THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY. Of apartment maintenance.
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2021
- In this video I go over the bad of being a maintenance tech. But I also go over the good and finally the ugly. To me the good outweighs the bad and the ugly. I still believe that maintenance is a good trade or job.
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Yeah brother you hit the nail on the head I've been doing this for over 20+ years great video btw I'm from Tucson Az myself 😂
I did apartment maintenance for 4 years and honestly I loved the day to day of just cleaning and doing work orders. But the 24 hour emergency on call was the main reason I left and wouldn’t go back despite getting good offers. Every single thanksgiving I’d get called out because someone who never uses their oven finds out it needs maintenance when their bird isn’t cooking. And of course they think I can come and fix it on the spot not realizing I’d usually need to order a part. But you still need to show up.
The next deal breaker was turns. The company I worked for was flat out criminal with the deadlines they’d force on me for turns. As maintenance I’m supposed to inspect the apartment and let my manager know how much time I’ll realistically need to turn the unit. Instead my manager would have the new tenants move-in date set before the old tenant even moved out. I’d be lucky if I had a full 3 days to turn a unit while also juggling all my other work orders. You’d put in a request for overtime and upper management wouldn’t even respond till you only have one day left to finish your unit. Needless to say I ended up working a lot of unpaid overtime to meet deadlines. That company ended up losing a class action lawsuit a few years after I left and I got a decent little check in the mail one day. Still was far less than I should have earned in overtime in those 4 years.
You my man are the number 1 maintenance channel on CZcams by far!! All the info I have ever seen you give is right on the nose. I have done apartment maintenance my whole adult life and tell all my newer techs to spend some time on your channel!
I really appreciate your comment!! Thank you very much!!
Yo bro I’m starting my new maintenance job in a couple days and I could not have asked for a better channel or better videos to get me ready for it! Thank you very much for sharing your experience and knowledge what an awesome thing to do!
Ive been a maintenance guy for 30 years --the pay is not worth it --Do yourself a favor --LEARN A TRADE.
Yea, I would have to agree with you. The pay is better in the trades and you only deal with tools for that trade only. I did it backwards tho, I was a commercial concrete foreman for over 20yrs and I did good money. I've been doing this for about 5 yrs professionally and there's days I feel like just going back to the trades. The reason I stay is because of the job security and in my case I would have to go back to concrete or heavy equipment operator and I don't want to do either. I do enjoy doing different things too. One hour I may be fixing a refrigerator and the next painting or fixing an air conditioner etc etc. Thanks for the good comment.
@@MaintenanceManNarratives i agree with you, i did drywall and paint for many years but it gets boring. I've been doing maintenance for 2 years and i just love doing different tasks throughout the week, and even when i have to paint it is not as boring as it used to be
They always say “ wile I got you here “
One of the biggest issues in apartment maintenance is the turnover of techs. There's never any sense of urgency for them to fill the position, so you end up getting sent all over the city, or even the state playing "Captain Save a Property". While you're away from your site, the work just continues to build up. It's incredibly stressful and can wear on you to the point of feeling physically ill. It's been this way for over a decade now and it's only getting worse. I've been in the business nearly 20 years. They will continue to use you until you are broken and completely used up. One of the other issues is once you get a place dialed in after a couple years, the owners will just up and sell it on you, leaving you without a job in many cases. They care only about the dollar signs, remember that.
You're absolutely right!!!
Management and leasing is just promising apartments and move in dates knowing well that they don't have the staff or materials to accomplish the dates. And then they still expect the work orders to be done. Maintenance techs really get the worst of it in this multi million dollar industry. Honestly, we are just the cheap labor.
You have that right, that's why they hate unions. Can't abuse us as much with a union. I have learned to do things at my own pace.
Nailed it. Great video!
Thank you very much!! Means a lot coming from you, I have been your fan since I started maintenance and have learned a lot from you.
Hey Lex
Great Channel. Thank you!
Thank you very much
I love maintenance cause it’s not mentally draining. I’ve worked jobs where I do the same thing for hours every day. In apartment maintenance, it’s always something new every day. The pace is switched up all the time. Not just constantly 1 thing for 8 hours straight
I agree with you!! This job is really awesome!!
I've been in the this industry since 1990, I seen it all up to this point, I retired a year ago at 67 but was called back January of 2024 to help out a friend who is over 65 and now the only maintenance for two properties. Since covid he's been unable to keep people and they apparently get scared to death to work with heatpumps or even learn, given the two properties are older folks don't want to deal with galvanized water lines and old iron pipes for the sewer plus Zinsco electrical panels, one of the properties have aluminum electrical lines and a good number of folks don't know how to deal with aluminum lines when ask during an interview, we have been replacing the bus bars and breakers in the Zinsco panels when ever we do a turn. It's too much a nightmare for some folks. You're on point with everything you said and it is an ever learning trade.
I subscribed to your channel because i love the fact that you're always learning i do the same exact thing with the audiobooks
Thanks man!! I love audiobooks too! I think it's always a good thing to be learning as much as possible while still being productive. I really appreciate your comment!
Thank you for another excellent video, Pepe.
I think an added problem that goes with being on call is that a lot of management companies require you to be on call not just for the complex you work at, but at all the other properties in their portfolio as well. It's so tough.
I guess another advantage of being an apartment tech could be that a lot of companies offer a discount on rent if you live there. So you might save on housing costs, as well as walk out your door and you're already at work.
I work as a maintenance tech at a university. Even though you have to agree to be on call 24 hours, they never call you because there is always a team there on 2nd and 3rd shift. Same with hospitals. It's not usually too hard to get a job like that. Even if a young person has no experience, they often hire them on as a custodian, then six months later after probation, they can start them out in maintenance.
I have followed both your channels for a long time, Pepe. They are among my favorite ones out there!
Thank you very much I really appreciate that!!
You're right!! I forgot about the housing discount. That is definitely why alot of guys get into and stay in maintenance. I have always had to do the maintenance on call for 4 or five complex at a time. And in the summer you may be working on an a/c and have 2 other tenants waiting for you to get to their's. It gets really stressful.
I really appreciate your comment, thanks!!
How much hourly do you consider is good for a maintenance man?
I feel your pain brother...im the single maintenance guy for 60 apts and water leaks ALWAYS seem to happen Friday afternoon or middle of the night...just another day in paradise...keep up the awsome vids 👍👍
Where I’m at they tell us that one maintenance guy per 100 units is reasonable lol its crazy
dude I started as partime maintenance at 20 and at 24 I was finally made fulltime I lasted to I was 28 because I realized the pay was so low even tho I was working hard even when I was part time we did everything. I left and ended up again as a maintenance manager but I'm the only guy and I'm already getting burn out because I think my heart is not in it anymore. the hard part is I don't have any experience anywhere else
How are you holding up? Hoping things got better.
Could try public works utilities, I guess, if you don't mind fixing broken sewer pipes...
Great points you brought up I’m glad I found this CZcams channel very helpful thank you is a
I really appreciate your positive comment, it's these comments that make me want to continue, thanks!!
Thanks Man U sum it up really good
You are right maintenance need to become unionized
For the pay you deal with Biohazards, some you cant even see or smell. Plus the cost of the tools, hauling half full water heaters down 3 flights of stairs etc etc. On top of that In most cases the maintenance guy is the lowest employee in the company. And as you mentioned ON Call. Im 63 and im just trying to give honest advice for your future.
Phenomenal video I agree on every point made.
Thank you very much!!
I just that I get my own golf cart and I don't pay any rent
Man you hit the nail right on the head with this video
Thanks!!
Great video brother! 🤜🤛
Thanks!!
I like being a maintenance tech everybody cant do what we do i enjoy doing multiple trades at one in maintenance cause alot of people not capable of multitasking id be bored just doing one trade everyday mastering it i need to be able to do alot at once thats how time and the day go by fast wen you do alot of work time go by fast wen you look up its time to go home i hate downtime i like being busy for 8hours str8
I was getting $20/hr at an hvac company, just moved to maintenance at $25/hr so I can't complain much
That's good!!
My go to guy to do just about everything around my house moved to North Dallas and got a job as head of maintenance for a low income apartment complex. Within a month ne noticed that the AC fuses were replaced with pieces of copper pipe. He reported that to management and said this is a safety issue that needs to be fixed immediately. Management told him that they were aware of it and that it has been that way for a few years so leave it along. He quit on the spot.
He's a good man!!! That's a very dangerous thing to do. He didn't want to have anything to do with that!!
On call sucks , no nothing on, on call .
Good as always, been at the same apartments for 10 years and you nailed it. What do you do when complain about mold that isn't there?
Thanks!! I always take pictures and explain to the tenants the difference between mold and mildew. I always make sure I take a picture in front of them so they know their is evidence before I fix the problem. Thanks for commenting!!
@@MaintenanceManNarratives Thanks when tenants think they have mold or bed bugs it's the worst and the fear spreads throughout the complex. Good point about the difference between mold and mildew. I'm in Wyoming and we are about as dry as Arizona. I think all we have ever had is mildew due to tenants never opening their windows all winter and cranking of the free heat. That might be a good video for you to make, "The difference between Mold and Mildew in maintenance situations".
Get this stuff call Sporacidin. It kills all mildew etc prevents it from coming back. The fact they saw you doing something helps as well.
Amen
God bless you 🙏 ❤️
Thank you!! I wish you have an amazing 2023!!
I’m fresh out of HVAC/R school and I have been offered a Maintenance job here in Phoenix Arizona I’m considering about trying it
What does everyone here get paid as a maintenance person? Job description, hours and pay would be nice to see. I’m maintenance on a farm, I work 51 hours a week minimum, I make 57,000.
I work in NYC, right now is $29 an hour with union benefits.
I'm starting an apprenticeship for maintenance in a couple months. I am doing it specifically because I don't want to worry about the ups and downs. This boom will slow down and I want to already be in somewhere before that happens. Covid killed my trade (jeweler) and stuff is only going to get worse.
Where I live in Florida they're building nothing but apartments and condos so they'll always need maintenance
Question: do you use your own tools or are they supplied?
The company should supply the tools but bring a few tools at the beginning to start.
He's got some other videos that tell you what you should supply.
Bad is officer manager over maintenance staff
I think maintenance is good for someone who wants to learn a trade but not sure what trade is right for them. Get a little experience then LEAVE for better pay and better treatment.
Honestly I agree with you! The only reason I have stayed is because of the youtube videos. But I do think that is the best advice!
I am starting my new maintenance position in a week. Super nervous cuz I'm new to it
I'm sure you'll do good, being the supervisor can be easier if you use the guys were they are their strongest. Some are better at some things and other at other things. Don't try to make them all be good at everything because they won't. Congrats!!
Would you recommend a maintenance job to get more experience or your foot in the door to a specialized trade because I know someone who could help me get a maintenance job maybe get a couple years of experience in that for my résumé and go from there into a trade, HVAC plumbing or electrician because it’s hard to just get a into tradesman job with no experience unless u know someone
No to be honest, trades men look down on apartment maintenance. I would recommend just becoming a helper in the trade you like and work your way up.
Monday to Friday 7-3:30? Man I wish more apartments did that. Most apartments here in SoCal are 9-6 and Sunday Monday off or Friday Saturday.
I’m a maintenance in 400 units and it too much work 😢
Yea, for sure!! I hope you got some help
you broke it down dude
Everyone hates on call in reality
Absolutely!!
Maintenance here making 35 hourly I ask for a increase pay they sure did said you are the top pay . I am making that top pay ? Any recommendations please let me know. Should I not ask for more?
I make 20 a hr and I’m certified hvac on call every other week
Average for the country 19 a hr they might replace you with two guys if you don’t chill 😂
@@kylevos8551 just put my 2 weeks notice today going to other company whit better pay and not on call . They offer me 38 hourly but the other company was just better overall
@@motosymas1726 which state are you working in?
Things are getting very hectic
Yea, it happens sometimes. Companies start expecting way to much and sometimes push us right out of there. Managers want to keep their bonuses and don't want to buy parts or hire help.
So true bro
Not true, instead of fixing the ac on the roof, install temporary hvac unit’s until Monday
Hope your property manager works with you.
I'm a natural gas installer, are you hiring?
Their's always work in Arizona doing maintenance!!
Hears the worst of the UGLY. Think about it, 100 units total × lets just say $700. a month per unit, do the math 700,000 per month and how much are you paid. Arent you worth more.😢😢😢 By the way that 8,400,000 per year.