Portfolio setup
- 1Listgather the addresses, access details and contacts for each property
- 2Walkvisit each site to mark shut-offs, cleanouts, heaters and pumps
- 3Noterecord pipe materials, known faults and anything due for replacement
- 4Planagree a maintenance round for valves, drains, pumps and backflow tests
- 5Respondhandle calls with the site notes already in hand
01What managers ask us for
Property managers need fewer surprises and better records. The usual requests are:
- Fast response to tenant leaks, backups and no-hot-water calls
- Clear notes on cause, so charges can be assigned correctly
- Advice on which old pipe or tank should be budgeted for replacement
- Tenant notices and access coordination for planned shutdowns
- Backflow testing and sump pump checks tracked by due date
| Typical portfolios | Rental houses, basement suites, walk-ups, small plazas and condo corporations |
|---|---|
| Most useful note | Exact location of every main and riser shut-off |
| Seasonal items | Hose bibs before frost, sump pumps before spring thaw |
02Why site notes matter
At two in the morning, the plumber who already knows the main shut-off is behind the furnace in the basement suite saves the ceiling below. Our first visit to each property is a walk-through: shut-offs, cleanouts, water heater type and whether it is a rental tank, sump pit condition, pipe materials. Those notes ride with every later call, and you get a copy.
03Planned rounds
A short round each spring and autumn catches most of what turns into emergency calls:
- Exercise main and riser valves and replace any that will not close
- Test sump pumps and check valves before the thaw
- Close and empty the outside hose bibs ahead of freezing nights
- Check water heater relief valves and look for tank weeping
- Camera problem drains before tenants report a backup