What’s your best maintenance horror story? Mine began 2 weeks ago…

What’s your best maintenance horror story?
Mine began 2 weeks ago when I had to fire my freshly hired maintenance IC (5 weeks in) after he was arrested for drug possession. We reviewed his final invoices and account charges and discovered he billed 18 hrs for 2 toilet installs (9 hrs of which was billed the day he spent in jail) and 49 hrs for painting a unit. He also charged $50 on my property account at a hardware store for hats, socks and gloves. (For the record I only paid 9 hrs for the toilets and took the $50 out of his check for unapproved charges.)

After getting out of my 2 week stay at home stint on Monday, new guy and I inspected the 3 units and realized the one unit was only half painted and then found tools we believe were stolen, used syringes, and not installed toilets in the other 2 units . . . Poor brand new maintenance guy has dealt with my complete freak outs, and cleaning up Einsteins messes! Fairly sure he’s terrified of me now, he calls for approval on all items and sends pix of all completed work.

My Q1 maintenance budget is shot to hell in the first 5 weeks!!

 

I was out of commission for three months due to heart surgery. Came back to work and found similar BS and a huge bit of my tools stolen by a "temp service" the company hired!

I was a lead maintenance for a senior home really expensive apartment $7k mouth, send a temp guy to install a dishwasher he forgot to remove the cap from garbage disposal, end up flooding the unit downstairs most of the living room furniture got damage, he didn't came back next day he knew I was going to kick his ass lol, same apartments a plumbing contractor auger snake came lose from the auger in a 3 floor got stock in the main drain I think end up costing $20k to get out since the cut the concrete slab to get out. I'm not longer a maintenance since I start my own business, but in this industry you see something new everyday.

I had a maintenance supervisor that I could never find during the day on property. After inspecting make-readies, I found an attic that had an ice chest full of bear. It had a blanket and pillow set-up next to the ice chest. Ended up blowing my budget on overtime for the maintenance techs to complete all of the work the supervisor said was done. No huge horror story- just payroll fraud!

I feel you. I can't get anyone to help. Already had pipes burst today and my mm quit yesterday and I'm stuck on iced in roads and can't get to complex

oh man, I’ve been there with the pipes and horrible weather! I hope it the end it all settled down and you had a little peace and relaxation this weekend!!

I had that happen to me last year....maintenance guy who couldn't get here for snow, so I had to do it, everything he touched was wrong, not to mention the serial harassment I endured u til I was finally able to get him out. oh and he stole quite a bit of tools on his way out, and was always asking for money. my new maintenance man has been fabulous and spent the first 2 or 3 months correcting all the things the other one had done wrong, knows what he's doing, only orders what is needed, and is loved by everyone!

I love the positive outcome, gives me hope my new guy won’t bail after the first week being hell. It’s crazy how hard it is to find someone, much less the right one for a property!!

Had a simular experience in Houston , years ago. Caught a "tech" shooting up herione instead of working

This sounds like a nightmare! Shout Out to the new guy though who sounds like a major asset!!