Why is it this hard to find the right people, what am I doing wrong? --75.243.xxx.xx

Time to get your hands dirty. YouTube is your friend. --24.152.xxx.xx

Like the other people here say - time to learn yourself. --75.7.xx.xx

I got 1 pro for each 4 to 6 people in their respected fields. I had all tools and materials on site. Paid $7,000 a day for all of those people, I gave them lunch, drinks and had standing bathroom stalls. --173.205.xxx.xxx

Run an ad, i have put free ads on garage sale sites on facebook with good results,you have to dig through workers just like looking for tenants.you can show up at big box stores in the morning and look for whoever is a contractor.go to landlord assn meetings,maybe someone has an employee and will be slow so might share or rent them to you. --208.115.xxx.x

I don’t even know how or where to start. Are plumbing, electrical and hvac repairs that easy to do that I can diy it and do it myself? I have no confidence whatsoever in any of these areas. I’m so frustrated with looking for people to do work that I have to do something ASAP! I honestly have no choice. --75.243.xxx.xx

Start by fixing what’s broken. Don’t break too much in the process. --24.152.xxx.xx

how much do you need done? is it worth finding a handyman or is it easier to just hire a licensed plumber or electrician? --208.115.xxx.x

There’s always a new project that can be started if the day to day stuff is all caught up --75.243.xxx.xx

sounds like you have enough work for a part time or even full time handyman.Last time i needed a guy i put an ad on facebook garage sale site,within an hour or two i had 50 responses.I started taking the names and doing some research. a simple google search pulled up criminal behavior from newspaper articles so obviously i didnt call them. I found a guy who had 2 facebook friends who i was friends with,i called them,1 said he could do the work but not sure what he had for tools,the other said he drinks a lot.I called the guy and talked to him,he wanted $30 an hour,ok meet me at my current project,we met he seemed willing to work so i put him on the project, gave him a credit card,he got supplies,i monitor card usage and check receipts and kept track of hours,so far no problems. tomorrow we start project number 4.He actually ended up getting a DWI,I dont have a problem with that as it is not violent or a matter of dishonesty,as it turns out a few months ago he quit drinking on his own and is doing much better because of it.I require honesty,i cant send a guy to a tenants unit if i am concerned he might steal something,i give my guys credit cards to get supplies sometimes for months at a time, even my bottom guy who mostly just does cleanouts gets a card at times.I prefer guys who own the house they live in,shows stability and a need to kep working.I need honesty,i dont expect anyone to be able to do anything but i dont want something tore apart with no ability to put it back together, i would rather know up front and bring in someone who can do it --208.115.xxx.x

How many years of college do ya have ? --69.130.xxx.xxx

--172.59.xxx.xxx

I keep a list "5 deep" in my phone so if #1 isn't available, I just go down the list. Most repairs are same day or next day. Haven't had to wait more than 3 days for service in years. Replacements may take a little longer, but by week's end we're up and running. --184.4.xx.xx

Network. I also live in Missouri. Share a bit more information on your location. Appliances are easily delivered from Where they are sold. Go to Lowe's or Home Depot anytime of the day there are work trucks with phone numbers that can take care of any service you need. It's not that hard. Google AC/furnace install on your phone. --172.59.xxx.xxx

The ac and heating systems are electric and all in one. The systems are inside of a closet like area that goes to the outside of the building. It is a small apartment complex. A lot of people come out and say they don’t know how to work on these units. I have been able to find some people here and there, however for the most part no one knows much about the systems. The bigger companies usually have no clue how to work on the units. I have had some luck … kind of hit or miss with private hvac guys / companies. They seem more knowledgeable than the bigger companies. --75.243.xxx.xx

I bet you are not paying enough. Break open that checkbook. --208.102.x.xxx

Property is in south Kansas City, by the Home Depot on Linwood, also property in the Grandview area --75.243.xxx.xx

Call the manufacturer on the unit and ask for a preferred vendor. --172.59.xxx.xx

I’ve broken out the checkbook plenty of times to hire “the man”. Then when the man was done, I’ve typically been left scratching my head wondering why I didn’t just do it myself for 1/10th of the price. --24.152.xxx.xx

Look at the brand and ask the company for a technician referral in your area. I have 4 different HVAC companies that I use. Some are for installations-- I keep ongoing maintenance with them as well so I have continuity of experience. Some only work on certain brands, but don't have distributors for parts for other brands. So I've figured out who does best with what, and call based on who they do business with. And some are for more general issues that aren't brand-specific. --172.59.xxx.xxx

Once I find a good place, I call them for everything I can't do myself. I don't just call them for the hardest jobs and give the easier ones to handymen. I want to be an established customer. I've found a good plumber because I called my HVAC company and asked them who they use. I never would have found him, otherwise. --76.178.xxx.xxx

I believe you have the right idea Van. Asking who other landlords are using is a great concept. Asking that question on national scale, probably isn't going to answer your question in a manner you want. I suggest networking with LOCAL landlords and asking them who they use. --24.101.xxx.xxx

As Ray said, network with local investors and ask them for referrals. Are you a member of MAREI? If not, that would be a good place to start. Info at marei.org --98.174.xxx.xxx

I'm on the other side of the state. But KC has network opportunities. It's so frustrating to have that much to do at one time. I use credit cards to fund such big ticket projects. Then get it fixed fast and use the rent money to pay the CC back. Ask at Home Depot --172.59.xxx.xxx

You said you found people here and there with HVAC. Were you not able to keep hiring the ones that figured it out? I’m considering property management just for their maintenance contacts. All my contractors are 65-70 and about to retire. --73.149.xx.xxx

Still Learning, just because someone owns a management company doesnt mean the employees they have on staff are any good --208.115.xxx.x

One guy came a few times and got everything up and running. Tried calling him later, no return call. The new guys we just came across have been coming out and getting them fixed, however they are super busy and we are just now establishing a relationship with them. Hopefully I can find at least one other company or person, I can call in case I’m not able to get an appointment with them --75.243.xxx.xx

Yes, I’ve looked into management companies, a lot of them actually. I’m not sure I want to go that route anymore, when I checking them out, I just didn’t get the feeling that they would do a good job. I’m sure there are good ones out there. I haven’t ran across one yet. I’d like to put a small group of qualified workers together myself so that I can access whoever is needed at the time. --75.243.xxx.xx

The smaller stuff is harder, for some reason handymen tend to come and go like the wind. I manage to find a good one and he might last a couple of years and then vaporizes and is gone like smoke so I'm constantly on the hunt for the next one. --209.205.xxx.xx

When I first started doing my own work on rentals, I would take parts in there and ask the counter person what I needed and how to fix it and they would explain how to do the repair. --199.200.xx.xxx

Don't just pay for the repair .... get the education. --198.168.xx.xxx

I had my daughter put an ad on the next door app. She got some good prospects. One came out today. Knows what he needs to fix the systems, he’s getting the parts and will fix them tomorrow. He did not charge a service fee today, however he will bill me tomorrow after he’s got them up and running. That works perfect for me, so many people want to change a service fee, come out and tell me they don’t work on these kind of units. He works with his father in law so they are a small family ran and operated business. I feel pretty good about working with him. Hopefully things go well. I have implemented a few of the suggestions from here. Thank You all so much, I really do appreciate it! Very helpful! --172.59.xx.xx