Maintenance
Troubleshooting
There are 3 main categories of maintenance: preventative, corrective and emergency. When should you as a tenant report a maintenance issue to Property Management?
TBPM recommends that you troubleshoot the issue first. Below you will find clickable categories of home maintenance, there are links below on troubleshooting common issues that you as the tenant will need to follow before reporting any maintenance issues.
We encourage you to do this before calling Property Management to issue a work order. In your tenant maintenance responsibilities document that you signed as part of your lease package, it clearly states the tenant will be responsible for payment of service provided if the maintenance issue is at the fault of the tenant. We know the costs of living are high, we want to help eliminate those costs.
However, if after you have walked through the troubleshooting per your maintenance issue, we suggest reporting your maintenance issue to TBPM at that time and we will issue a work order to the appropriate source for repair.
What is and emergency? Anything involving water line breaks, flooding, electrical outages, heating outages, hot water heater outages, fires are classified as an emergency and should be reported immediately to 360 385 3896. Our after hours and weekend emergency line is: 360 582 2348.
TBPM conducts annual maintenance inspections at the time of your lease renewal to asses for needed repairs, as well as conducting thorough move in and move out inspections. We encourage timely reporting of emergency needed repairs and also educating yourself on tenant maintenance responsibilities and winter care for the property you are renting for preventative care.
Roofing & Gutters
Gutters need to be cleaned up to twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. If there are pine trees near the home, needles will need to be removed every three months to reduce the potential for clogging the gutters and downspouts. Please report leaks, cracks, and damages.
Pest Control
It is important to identify the type of pest that has invaded the home, once identified the pest can then be exterminated appropriately. Some tips to avoid pest invasions: don't leave food in pet bowls out for long periods of time, caulk cracks and crevices with weather stripping on doors and windows, keep floor drains tightened, remove piles of wood from around the home, keep shrubs and branches trimmed away from the house, do not keep piles of trash, debris or anything else around your home and outdoors that allows standing water to create a breeding ground for insects and shelter for rodents. You can minimize the problem by doing self maintenance by killing, controlling and preventing pest invasions.
Plumbing
There is a lot to learn about plumbing repairs, TBPM does not expect you to do this. We do want you to identify the problem to properly report your maintenance need. If you are having a leaky faucet, non-operable garbage disposal, clogged sink, toilet, drain, or a main water line break please call the office to troubleshoot.
Electrical & Lighting
TBPM requires you to report needed electrical repairs for maintenance, do not attempt to fix electrical damages or outages on your own. We will troubleshoot the issue with you when you report the issue. We do encourage tenants to educate themselves on everything electrical for safety and proper reporting.
Weatherization
As a tenant you can take appropriate steps to eliminate weather conditions from effecting your quality of tenancy. Weather stripping windows and doors is a great option, as well as adding heating and cooling options such as oil heaters or window seated air conditioners.
Heating & Cooling
TBPM recommends calling to report furnace, boiler or HVAC problems, do not attempt to repair the issue yourself. As a tenant you can do preventative maintenance such as filter replacement every 3-6 months, but be sure to report issues if you notice differences in temperature output, leaks from units, or even an increase in your energy bill.
Appliances
From refrigerators, stoves, ovens, hoods, microwaves, washers and dryers, and all other appliances it can be difficult to determine what is needed to repair the unit. It is important to know how to describe the issue when calling the office to report needed repairs, we recommend educating yourself and diagnosing the issue before reporting.
Hot Water Heaters
If you are experiencing loss of hot water please contact the office to report this issue. TBPM services hot water heaters on an as needed basis. There are preventative care tips such as draining a few quarts of water from the heaters tank to remove deposits, as well as lifting and releasing the lever handle on the temperature relief valve, located near the top of the water heater, to make certain the valve operates freely. Allow several gallons to flush through the discharge line to an open drain.
Doors & Windows
As a tenant you can be helpful in preventative maintenance by keeping window clean and dry, reporting leaks, and broken glass panes.
Exterior Maintenance
TBPM conducts annual maintenance inspections to prevent or correct damages caused by weather and age. It is important for the tenant to keep the clean and free of algae buildup, keep walkways and driveways clean, mow the lawn, weed garden beds, and do general upkeep of the property. These tasks are seasonal.
Interior Maintenance
TBPM conducts annual maintenance property inspections to assess for needed interior maintenance. It is important for a tenant to report to us the presence of moisture in the home, damages to interior structures, electrical, plumbing and pest infestations. As a tenant take the time to educate yourself on home care.
Cleaning & Moving Services
TBPM expects you, as the tenant, to return the rental property in the same or better condition than when you rented the property. Please call the office or reach out to your Property Manager for referrals for professional cleaning services and moving services.