Your property is a big deal. It might be your home, a source of income, or a cornerstone of your future plans. It represents a decent amount of your hard work. How you choose to take care of it is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an owner. It’s a thought that crosses every property owner’s mind: should you handle the upkeep yourself, or should you hire someone to manage it for you?
You have two main paths you can go down. You can self-manage all the maintenance, becoming your own point person for every little thing. Or, you can subcontract the work, handing the coordination over to a dedicated company. Both are interesting options for property maintenance, and one of them is likely a much better fit for you.
Self-Managing Your Property Maintenance
There’s a real attraction to handling things yourself. You have direct control over everything, and the idea of saving money by cutting out a middleman is tempting. When you self-manage, you are the project management lead. A leaky pipe, a flickering outdoor light, a deck that needs cleaning — it all comes to you first.
The Perks of Being Your Own Project Manager
Taking the reins of your property’s upkeep definitely comes with a few positives. You get a ground-level view of your real estate that no one else has.
- Total Command: You select the person for the job, approve the materials, and sign off on the final product. The quality control is all on you.
- Direct Savings: You avoid paying for a management service. Your only costs are the direct labor and materials for the job itself, which can be great for the budget.
- Property IQ: You learn every inch of your property, including its quirks, its history, and its needs. This can be valuable knowledge, especially in real estate investing.
The Realities You’ll Face
This path requires you to wear many hats, and it can become complicated quickly. What starts as a simple phone call can turn into a juggling act. Your time becomes the single biggest resource you spend on maintenance.
- The Vetting Game: You’re in charge of finding a good painter, a trustworthy electrician, a reliable plumber, and so on. This takes time, research, and a bit of luck.
- Calendar Tetris: Trying to schedule multiple tradespeople is a serious headache. The person doing the siding can’t come until the old lighting is removed, but the electrician is booked for two weeks. It’s a logistical puzzle you have to solve.
- The Liability Factor: What happens if a contractor you hired gets injured on your property? If they don’t have the right insurance, that problem could land on your shoulders.
- Always On-Call: If you’re a landlord renting out a property, a tenant’s call at 10 PM on a Friday about a broken fixture is your problem to solve, right then and there.
Subcontracting to a Pro
Now, let’s look at the other side. Subcontracting doesn’t just mean hiring a random person for a task. It means partnering with a single company that manages all your exterior property maintenance needs. Think of them as your personal general contractor for upkeep. You have one phone number to call, and they handle the rest. You’re essentially delegating the chaos so you can focus on the big picture. It’s a strategic move to protect your time and your investment without getting bogged down in the day-to-day grind of construction or repair logistics.
Why Outsourcing Your To-Do List Makes Sense
Handing over the keys to your property’s maintenance plan brings a sense of calm and predictability that is hard to achieve on your own. It simplifies the complex world of property care.
- One Point of Contact: Instead of juggling five different contractors, you have one person to talk to. This dramatically improves communication and streamlines the entire process.
- A Built-in Network: A good maintenance partner already has a roster of vetted, insured, and reliable professionals for any job, from landscape lighting to roof cleaning.
- You Get Your Time Back: This is the biggest one. All the hours you would have spent researching, calling, and coordinating are yours again.
- Risk Management: The company you subcontract to carries the appropriate insurance, protecting you from on-the-job accidents and liability concerns.
- Clearer Budgeting: Professional services can often package maintenance needs, giving you a more predictable and stable budget for the year. No surprise costs from an emergency call.
Simplify Your Property Care With Patriot Exterior Cleaning
You have better things to do than coordinate contractors. We proudly offer comprehensive property maintenance services and community & HOA property maintenance designed to take the entire workload off your plate. For homeowners, investors, and more, we provide a single point of contact for a perfectly maintained property.
Clear your maintenance calendar for good, and let’s talk about a plan that fits your property.