When it comes to property management, there’s no denying the critical role a stellar maintenance team plays in ensuring your property runs smoothly, residents remain satisfied, and your bottom line remains strong. Yet, hiring and retaining skilled maintenance service technicians remains one of the biggest challenges in the multifamily housing and apartment industry.
Imagine having a highly capable team that not only handles emergencies with ease but also proactively ensures the property is in excellent condition. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? However, the path to assembling and retaining such a dream team starts with understanding the importance of reducing turnover, creating a positive work environment, and standing out as a top-tier employer. Whether you’re a property manager, HR professional, or regional manager in the multifamily space, it’s time to reassess how you attract and retain top talent. We continue to share our decades of expertise in hiring and recruiting top-tier talent for the property management industry in multiple markets and assisting our clients with national recruiting efforts.
The information below is nothing new, and we understand we aren’t telling you something you don’t already know. However, the number one service we offer our clients is apartment staffing and recruiting, followed by payrolling.
Why Investing in a Stellar Maintenance Team is Vital—Here we go!
A skilled maintenance team is an investment that can significantly impact your bottom line. When managed effectively, this investment can bring substantial financial returns, reassuring you about the soundness of your decision.
Direct Impact on Resident Experience
Your maintenance team is often on the front line when interacting with residents. A well-trained, professional, and prompt maintenance technician can turn a resident’s frustrating experience (broken HVAC on a hot summer day) into one where they feel valued and heard. On the flip side, lackluster service or slow response time can completely sour the perception of your property, no matter how well-designed or conveniently located it is. Maintenance excellence increases positive resident experiences, and happy residents are more likely to renew leases and spread positive word-of-mouth. Many candidates we interview share that many times, they may feel underappreciated and why they may seek an organization that appreciates the value they bring to the property and the company.
Retention Reduces Operational Costs
Employee turnover is expensive. Recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new maintenance techs not only costs money but time—time that often translates into delayed service requests, straining existing staff, and diminished service quality. High turnover also disrupts team dynamics, impacting efficiency and morale. Investing in retaining your maintenance team significantly reduces these disruptions and stabilizes your property operations. Now, I know you are probably wondering why we are sharing such details when staffing and recruiting are our bread and butter. We all must work together to attract and retain talent to continue moving the industry forward.
Property Condition Equals Asset Value
A proactive, well-aligned team helps preserve the physical condition of the property. The onsite team contributes a direct impact on long-term asset value. Preventative maintenance and quick responses to repair needs ensure fewer expensive emergency fixes and costly damages. Skilled maintenance staff who value your property like it’s their own, offering a financial advantage that every property owner needs, providing the potential for long-term financial stability.
Attracting the Right Maintenance Talent – Stand Out in a Competitive Market
The multifamily housing industry is fiercely competitive, and attracting top maintenance talent means you need to stand head and shoulders above the rest. We are pleased to work with and support some of the top property management companies in the industry. Market your property management company not only as an employer but also as an organization that values its workforce. In many cases, this is what our team brings to the table as we are able to gather priceless feedback from the candidates we place on our client properties.
Highlight benefits, training opportunities, and company culture prominently in job listings. Most importantly, it offers a clear career path for maintenance technicians—highlighting room for promotions, certifications, or skill-based raises. A maintenance role is often viewed as “just a job,” but framing it as a fulfilling career can make you much more competitive.
Craft a Compelling Job Listing
Be transparent about the expectations and emphasize employee-focused benefits. A few key areas to address include:
- Competitive Pay (including incentives for additional skills/training).
- Scheduling Flexibility (paid time off and balanced schedules attract more candidates if your company offers this).
- Paid Certifications and Training Programs (boost technicians’ skills while investing in their future).
- Health and Retirement Benefits (a critical factor for experienced candidates).
An engaging job posting should resonate with skilled candidates, comparing what various employers offer.
Leverage Technology to Source Talent
Don’t rely solely on traditional job boards. Expand your search by tapping into industry-specific platforms like Indeed for Maintenance, NAA Affiliate Association job boards (RPM Career Hub), and local trade schools specializing in HVAC, plumbing, or electrical. Social media platforms, especially LinkedIn and Facebook, offer excellent opportunities to target skilled professionals. Use geo-targeted ads and showcase testimonials from current employees to build trust with potential recruits. Yes, we are okay sharing some of our secret sauce because we are experts in recruiting and have been able to support our client companies by partnering with them to attract talent using some of these methods.
Develop an Apprenticeship Program
Recruiting inexperienced but eager candidates and training them through apprenticeship programs can create a valuable talent pipeline for your property. Partner with technical schools, career fairs, or workforce development programs to attract individuals looking to enter the industry. Pair these newcomers with experienced techs to ensure hands-on learning while addressing immediate maintenance needs. We have many years of experience in attracting talent from outside the industry for our clients, and even if you have a small company or limited resources, that is where utilizing a recruiting or staffing firm can help fill in some of the gaps.
Retaining Top Talent
Once you’ve hired skilled maintenance technicians, the real work begins. Retention is where many property management companies stumble. Here’s how to set your company apart and hold on to that stellar team you’ve built.
Cultivate a Positive Work Environment that Nurtures Employee Morale
Employees thrive when they feel appreciated and valued. A positive work environment boosts morale and increases productivity and job satisfaction. Create a culture that celebrates achievements and recognizes hard work. Simple gestures like an ‘Employee of the Month’ program or team lunches to celebrate significant project completion can go a long way in boosting morale. Open communication is not just a strategy but a culture that fosters engagement and connection.
Offer Growth Opportunities
One of the top reasons employees leave a position is the lack of advancement opportunities. Address this by offering significant growth avenues:
- Certification Opportunities: Pay for employees to get certified in specialties like HVAC, plumbing, electrical repairs, etc.
- Career Pathways: Establish a clear path to promotions with titles like Lead Maintenance Technician or Maintenance Supervisor.
Demonstrating that you’re invested in their growth will make your staff more likely to stay long-term.
Provide the Right Tools and Technology
Strong teams often cite having the “right tools for the job” as key to their satisfaction. Equip your maintenance staff with up-to-date tools, equipment, and technology to perform their tasks efficiently. Maintenance management software, for instance, helps streamline orders and keeps everyone on the same page with scheduling and updates. Nobody wants to feel like they’re working with outdated tools or struggling to meet expectations with inadequate resources. If this is something you offer, share it during your recruiting process.
Work-Life Balance Matters
Burnout is one of the quickest ways to lose talented technicians. Offering predictable work schedules, taking burnout seriously, and providing adequate time off for vacations or personal time is essential. Backup coverage for emergencies can help take the pressure off your team, especially for after-hours maintenance requests. We get it – it can be challenging regardless of the size of the property or the number of team members. Consider partnering with a staffing agency to help fill in the gaps; yes, even budgeting for additional support can help reduce burnout.
Offer Meaningful Perks
Offering perks tailored for maintenance staff goes a long way. Below are a few considerations; you don’t have to offer everything all at once. However, even a few perks can show your commitment to the team.
- Tool allowances or discounts.
- Paid uniforms or reimbursements for required clothing like slip-resistant boots.
- Bonuses for exemplary performance or completion of large-scale projects.
When employees feel valued beyond their paychecks, it reinforces their loyalty to your team.
Foster Team Culture
Encourage camaraderie within your maintenance staff and ensure they are included in larger property team initiatives. Team-building activities, shared meetings, or annual maintenance appreciation events involving everyone in the company help employees feel they are an integral part of a larger mission.
Reducing Turnover Enhances Your Bottom Line
High turnover in maintenance departments hurts employee morale and impacts your property’s bottom line. Recruiting new technicians, onboarding them, and covering additional overtime while roles are unfilled quickly racks up expenses. Conversely, consistent teams save money and boost service quality, enhancing resident retention and satisfaction. Consider this a long-term investment where every dollar spent keeping your team happy yields exponential returns.
Your Path to a Stellar Maintenance Team
Building and retaining a stellar maintenance team doesn’t happen overnight, but the rewards are worth the effort. Focus on casting the widest net possible to recruit top talent, providing competitive compensation and meaningful benefits to attract them. Once they’re on board, cultivate a supportive, growth-minded environment to keep them engaged and loyal to your property.
Start taking steps today to make your maintenance team one of your property’s most substantial assets. Doing so will protect the value of your real estate investments, create exceptional resident experiences, and position your business for long-term success.
If you implement even a few of these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to proving the age-old saying that your people really are your greatest asset.
If you’re looking to partner with a staffing agency that understands property management, contact one of our Branch Managers today. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate and support your staffing efforts.
