Maintenance Technicians

I’m trying to put together a maintenance team. What are the most important things I should look for when hiring my team?
Thanks for your time.

Happy people, knowledgeable in their field. Don't take everyone that says "if you show me me once, I'll get it"
You don't always have time to be a teacher. This actually depends on your property age, and it's size. A vehicle that runs (good). If they are not living on property, the vehicle is very important.

Ryan,
Multi Family maintenance experience is all ways a good qualification to seek out when hiring a maintenance team however, as long as you are your current maintenance techs have multi family maintenance experience the best qualities to look for is people that have a Great Work Ethic and a Great amount of common sense and Job Ownership. This way you can train these new hires to do things the way you want them to do things instead of being head strong from training received previously in there careers. I call this the Home Grown Approach.

You have the best training grounds for this that you can ask for. This is an Apartment Community with the exact environment and hands on opportunities you could ask for. Jump in with these new hires and reach them all you know and show them the ways you want things done.

The Pool of Experienced Maintenance Tech is and has been emptying for the last 3-5 years so Home Grown is the best practice.

It depends on you.If you want to hit the ground running. Hiring good experienced Tech and experienced techs. If you have specific needs. Either require certs or provide inhouse training.

What’s most important to me is attitude, what ever is lacking in talent and knowledge will be quickly learned if a prospective tech has the right attitude, I stay away from “ experts” because they know everything and will learn nothing and all work will be their way and their way only, I also find they are rude to customers and arrogant to staff but the tech with the good attitude will do things the way the supervisor and management wants them done and will more often than not be a long term employee where as “experts” tend to bounce around and not stay very long, I have two of the very best and we have been working together for over 8 years and have an excellent rating.

When hiring maintenance alot of us in the industry tend to lean towards applicants with multifamily experience but some of the best maintenance techs out there come from the hospitality industry and individuals that worked in hospitals. They understand customer service is key.

Do you have any questions that would be helpful in selecting a tech that isn't experienced but is willing to learn?
I am in the same boat and finding someone who is experienced is extremely hard in our city.

Ability to learn and transferable skills. Do you have a skills test they can take?

No, I don’t. I’ve been trying to get a hold of a maintenance test and answer key.

Hi Ryan...you have gotten some great advice; you have some great basic tips.
I am adding the importance of addressing the people skills of the maintenance team. Many service techs have no training in customer service beyond fix it, and fix it right the first time. However, they are truly our front line PR team. They see the residents more that the office staff does...almost everything except maintenance is done on line. Training on how to communicate professionally, how to handle challenging people, keeping their cool under stress is critical. Resident retention is a huge part of their job.
Every time I do that type of training for the techs I get comments like "this made me not only a better tech, it made me a better man, husband, and father." They really are receptive and appreciative.

Having a good maintenance team is so important and these days a little difficult to get. I find that a person who shows up every day, on time,ready to work is half the battle. When you can find someone who is organized, cares about the property and cares about doing a good job and has skills, you've hit the bulls eye. Pay them as well as you possibly can when you find the right people. Good luck!

Getting a team together. If you want experience you may have to pay for it. Like one guy said.... the pool of experienced maintenance personnel is draining. There are several reasons for this. Salary, work environment, condition if property, the politics, getting burnt out, and so on. Good maintenance personnel consider themselves tradesmen and problem solvers not glorified groundskeepers though the job may require groundskeeping.

Must have a great attitude, doesn't think any job is beneath him/her (this is a biggie!), loves the property and residents, and generally cares and is proud. If you find someone who possesses these attributes - you are golden! All else can be taught.