5 LESSONS LEARNED TO NEVER LIVE THIS NIGHTMARE AGAIN This experience revealed many gaps in our vendor standards and vendor management processes. We have made drastic changes in our maintenance operations. There are more controls in place to ensure this nightmare is never revisited. Here are some of the things we have learned to be of critical importance to ensure a successful relationship with 3rd party maintenance vendors.
LESSON #1. Due Diligence
Always vet vendors fully. Running a background check on your vendors can help ensure you are hiring qualified and trustworthy individuals. A criminal history and sex offender report can reveal information that may indicate a potential risk to the property or its residents. A background check can also verify that a maintenance professional has the necessary licenses, certifications, and insurance coverage to perform the required work. You can use a service like InfomatchPlus.com to run a background check. It’s a small price to pay to avoid the costs and liabilities associated with hiring a bad vendor. Next, increase audits of new vendors to ensure they are meeting your standards, not taking shortcuts, and only invoicing for work they actually completed. And get feedback from tenants BEFORE paying invoices. While it is almost impossible to verify every work order, new vendors should receive extra scrutiny.
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