General Maintenance: Resident Responsible Repairs and Cost 

General Maintenance

• All work order submissions need to occur in writing by entering a service request through your online resident portal. There are many options there to help you identify the problem with descriptions and pictures. Entering a work order on the portal is giving us permission to enter the unit ASAP to take care of the request, even if you are not home.

• We provide general and emergency maintenance services for all our properties. All things considered normal wear and tear are covered by BRE. If something simply breaks or malfunctions, we will take care of it at no cost to you. 

• There are some maintenance issues that are beyond normal wear and tear and may result in the cost of repairs being billed to the resident(s) via the Resident Portal. Some of the most common repairs that would fall under this category are but not limited to;
• Replacing light bulbs (standard, vanity, and ceiling fan bulbs)
• Clogged toilets (when it can be simply plunged)
• Clogged disposals (excess food and foreign objects are the biggest culprits)
• Drywall damage
• Appliance parts (fridge door bars, stove drip pans)
• Broken doors (most commonly holes punched in doors)
• Cleaning issues (mildew in showers, dirty stovetops/ovens causing smoking, pest issues)
• Blind replacement

General Repair Costs

Residents sometimes inquire as to what charges will be assessed for damages to their apartment-home during their residency and after they have vacated. Please refer to the following list for a general idea of repair costs:

Labor: The hourly rates are based on the tech that is available to complete the repairs. 

• Hourly Rates:   
• $45.00 for trash removal (+ $25.00 per large item/trash bag)
• $60.00 - $90.00 for general repairs
• $100.00 for electrical repairs
• $90.00 for HVAC repairs
• $110.00 for afterhours repairs

*Be informed that prices listed for materials and labor are approximations taken from previous billings and do not guarantee that such repairs completed in the future will be this exact rate. Please keep in mind that repair materials are charged in addition to 1-hour minimum labor for each tech needed to complete the repairs. This is a general guide to know what to expect cost wise from some of the most common resident caused issues we see.

Cleaning                       

It is the resident’s responsibility to keep the apartment clean and sanitary. Our maintenance techs may refuse service if a unit is deemed to be dirty and unsanitary. The trip charge will be charged to the resident in such an event and a 3-day notice may be issued until the issue is resolved. The 3-day notice will only be lifted once we inspect the unit to ensure it has been clean and sanitized enough for our techs to come and complete the work. The full repair cost can be charged to the resident if the cleanliness is not taken care of in a timely manner, especially if further damage results from us not being able to address the issue.

Inspections

If severe damage or cleaning issues are suspected, Buckeye Real Estate reserves the right to issue an inspection (with 24 hours’ notice) to verify and document any cleaning or damage issues. If any issues are found that are deemed to need immediate action, residents are given a grace period to remedy the issues. We will complete a follow-up inspection. If the issues are not taken care of, BRE will make the necessary repairs and charge all cost back to the residents via the Resident Portal. 

Afterhours Emergency Maintenance

1. For Emergency Requests: A maintenance team member is on call 24/7 for emergency maintenance needs. During office hours (9am-5pm Mon-Fri), to submit an emergency you still will need to enter it on the portal. In addtion to entering the emergency on the portal, we recommend giving our maintenance department a call at 614-448-3902 after you submit the work order as well so it gets to them ASAP.
2. For afterhours emergencies, you will need to call 614-448-2543 to report the issue to our afterhours call center. The following issues would be considered emergencies and are the only issues the afterhours team will handle. All other issues will be handled in the ordered received:

• Exterior door/ground floor window lock issues (locked out and or cannot secure your unit.)
• Major leaks (that may cause damage to property or personal belongings if not
• Clogged toilet when only one toilet is in the unit (*Calls for clogs that are resolved with a plunger can result in charges)
• No heat when exterior temps are below 55 degrees
• No electricity
• No Gas/Water (not related to termination of service by the provider), etc....
• Noise Complaints should be directed to OSUPD's Non-Emergency Number - 614-292-2121

*Please note that afterhours rates are charged at $110.00 an hour with a 1-hour minimum. This will only be charged back to you in if the issue was one beyond normal wear and tear. For example, a clogged toilet that can simply be plunged or if you get locked out of your unit because you lost/forgot your key, will result in the full afterhours bill being charged on your resident portal.

General Maintenance Facts and Tips

Light Bulbs - Per the lease, Residents are responsible for changing bulbs after moving in. These usually include but are not limited to standard bulbs, vanity bulbs (usually in bathrooms), and ceiling fan bulbs. Please attempt to replace bulbs in fixtures with the same kind being mindful to match wattage to avoid any potential electrical issues. Wattage information is usually written on the bulb. BRE will replace lights in exterior and common areas as well as specialty bulbs such as fluorescent and fixed led fixtures. 

Locks and Keypad Codes -  Most of our units have keypad locks. The code to the keypad is treated as a key. Do not give this code away to anyone. Keypad code changes can be requested at any time, but you will be charged the labor rate to do so.

Heating - Do not set HVAC unit below 60 degrees in cold months/temperatures and especially do not turn them off. Having your heat set below 60 or off in cold/freezing temperatures can result in frozen pipes which can burst and cause thousands of dollars of property and personal damage that will be the responsibility of the resident to pay. 

Garbage Disposals - Avoid putting any of the following down your disposal: Bones, tough fruits/vegetables, most meats, Rice, flour, bread, peels, coffee grounds, nuts, grease/oil, eggshells. Never put any foreign object down your disposal. Most commonly, broken glass or a dish utensil is the cause of a clogged or seized disposal. Any improper use or foreign object in the disposal will be the fault of the resident. If you are unsure of how to fix a clogged disposal, YouTube is a great source. Please make sure the power is off by unplugging the disposal or turning off the breaker before putting your hand in the drain. 

Dishwasher - If you have a dishwasher, it drains through the disposal. Clogs in the disposal will prevent your dishwasher from draining so please be mindful of what you put in the disposal. You should also clean your dishwasher often, even if you do not use it. Since the drains are connected, moisture and food residue may build up in the dishwasher. Making sure you run and clean the dishwasher regularly will prevent any mold/mildew buildup. In addition, no solid food should ever go in the dishwasher so make sure you rinse dishes and dispose of food properly before putting dishes in the dishwasher. Also, please make sure you only use dishwasher certified soap or pods. Using regular dish soap will cause the dishwasher to overfill. Improper use and care of the dishwasher can result in charges you will be responsible for.

High Water Bill - A leaky or running toilet can waste quite a bit of water. Toilets are responsible for about 31 percent of water use in the average home, so an issue with wasting water can quickly add up. Usually, you will hear the water, usually a hissing sound, if your toilet is running. In addition, pay attention to leaking faucets and showers as they can also run up a water bill quickly. It is your responsibility to report any signs of leaks. Failure to do so can result in high water bills that you are solely responsible for in addition to property damage that may become your responsibility for negligence.

***If you have access to your water meter, you can tell if there is a leak or water running by looking at the numbers/dial. If all sources of water are turned off, then the numbers/dial should not move. If everything is turned off and it is moving, then it is safe to assume something is leaking and you should submit a maintenance request ASAP

Toilets - 95% of calls for a clogged toilet are solved with a mushroom plunger. Calls after hours that can be resolved with a plunger can be charged to the resident, so we recommend picking up your own plunger for a few dollars to save you time and money if and when you need it.

• Flushable Wipes:
• If the label says "flushable," then wet wipes should be able to go down the toilet, right? Unfortunately, no. Flushable wipes aren't as flushable as advertised.
• Toilet paper is designed to disintegrate in our pipes and sewage systems, but flushable wipes are not. They’re typically made with synthetic materials, plastics or polyester, that won't break down. So even if they flush down your toilet, they end up clogging the plumbing.
• We annually do preventative main drain cleaning to our properties. If a main drain is clogged due to wipes and your property was serviced, you will be charged the plumbing costs related to the back-up.

Refrigerators with Filters: It is our Policy that the water filters on the Refrigerators are the responsibility of the residents to change at their own expense. If a Maintenance tech is requested to change the filter then you will be billed for the cost of the filter and a labor charge of no less then one hour. You can find the filter you need online with the model and serial numbers from the fridge along with simple how-to videos for replacement. The air filters on the refrigerators do not need to be changed. It is only a charcoal filter that sits in front of the fan to prevent smells. If you keep the refrigerator clean and tidy then no smells will occur from inside the refrigerator.

Break-Ins - No one ever wants to have their unit broken into. We strive to make sure all windows and door locks are working properly. Please report immediately if you are having locking or security issues with windows and locks in your unit or in common areas. We cannot know about the issue if you do not let us know. 

In the event of a break-in, you will need to file and provide us with a police report. Generally, your renter’s insurance policy will cover your personal belongings. If there is major damage to the property from a forced entry break-in, generally your liability insurance policy will cover the property damage. If the break-in is a result of resident negligence (leaving windows or doors unlocked or related to illegal activity), the residents will be responsible for all property damage. 

Permission to Enter - Placing a work order explicitly gives permission to our staff and certified vendors to enter to address the situation without prior notice. We will always knock and announce themselves if no one comes to the door. Refusal to grant entry to staff when a work order has been placed can result in a trip charge.

Scheduling Maintenance Work - Given the size of our portfolio, we're rarely able to schedule times for specific work to be done. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience, but work will need to be performed during regular business hours when we arrive in response to a work order.

Status Updates - All work orders should be placed via your Resident Portal. When done correctly, you'll be able to log in and check on the status of your work order and you'll receive email updates when the status changes to assigned to a tech or completed. If you didn't place the work order, but your roommate did, check with them to check on the status.

Notification Status - If you're not getting updates on a work order you placed, be sure to check your Notification settings in your Resident Portal. Many people turn off all notifications and then don't get helpful updates when they need them.

Ways to Prevent Mold and Mildew build up in Bathrooms - Mold and mildew don’t have to be a fact of life in your bathroom. They can be kept at bay and prevented altogether from forming with proper ventilation. Negligence and failure to maintain a clean bathroom can lead to more serious repairs beyond normal wear and tear that can result in charges to the residents. Here are some ways to prevent mold from making a home in your bathroom:

1. Report leaks
2. Whenever you see a leak or drip, don't leave it to fix later. Submit a service request on the portal and we will fix it right away. Waiting will only make things worse, especially if mold takes hold and starts growing. It's a lot harder to get rid of mold and mildew than it is to prevent it.
3. Air out the bathroom
4. You like your steamy, hot showers, but that can lead to mold and mildew developing. Make sure to keep the bathroom fan or vent on when showering and always open doors and windows after showering. Keep your fan on for at least 30 minutes after showering. Invest in a shower squeegee to use on walls and shower doors to cut down on moisture.
5. Use a dehumidifier
6. A dehumidifier can reduce moisture in your bathroom. A dehumidifier can be plugged in and placed in your bathroom to suck out the moisture from the air.
7. Clean your bathroom weekly
8. Finish Off your shower with a shower spray. Make it a habit to always spray down your shower after each use with mold and mildew killing bathroom products. If you don’t want to use chemicals such as bleach, you can always fill a spray bottle with vinegar.
9. Launder and clean bathroom items
10. Your shower mats, curtains, liners, and towels take on the most moisture so it’s important to regularly launder and dry them. Hang loofah or shower poufs to dry and change out frequently. Wipe down the hamper you throw your dirty towels in too.
11. Be mindful of how you store your soap and toiletries. Consider putting them on a rack with holes in the bottom to prevent mold and mildew build up.
12. Keep the door or curtain open after each shower.
13. Open the stall up after each shower to allow air to circulate. If you prefer to keep it closed for aesthetics, you can close it when you go in to turn off the fan.