Roaming maintenance technicians can specialize in specific aspects of the job.
In the pursuit to add stability to its maintenance sector, the rental housing industry is reimagining the day-to-day roles of those in the field. One creative approach is that of podding, which is designed to enable technicians to flourish in the discipline of their choice while overseeing several communities.
While watching over multiple communities falls into the wider realm of centralization, podding has a few additional elements, according to a panel at the Apartmentalize 2024 session, “Pod People: Practical Considerations for New Staffing Models.”
Most notably, maintenance techs within pods have specific duties rather than being required to be a jack of all trades. Some might specialize in plumbing, others in work orders, while others might be turn specialists—or any discipline that caters to their specific skillset. Podding, according to panelists, can help compensate for some of the inconsistencies in the traditional maintenance staffing model.
“Hourly rates in the high teens to the high $20s is what you traditionally see for techs, and they can sometimes make $40 or $50 doing construction,” said Ian Bingham, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Buckingham Companies. “They’re often going to go that route. The arm-wrestling to keep those folks is real.”
Additionally, attendance at trade/technical schools is nearing all-time lows, and many longstanding multifamily techs are nearing retirement. Couple that with the robust contingent of new-builds and impending supply, and it becomes apparent why the industry must adjust.
“Podding could be a means to several ends,” Bingham said. “When my company looks at podding, we assess our open positions and wonder how we can become more efficient. It’s not about the overall headcount of the maintenance team—it’s about finding ways to recruit for certain skills and finding ways to pay them appropriately for that skillset in a really challenging market.”
The dearth of available and high-performing maintenance techs might be a fundamental problem that goes beyond multifamily housing, according to Matt Rodgers, Senior Vice President of RPM Living.
“As a nation, we’ve done an incredible disservice to our young people,” Rodgers said. “For starters, we’ve removed shop class and automotive instruction in early high schools. And we’ve actually actively discouraged people who work with their hands not to do that. That is an absolute fundamental shame, because there are people who are mechanically inclined, and it is a real problem in our industry.”
Rodgers believes the apartment sector should be more active in promoting and cultivating these types of programs. While that is a long-term objective, he believes podding can be a viable modern-day solution for operators with several communities within a drivable locale.
While some at the executive level might be hesitant to embrace podding because it’s such a new-school concept, Rodgers said organizations should focus upon efficiency rather than the immediate bottom line. Even if the cost is flat at the outset, the model is worth it if increases in service levels and efficiency are witnessed.
“Podding can help to develop a career path,” said Amy Chien, Director of Strategic Innovations for Live BH. “Not every person who is amazingly skilled at small appliance repair is going to be able to lead a large team, and if being a service manager is the only path to advancement, that isn’t going to work for that individual. So, this is a different way to recognize talent and play to their strengths.”
By deploying teams of specialists rather than all-encompassing maintenance associates, properties can reduce turnover, implement task-specific tech and service communities more efficiently.
Paul Willis is a Content Director for LinnellTaylor Marketing.