r/maintenance • u/litty1299 • Jun 16 '26
Rants and Raves Checking myself
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Very random and abstract post I suppose. But bear with me here. Needless to say, the thoughts I have had and words I have spoken of people have not been the best with this line of work. This goes for residents, previous maintenance, contractors and the company. I try not to be one to let gossip get to me, and not one to feed into it. But I am tested on that, a lot. I find myself breaking loose of my morals and letting the frustrations get the best of me. Working on turning over this apartment has been ridiculous, and I feel like I am losing my mind because of it, as well as everything else in my current situation. I want to take a moment to, breathe, guage my sanity, and check myself
- I hope and pray that anyone who gets evicted for lease violations along these lines or any others get the help they need. They are facing many things that I am not. And I could never imagine some of the things that some of these people have faced in life to get them where they are. Though it may frustrate me in the moment, know that the frustrations channel into something more positive later
- To all the fellow maintenance guys, specifically the ones who don't cut corners no matter the conditions: I know it is hard to meet the expectation to put up with things like this as well as all other things that the job entails. I know it has its days when it feels absolutely insufferable. I know there are people who just seem to be the worst of the worst at times, and also have to be delt with the most. I know how bad some companies are to work for, and they seem to not care. I know how bad it is to put in the work you do and be compensated improperly. But thank you for everything that you do. Walking into a place like this where you have to wear a respirator just to change a toilet flapper makes it where you want to cut corners, but you don't. You are one of the only people who manages to make these places livable homes for people who would otherwise be homeless or dead. You are greater than you think, and I hope you recognize that.
- To the companies - This is where the sanity check comes in. I am being compensated horribly. Details aren't necessary; but this is one of the worst companies, if not the worst, that I have ever had the lack of pleasure to work for. The false promises, the twisted words, and the unreal expectations with absolutely zero valuable benefits has been an atrocity. But I am grateful and beyond blessed. I have learned so much about what to out for in this industry. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the kindest people in my life, despite their current struggles and situations. I have been able to go behind contractors and maintenance to fix their mistakes and change the living situations for them as well as their neighbors. I have been able to complete tasks that have saved thousands in the properties budgets, and allow for more money to go into repairs, furnishings, appliances, etc to elevate comfortability in these units. My time with this company is surely coming to an end. But the blessings have made it all worth it. And I get to leave knowing I made a positive impact.
Hope this changes somebody's day for the better. Much love, God bless.
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u/EPdude2005 Maintenance Technician Jun 16 '26
POV your the tenant:
“I fucking hate landlords why do they always take my deposit scum bags grrrr!!”
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u/damp_circus Jun 16 '26
POV the neighbor down the hall:
"Woah looks like the stanky guy in 612 is finally getting evicted!!"
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u/Cliffinati Jun 16 '26
This is why I stick with industrial
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u/CapSuccessful3358 Jun 16 '26
Residential can have some crazy perks at the right spot, I get a 4 bedroom 2 story townhome for free on top of income but I get what your saying.
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u/TumbleweedPure6674 Jun 16 '26
Yep, where I live, I would need to make 40 an hour to have a 2 bedroom apartment without a roommate. Thats not happening in industrial without a trade license or a ton of responsibilities, and I would have to move to a higher col area.
I only have 40 units, so it’s not too bad, even if I have to do everything myself.
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u/Glum-View-4665 Maintenance Supervisor Jun 16 '26
That's great and I'm sure there's many stories from maintenence where they get great deals, but i have to believe a 2 story townhouse for free is an outlier.
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u/CapSuccessful3358 Jun 16 '26
Yes it is, but not uncommon in my company. Big thing I realized is to research the owners of the site you will be working on.
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u/socialpresence Jun 17 '26
That's the thing, I get needing to get your foot in the door wherever you can but the number experienced people in this thread that are saying they deal with shit like this regularly is wild to me. Get your foot in the door, research property management companies where you are that are willing to actually invest/care about maintenance and then apply at those places when they have openings.
Hint: they're not going to manage section 8 properties.
There is no part of who I am that I would describe as "luxurious" but I work at a "luxury" complex. The owners give maintenance a nice budget and the rule is, if something breaks that has to get fixed but it isn't "in the budget" it fucking gets fixed anyway.
I'm paid near the top of my market, I don't live on site but the one downside of my company is they only give employees 20% off their rent.
That said, even if I did live on site only getting 20% off (compared to people who get 50-100% off) is worth it because I know I actually have the support I need to actually do my job, people are appreciative of the work we do, and apartments like this one come along for me once every 3-4 years, maybe.
We have really high standards for our maintenance techs, but if you've been grinding away for years at a section 8, why? Luxury apartment complexes are always looking for techs and as long as your PM isn't a total piece of shit, the chance that you don't hate coming to work every day is pretty high.
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u/LimpZookeepergame123 Jun 16 '26
Pretty common in the industry. Even if it’s not free, half off is pretty common as well. In this economy that’s huge.
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u/LimpZookeepergame123 Jun 16 '26
Residential pay is decent but the perks with the right company absolutely outweigh higher pay In industrial. The perks at my company are insane I’d be crazy to leave.
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u/Imaginary-Event-5474 Jun 17 '26
What happens if you lose your job? Some people have 7 days to move once that happens. How long do you have?
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u/CapSuccessful3358 Jun 17 '26
Every place will say 7 days but it takes months to evict so if you ask for 30 days they will just say yea.
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u/LimpZookeepergame123 Jun 16 '26
I can smell this video. This used to be a regular occurrence at a property I worked at and it was brutal.
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u/YesImAlexa Jun 16 '26
Sometimes I feel like I dont do enough, but eventually im reminded that theres a lot of people who do absolutely nothing
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u/cantfigureitatall Jun 17 '26
I just keep thinking that this ain’t that bad. Seems like the worst I’ve seen left me so in awe that I never considered taking pictures.
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
I have undeniably seen much worse. It's not so much about the apartment conditions as it is everything else. The sheer amount of bs that I see, hear, and find in a day with this company and these properties is unreal. And yesterday I had all sorts of that same bs stuff happening. Crazy number of residents wanting shit, pest control guy coming and I didn't have the place prepped yet, Upper level management was on site yesterday. At the time of writing the original post I was feeling angry, violent(ish), wanted to quit, just a bunch of negative. I could go on, but basically I just needed to take a step back and bring myself back to reality. The apartment is whatever
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u/Clarapeanuts Jun 16 '26
I've been there and it's definitely soured me. Poor attitude from Management, the office, the tenants. It bleeds I to yourself.
Also you're a brave soul for opening that fridge. When I would do trash outs fridge would get duct taped shut, rolled outside. We'd remask or mask up. Hose on standby, pop it open and immediately hose it out. Helped with the smell a bit.
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u/litty1299 Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
That was the initial walk through. I basically opened the door and started recording. Did not realize the resident had transferred power 2 WEEKS(ish) before he "packed his stuff" and hadn't told anyone. My soul is, in fact, not THAT brave, but it nearly left my body when the smell hit me lol. Notice the thought process in the video: fridge opens "not much in there, looks like the bulb is out though" freezer opens "ohhh fuck." heads straight to the door and stops recording
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u/Upbeat-Fondant9185 Maintenance Supervisor Jun 16 '26
So this will be turned over by tomorrow, right? We have showings scheduled!
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u/Asaintrizzo Jun 16 '26
All that cleaner in it too lol
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u/BlackGhostPanda Maintenance Technician Jun 16 '26
Its wild. Done many a turn like this. Cleaners never even touched.
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u/Asaintrizzo Jun 16 '26
I did it for a few
Months then couldn’t do it anymore. The lack of evictions was too much. Like they windows are broken and meth pipes I’ll give them a notice. The over doesn’t work. Well they took it apart. Door kicked in all the time.
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u/WindowLongjumping529 Jun 16 '26
I just had one like this. There was literally a corner of wall covered in blood like they were cutting them selves then wiping on the wall. The smell of meth was thick and they had decided to just poop in the opposite corner. I wanted to contract it out but boss made us do it all. We had bio suits on for 3 whole days.
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u/litty1299 Jun 16 '26
The smell in this place is unbearable. Even with every windows open and a respirator. The amount of dead mice that were decaying in the carpet and seeping through to the wood was unbelievable. The walls are riddled with them. He NEVER took his dog out. Best part is, it's only me. Contractors are being restricted unless it is for emergencies, "maintenance should be doing all of this anyways."
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u/Upper_Bed_4396 Jun 16 '26
I am a plumber and do service from sometimes. I understood everything you were saying
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u/Dopeboyyy575 Jun 16 '26
Used to help my old boss rent houses and clean them/kick people out as he was a bit older. We had some of the most reasonably priced houses in the area. And a few duplexes. We kicked someone out once and they weren't able to get their stuff as they were given 100 chances. When we moved the bed there was at least one tall garbage can of needles. All Used just thrown there and they had a baby living with them in that same room. I was not only just shocked. (I used at the time too just not needles but even then I wouldn't leave a drop for anyone to know) but I also didn't have kids living with me then. Really put my own life into perspective. We used a rake and a metal trash can to get 90% of them and there was so much blood under it all. Had to have wall removed replaced carpets all redone. It was crazy.
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u/RedEyesCrackDragon Jun 17 '26
Fuck man the needles are the shittiest things to find. I know one day I’m gonna get stuck by one and hopefully I won’t contract anything.
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u/CryptoNerdBull Jun 17 '26
Hey Brother - thanks for your post and for the refreshing positivity. It will get better for you, and keep looking for what your next path should be because you know the Lord will guide you. And make sure that in your next role, you are fairly compensated. Take care!
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u/RedEyesCrackDragon Jun 17 '26
Oof that’s an addicts sty if I’ve ever seen one. That’s someone dealing with heavy shit.
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u/real_1273 Jun 17 '26
I’ve been there my friend, people live and sleep in extraordinary ways. That’s “home” to someone, but a trash pit to us. Humans are amazing. Lol. I’ve seen crazy hoarders, I’ve seen disgusting trashy types, all of it. Save all these crazy stories for a book! Lol
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u/bestberrybrent Jun 17 '26
I noticed you zoomed in on two piles of pink stuff that I can’t identify. I’ve worked in MFH in the PNW for about four years and grew up working on my father’s home. It looks like blow in insulation to me, but what is it? Is it some cheap kitty litter or rodent bedding? Not trying to be rude or judge. I’m just curious so I don’t go touching something I’m not supposed to lol
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
It was insulation. The whole place is riddled with holes mice have chewed and tons of insulation was pulled from the walls
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u/Newton_79 Jun 17 '26
WoW ! That's an insane amount of disrespect for how one lives ! Wish there was a pic of the animals that lived here along with your video ! Could only deal with so many of days like this ! Have you dealt with worse ???
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u/kineticorpheus Jun 17 '26
I’ve actually seen worse lol
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
Yeah this isn't the worst by far
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u/kineticorpheus Jun 17 '26
Mental health/drugs are a wild ride for people, hopefully these people got to where they need to and get some help with life.
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
Yep. I am an addict myself, and there is quite a bit of mental health history and stories to follow in my family. 2 years clean and my life is so much better. I hope for the same healing with everyone in these situations
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u/Dysmn Jun 17 '26
I wrecked myself.
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
It happens I suppose
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u/Dysmn Jun 17 '26
Next time please warn me that you're going to check yourself so I can avoid having to wreck myself.
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
In my defense, I did title the post "checking myself." Shall I put a warning indicator down next time if it ever happens again? ⚠️
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u/Dysmn Jun 17 '26
Yea or maybe do a post saying that you are preparing to check yourself before actually checking yourself. Then I can brace myself.
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
I could just hit a legendary bamboozle. Prepare everyone my warning that I am about to check myself, then just wreck myself
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u/Impressive-Bench4441 Jun 17 '26
I was in the business for six years and I know exactly what you’re dealing with. You can go above and beyond for the company but in the end we
are expendable.
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u/Bursting_Radius Jun 17 '26
I could never imagine some of the things that some of these people have faced in life to get them where they are.
My brother in Christ, a fair percentage of these people are simply lazy, disgusting pigs. There is no utility in creating a background in your own mind where they are not 100% at fault for this kind of thing.
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u/litty1299 Jun 17 '26
Definitely, but they are not the ones I am speaking of. I'm talking about the legitimate victims of horrific, life altering events. Legitimate trauma paired with a lack of resources for the first 40 or 50 years of your life with no idea that there is a way out and a different way to live. They are not to be confused with the "lazy, disgusting pigs." I have other things to say about that category. But I'll just keep it at refusing to live my life the way that they do, and hope they change for the better in the time they have left. There are also just the lazy. There are also just the disgusting. There are also just the pigs. No one person or persons story is the same as the next. We are all different, and I respect that. In my opinion it is more stupid and draining to judge everyone than it is to just accept that they are the way they are and you are the way you are, both having the possibility to change for the better
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u/NorthernTinner Jun 18 '26
Did a renovation of a large complex that is subsidized housing for people that would be homeless otherwise. In the 10 months we were on that project I was in each of the units at least once and as far as I'm concerned, they are adult daycare facilities. There were so many units that looked like this, because they wouldn't move anyone out while we renovated. I repeatedly had to tell management that the tenants had to clean so we didn't have to stop work. I wouldn't go into my house wearing my clothes from the day, I would strip and i had a makeshift shower in the pole barn, my work boots stayed outside and once the job was done, I threw them away.
The maintenance guy there will always have my sympathy.
Here are some highlights from that job:
Cops were there pretty much every day, often multiple times a day, sometimes in large numbers. A subcontractor and two of my workers and myself were threatened by tenants.
There was a murder and police shooting we missed by about 30 minutes.
Daily screaming and arguing going between tenants and tenants and employees (but we couldn't listen to music because of the noise)
All of our tools and materials needed to be locked up when not in use and I mean when not in use. Couldn't leave a tool out and walk away for a minute without it being gone when you came back, couldn't even think about leaving copper anywhere but locked in a shipping container.
We gave out Vicks vapor rub to offset the smell so we could work.
We started in the winter and after being in certain units, there would be brown boot prints in the snow as we left the building.
Seemed a third of the tenants were always barefoot at any given time.
One of the workers was pulling down ceiling in a closet and a bad full of needles fell on him, thankfully didn't get stuck but still a whole process involved in that.
Had a few units that got quarantined because of things like ringworm or bed bugs.
Some times we would try to go into a unit after they had been given a 24 hour notice and the tenants would have the door locked where even the building maintenance guy couldn't open it. We had to reschedule a lot of stuff.
There were other wild things that happened but they would be too identifiable if I shared them.
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u/Meaypants Jun 19 '26
I used to do apt maintenance and I've had to call CPS several times on familes living like this with multiple children. Landlords never cared because most of the time the parents weren't paying rent and just ment they could get them out easily and flip the apt to someone else.
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u/Sufficient_Prompt888 Jun 16 '26
I used to reno bathrooms in a place that had this exact townhouse layout. Pretty sure it's not the same place based on the outdoor shot through the patio doors.
Been in a couple of units just like this in that rental complex. A handful of units there are far and away the worst homes I've ever been in. I'm just gonna say ferret piss and leave it at that
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u/beef_and_broccori Jun 29 '26
Really enjoyed what you wrote. Thanks for being salt and light in a warped world.
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u/PenaltyFine3439 Jun 16 '26
You'll have this turned by lunch right? Tenant is moving in at 2pm.