Smarter Rehab & Maintenance for Rental Properties – How ROOST Maximizes Investor Returns

Our Philosophy: Maintenance Is Not Optional—It’s Foundational

We are committed to maintaining every property in a condition that:

  • Complies with all applicable laws and codes
  • Meets our Minimum Property Standards for health, safety, and livability
  • Enhances the long-term value of your investment

By consistently meeting these standards, you’re not just creating desirable rental units—you’re also reducing tenant issues, minimizing vacancy periods, and improving long-term rentability. 

How We Handle Maintenance in Occupied Units

Keeping occupied units in good working order is essential to tenant satisfaction, lease renewals, and long-term profitability. At ROOST Real Estate Co., we proactively handle maintenance and repairs in occupied properties under the following guidelines:

Standard Practices

  • We maintain your property in compliance with local codes, safety standards, and our Minimum Property Standards
  • Preventive maintenance is performed when feasible and cost-effective
  • Emergency requests are handled 24/7; routine requests during business hours

Approval Threshold

  • Owner approval is required for any non-emergency maintenance exceeding $600
  • Emergency repairs will be made as needed to prevent further damage or loss of essential services, and you’ll be notified promptly

How We Handle Unit Turns Between Tenants

When a tenant moves out, an efficient and affordable turn is essential to minimizing vacancy loss. ROOST provides a structured, transparent process to make this happen:

Step 1: Inspection, Scope Development, and Bidding

You can count on us to:

  • Complete a thorough inspection of the unit to identify needed repairs to maintain the property and the current income.
  • Make recommendations for upgrades that will result in increased rent and a clear return on investment.

Step 2: Project Proposal & Owner Approval

We present you with:

  • A comprehensive estimate of the cost to make the property rent ready.
  • Recommendations for completion by either our in-house Turn Team or a trusted third-party contractor
  • An estimated timeline for completion.

Step 3: Completing The Work

  • We manage every aspect of the project including scheduling, communication, quality control, scheduled walkthroughs, financial management, and payment of draws. 
  • Many of our contractor partners have worked with us for several years. They choose to work with us because they can count on steady work, timely payments, and consistent standards. In return, our owners get a finished product on time, on budget, and on standard.

Rehab & Maintenance Fee Summary (2025 / 2026)

  • ROOST Maintenance Technicians Base Rate (Business Hours): $80 / hour
  • ROOST Maintenance Technicians (After Hours): $120.00
  • Specialized Labor (Electricians, Plumbers, etc.): Billed at prevailing market rates
  • Materials Purchased on Owner’s Behalf: 15% of invoice total. 
  • Heat Checks On Vacant Units (Nov 1 – Mar 31): $65 per visit, per unit
  • Winterization: $350 per unit
  • De-Winterization: $175 or cost of contractor, whichever is higher
  • Lock Changes: $150 per door, including materials

Our Commitment to You

At ROOST Real Estate Co., we understand where you’re coming from—because we’re investors too. We know how important it is to protect your bottom line, avoid surprises, and maximize your returns.

We’re more than just property managers—we are your asset managers, fully invested in your success.ccess, and this is what true partnership looks like.

Chris McAllister, Founder & CEO of ROOST Real Estate Co.

Chris McAllister

Chris McAllister was first licensed as a real estate broker in Ohio in 2003 and in Florida in 2015. He founded ROOST Real Estate Co. in early 2014.

Chris’s passion is creating and coaching business opportunities and strategies that support and add value to real estate professionals and their clients. He is the author of several books on the profession, including Protecting the Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs and Eight Success Habits of the New Real Estate Professional.

As both a real estate investor and landlord advocate, Chris also wrote What to Expect from Your Property Manager (Even if Your Property Manager is You) and The Landlord Profitability Playbook — a system for automating property management and reclaiming your time.

Chris is also the host of several podcasts, including Connect, Practice, Track, and Grow for real estate professionals, The Landlord Profitability Playbook Podcast for residential real estate investors, and The All Things Real Estate Podcast for home buyers and sellers.

Follow Chris on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook for new episodes, insights, and landlord profitability strategies.