of your equipment and keep the systems running more efficiently. Furthermore, regular maintenance is required by some manufacturers to ensure the equipment remains under warranty.

Paint and Stain

It’s easy to put house painting or deck staining off. These are big jobs that often come with a hefty price tag. Delaying, however, can lead to a more costly job down the line. And it doesn’t take long for issues to creep up. When paint is peeling or chipping the wood will be exposed. Water can quickly cause rot on siding, decking and trim. Keep an eye on your painted and stained surfaces. Although a full paint job may not always be required, it’s best to clean, sand and paint sections that have considerable peeling or fading. For a larger painting project you may want to talk to a property management company. A thorough job completed by a professional should last for several years.

Damp Basements

If your basement has a musty smell, or you can visibly see water entering the space, it’s best to act fast. Taking care of the issue right away will help you avoid mold and rot. Water can destroy insulation, trim, plaster and sheetrock, flooring, subflooring, and floor joists. To help pinpoint the issue, your home maintenance service should conduct a thorough inspection of the basement interior as well as the property surrounding the foundation. Pooling rainwater against the foundation is a typical cause of wet basements. This can occur when the land is not graded properly and/or effective drainage is not in place. Your property management professional will make sure that gutter downspouts are releasing away from the foundation. They will also make sure that land does not slope towards the house. If this is the case you may need to re-grade or add additional ground drains to redirect the water.

Water Marks on Walls or Ceiling

Water in the walls or ceiling is typically a sign of a leaking roof. Another issue, however, could be siding or window leaks. A third possibility is a leaking pipe in the walls. If the water spots are constant it is likely a plumbing issue. When they are more pronounced during and/or after heavy rains then it’s probably an exterior issue. If you suspect an exterior issue your maintenance professional should inspect the roofing material, flashing, and gutters. It’s possible that the roofing is in good shape, but the flashing has been eroded or damage from a storm. It’s also possible that the flashing or gutters were not properly installed, which could lead to issues. Interior inspections should be conducted by opening up a small section of the wall or ceiling, where the water mark appears. Look for leaky plumbing, and/or follow the trail of water to identify the source of the leak. Although it’s never fun to confront a home maintenance issue, waiting to solve the problem can make things worse. Homeowners can handle some of these maintenance tasks, but for the bigger jobs it makes sense to bring in a property management company. This way you know the job will be done the right way using the appropriate materials. And when you’re enrolled in a property management program they’ll keep an eye on your home all year long.