Emergency Response

One of the often over looked but extremely important parts of owning an investment property is responding to emergencies. Emergencies can happen at any time, nights, weekends, holidays … you just never know when or where. Emergencies can take many forms; such as fires, floods, storm related damage or mechanical, electrical or plumbing system failures.

Emergency response starts well before the incident occurs. You have to have a plan in place when the “unexpected” happens. You have to have a reliable method for tenants and emergency responders to contact you. You have to ensure the tenants are aware of the proper procedure in the event of an emergency.

Different emergencies require different levels of response. Some require a simple visit to the property, but even more require qualified contractors or the assistance local emergency responders, knowing when and who to alert is the key to any emergency preparedness plan.

Few self managing owners are equipped with the proper plan, list of contractors or equipment to properly respond to a major emergency. Emergencies often arise at inconvenient times or at locations that prevent the owner from responding in a timely fashion. Failure to act appropriately can result in expensive cleanup, major repairs, displaced tenants or a complete loss of the building or structure. Many municipalities require a direct and onsite response by an owner or their representative. Some self managing owners forgo professional property management and choose to either go it alone or to utilize “under qualified” and “unlicensed” local representative to minimally satisfy municipal rental ordinances. The danger in this practice is owners are often unable or unavailable to respond or these “property minders” lack the authority to act on behalf of the owner or make the necessary time sensitive decisions to preserve the property. When a Fire Chief, Police Captain or Code Enforcement Officer calls at 2:00am they want to talk to and meet with a representative capable of acting immediately.

This is where a Professional Property Management firm can be invaluable. A professional Property Management firm can prepare an emergency plan for the building, utilize prescreened list of contractors and coordinate with municipal officials. Some management companies lack the resources, effective proactive planning skills or the communication system which allow for 24/7 direct contact with property management staff.

At Better by Design Real Estate, LLC we are on-call 24 hours a day 7 days a week EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. We have invested in a state of the art communication system; which will (based on the time of day) simultaneously forward the caller to all on-call staff members, instruct the caller on the proper emergency procedures which allows any tenant or emergency responder to reach our office 24/7.

Over the years, the staff at Better by Design Real Estate, LLC has responded to emergencies such as furnaces failing at 11:00pm on Christmas Eve, pipes bursting at 8:00pm on New Year’s Eve, 28 units at 12 different locations in one day all with severe pipe freezing lack of running water & heat, over 2 feet of storm water in a basement, fire alarms and even 1 foot of raw sewage filling a basement… just to name a few. We have developed a series of emergency preparedness plans for virtually every type of emergency. We have the experience and foresight to prepare for and respond to emergencies allowing for proper implementation of a property preservation plan. We own and have access to emergency equipment such as generators capable of running an entire house in the event of a power loss, water pumps capable of removing over a 100 gallons of water in less than a minute, indoor safe portable heaters capable of heating a midsized apartment for over 2 days. We have invested the time, training & money necessary to provide a prompt and professional direct response to a multitude of emergencies and when the situation warrants we have a long list of 3^rd party vendors to assist.

It is this type of dedication to our clients & tenants that truly sets us apart. We like to say that at Better by Design Real Estate, LLC “Nobody Does Real Estate BETTER!!!” but truly nobody responds to an emergency BETTER…

For more information on how Better by design Real Estate, LLC can help protect your investments contact our office at (570) 309-6848 or (570) 969-2105.

Better by Design Real Estate, LLC.
is a privately owned Pennsylvania full service Real Estate Firm specializing in residential & commercial property management services. We provide complete operational and administrative services, specializing in private residences within the Northeastern Pennsylvania Region. Services include real estate sales, property management, renovations, repairs, and housekeeping. Better by Design Real Estate, LLC. manages residential & commercial portfolios that stretch from Nanticoke to Carbondale.

Nothing Contained within this post shall constitute the creation of an agency relationship between Better by Design Real Estate, LLC and the reader of this post. An agency relationship shall only be created upon mutual written agreement. The Real Estate Law requires that I provide you with a written consumer notice that describes the various business relationship choices that you may have with a real estate licensee. Since we are discussing real estate without you having the benefit of the Consumer Notice, I have the duty to advise you that any information you give me at this time is not considered to be confidential, and any information you give me will not be considered confidential unless and until you and I enter into a business relationship. At our first meeting I will provide you with a written consumer notice which explains those business relationships and my corresponding duties to you. Nothing contained within this post shall be construed as providing legal advice. Anyone with specific questions regarding legal matters should consult the advice of a licensed attorney.