Preventative Maintenance — The Philosophy Behind How We Protect Your Property
Reactive maintenance is expensive. Preventative maintenance is an investment. At Altus, it's built into how we manage every property.
Think about your car.
You change the oil every 5,000 miles. You rotate the tires. You check the fluids. You replace the brake pads before they fail.
Nobody thinks twice about this — because everyone knows the alternative. Skip the oil change, and you're looking at a $4,000 engine replacement instead of a $75 service.
Your property works exactly the same way.
The tires are your roof. The oil is your HVAC filters. The brake pads are your water heater anode rods. The alignment is your gutter drainage. Every one of these systems has a maintenance interval. When you stay ahead of that interval, you save money. When you fall behind, you pay for a catastrophic failure that costs 10x more than the preventive service would have.
"At Altus, preventative maintenance isn't an add-on. It's built into how we manage every property — associations and rental units alike."
Protecting common areas and capital assets
Common Area Maintenance Schedules
HVAC, elevator, fire systems, parking garage, and landscaping — all on defined maintenance intervals tracked in Property Meld.
Reserve Study Alignment
Preventative maintenance extends the life of capital assets and reduces the frequency of special assessments. We align our maintenance calendar with your reserve study.
Façade Ordinance Compliance
Chicago's façade ordinance requires proactive tuckpointing and masonry inspection. We schedule these before they become violations.
Seasonal Maintenance Calendars
Winterization, spring inspections, summer HVAC prep, fall gutter cleaning — all scheduled in advance, not reactively.
Property Meld Documentation
Every preventive work order is scheduled, tracked, and documented in Property Meld. Boards and owners see everything in real time.
Protecting unit condition and tenant relationships
Unit Turnover Maintenance Checklist
Our make-ready standard ensures every unit is in top condition before a new tenant moves in — reducing move-in complaints and deposit disputes.
Annual Property Inspections
We inspect every unit annually to catch issues before they become emergencies. Boards and owners receive a written condition report.
HVAC Filter Replacement Programs
Scheduled filter replacements extend HVAC life and reduce energy costs. We coordinate with tenants and document every service.
Water Heater Maintenance and Scheduling
Anode rod replacement, sediment flushing, and lifecycle tracking. We replace water heaters before they fail — not after.
Appliance Lifecycle Tracking
We track the age and condition of major appliances across your portfolio. Proactive replacement is always cheaper than emergency replacement.
Tenant Retention Through Maintenance
Tenants who experience fast, professional maintenance renew leases. Preventative maintenance is one of the highest-ROI investments a landlord can make.
Integrated maintenance means preventive work actually happens
Proactive scheduling, not reactive dispatch
Because My Handyman Chicago is our sister company, preventive maintenance is scheduled in advance — not called in after something breaks.
No vendor markup on routine preventive maintenance
Standard management companies mark up vendor invoices. We don't. Preventive maintenance is billed at cost.
Photo documentation of all preventive work
Every preventive work order is documented with before-and-after photos via CompanyCam. Boards and owners see exactly what was done.
Annual property condition reports
Every property we manage receives an annual condition report — a written assessment of the property's current state and upcoming maintenance needs.
What happens every season at Altus-managed properties
Spring
- HVAC tune-up and filter replacement
- Gutter cleaning and downspout inspection
- Landscaping startup and irrigation check
- Exterior inspection (foundation, masonry, caulking)
- Roof inspection after winter
- Common area deep clean
Summer
- AC performance check (before peak heat)
- Pest prevention treatment
- Deck and balcony inspection
- Window and door seal inspection
- Parking lot and walkway inspection
- Pool and amenity maintenance (if applicable)
Fall
- Heating system startup and inspection
- Gutter cleaning (post-leaf season)
- Winterization prep (hose bibs, irrigation)
- Tree trimming near structures
- Boiler inspection and bleeding
- Weatherstripping and door sweep check
Winter
- Pipe insulation check (vulnerable areas)
- Snow removal contract coordination
- Interior systems check (water heaters, sump pumps)
- Emergency preparedness review
- Salt and de-icing supply inventory
- Common area heating and lighting check
Want to see how preventative maintenance can reduce your property's operating costs?
Request a proposal and we'll show you exactly how our maintenance program applies to your specific property.
Request a Proposal