Watch Out for Unethical Contractors

Apr 17, 2019

Landlords in San Diego know how important maintenance is to their investment. An apartment or house which falls into disrepair becomes a hazard and is unsafe to rent. Any property owner who has multiple units does not have the time to do any repair work. He or she will have repair contractors do the heavy lifting. This appears efficient, but there is a problem: not all contractors are ethical.

It is too bad that there are less than honest contractors in San Diego, but it is important to be aware that there are unethical contractors out there. Common practices used by contractors which are dishonest include:

Use of Substandard Material

Some unethical contractors will use building material that has low price and cheap quality. The repair is done and the chances are more repairs will be needed to be done shortly afterward.

Shoddy Work

Not paying attention to detail or using “quick fixes” are ways that an unethical contractor gets the job done quickly. Poorly installed wiring or roofs with weak supports can lead to tragic accidents. Shoddy work also means incomplete repair or renovation. In the case of black mold, leaving any mold untreated encourages new infestation.

Padding the Bill

An unethical contractor will include fees and service charges that are not related to the work assignment. The contractor will rely on the customer’s ignorance to slip such extra costs into the paperwork.

The results of unethical behavior have serious consequences for the landlord. These go beyond any additional expenses in the bill. Building codes may be violated and the landlord is liable for the contractor’s work. Fines can be levied or the property declared uninhabitable. Most landlords do not deal daily with contractors. It makes sense to have a property management company in San Diego handle maintenance and repair of the rental units. Alta Vista Properties is one of the best property management companies in the area.

We Work with Reliable Contractors

Alta Vista Properties is not a new enterprise. We have been in the business for years and provide superior service to clients.

Alta Vista Properties has established working relationships with some of the best repair contractors in San Diego. We trust the quality of their work because of favorable past experiences. These professionals will only charge for the work done – there are no hidden fees. Contractors know we expect such honesty. Any contractor who will not live up to our standards will not be working with Alta Vista Properties.

We give the best service to our clients. Tenants are urged to report damages as early as possible. We make this convenient with a web page for reporting such problems. Alta Vista Properties conducts routine property inspections. These walk-throughs allow us to spot repair needs before they become more serious. It is one of the ways that we protect the investment of our clients.

Our relationship with contractors can also help when it is time for property to be sold. These contractors know what is expected by loan officers or the FHA. They will make necessary repairs and renovations to property this about to be sold. The price charged by these people is fair and equitable, and the work is high quality. Every client of ours who is about to sell an apartment or house can rely on the work that is done to prepare the structure for market.

Alta Vista Properties offers several services to landlords that make life easier. We have the best software in the industry, and we will produce reliable reports whenever they are needed. We also are experts in handling the day-to-day relations with tenants.

Please do inquire at any time about our property management services. We can be reached at 858-274-3600 or by email at info@altavistaproperties.net. We look forward to hearing from you and answering your questions.

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