Maintenance Responsibilities

A quick overview of who handles what:

Air Conditioning

You take care of: Changing the air filters monthly, replacing thermostat batteries as needed, keeping the AC unit(s) free of debris to maximize efficiency.
We take care of: Everything else

Appliances

You take care of: Washer/dryer/refrigerator repairs and/or replacements (if provided in the rental at no additional charge), changing water filters in the fridge as needed and keeping everything clean.

We take care of: All built-in appliances including stove, built-in microwave, dishwasher.

Home Exterior

You take care of: Keeping everything clean and free from debris, mold or mildew including the home’s exterior, walkways, walls, first floor gutters, fences, mailbox, and driveway.

We take care of: Fences/walls, your garage door, roofing, second floor gutters, and the home’s structure.

Irrigation

You take care of: Setting the clock, testing the system weekly for correct function, and adjusting and replacing broken sprinkler heads if needed

We take care of: Repairs to the clock, electronics, pumps and underground pipes

Lawn & Landscaping

You take care of: Everything ground up

We take care of: Everything underground

Home Interior

You take care of: Minor toilet or drain clogs, changing light bulbs, regular cleaning, small hardware issues, etc.
We take care of: Water and drainage line breaks, plumbing leaks, plumbing hardware, and water heater issues

Pest Control

You take care of: Regular pest control for common pests like ants, roaches, spiders, scorpions, beetles, and small rodents.
We take care of: Large rodents, bee hives/wasp nests, birds, or termites that have taken up residence in the home or attic, and common indoor pests that are present in the home within 30 days of your move-in.

Smoke Detectors

You take care of: Checking and changing batteries
We take care of: Repairing or replacing malfunctioning units

We don’t want you or anyone else to get hurt while maintaining your home. Please do not attempt to do any maintenance or repairs for which you are not qualified. Email us for the names of reputable service people who are qualified to do the work. If you ever have any concerns regarding the proper maintenance of your home, please don’t hesitate to bring them to our attention.

Resident Requirements

As pointed out during the Lease Orientation meeting and in the Rental Contract, you are expected to care for this home as if it was your own and take care of all minor maintenance and repairs each month. Often a minor adjustment or repair, done in a timely manner when a problem is first observed, will avoid a much more serious and costly problem down the road.

For repairs costing more than $100, please call 725-867-1257 before beginning any work.

The following items are required as a condition of the Rental Contract:

Check the smoke alarms regularly to be sure they are operational. Change batteries twice a year when you change your clocks back in the Fall and forward in the Spring. If the property does not have a fire extinguisher, you should supply one for your safety.
Change the furnace filter monthly during the heating season (and in summer when the A/C is in use). This will result in cleaner indoor air and more efficient heating.
Highly Recommended: AC tune ups with indoor and outdoor coil cleaning are recommended every two years for keeping the HVAC units in good shape and helping your heating /cooling bills stay low. Our preferred vendor is a NV Energy partner and charges just $19 after the $200 partner discount– reach out to us for their info and to schedule an appointment.
If you have a problem with moisture, it is very important to determine the source of the problem and deal with it immediately. Notify us as soon as possible if you have had an overflow situation in a bathroom, kitchen or laundry or if you notice any loose tile.
Gutters should be cleaned out every year after all the leaves have fallen from the trees. Make sure that the splash blocks or downspout extensions are carrying the water away from the foundation. Failure to pay attention to the above could cause severe foundation problems.
Landscaping: Lawns must be fertilized three times a year and watered properly during the growing season. Trees and shrubs should be watered per City water regulations. Hand watering is permitted outside of the scheduled watering schedules. This is especially important in a dry winter or extremely hot summers. Please remember to disconnect all hoses after you have finished watering!

List of Procedures for some Common Home Maintenance Jobs

(If you have been a homeowner in the past, most of these things will be familiar to you.)

Tile & grout / caulk - Check the tile and grout in your tubs & showers regularly. If you notice any cracks or if any of the tiles appear loose, please let us know immediately! (Please do not use the tub or shower in question until the problem is solved.)

Shower tile - Spraying shower tiles after every use with a commercial product such as “Daily Shower” will prevent the build-up of soap scum and mildew (and/or use a squeegee). CLR (which can be purchased at Home Depot) is good for cleaning fiberglass showers and tub surrounds.

Glass shower doors - Squeegee after use to prevent build-up of soap film. A coat of lemon oil will also protect against soap film build-up.

Keep bathrooms well ventilated to prevent against mold and mildew. Use the exhaust fan! If you notice any mildew, clean it up with a solution of bleach and water.

Hardwood floors - If your home has hardwood floors, they should be swept regularly. To clean, damp mop with water and white vinegar only (1/4 cup white vinegar to a gallon of warm water). Be sure to remove all excess water from mop and floor. To avoid scratches please put felt pads on the bottom of all furniture and replace when necessary.

LVT floors – Floors should be swept and damp mopped. To avoid scratches please put felt pads on the bottom of all furniture and replace when necessary.

Carpet - Weekly vacuuming will add years to the life of your wall-to-wall carpet. Treat spills immediately for best results. Club soda is good for red wine stains; a commercial spot cleaner such as ‘Resolve’ also works well on stains. There are specific products made for pet stains.

Kitchen - Be sure to vacuum under the refrigerator. Clean stove vent filters regularly with Dawn dish liquid and/or sudsy ammonia. Also wiping up spills on drip pans as they happen is much easier than attempting to scrub off baked-on spills. If you have a self-cleaning oven, do not use a regular oven cleaner as this will damage the oven.

Maintenance Service Fees
We’re happy to take care of any maintenance requests, however, if the maintenance is for something that falls under your responsibility, a service fee of $100 will apply., per your lease agreement. If you have questions about these maintenance responsibilities, service issues, or what constitutes a maintenance emergency, please contact us.