Employee Profile: Never a Dull Moment in the Day of a Maintenance Service Technician

The Fairfield Standard of Service Starts Here

The Fairfield Standard of Service Starts Here 

We all want to enjoy the place we call home. It’s a great feeling to look forward to coming home after a busy day at work, school, or even a full day of fun, knowing your community is well cared for—and that someone else is doing all the work. You wake up with one less burden to carry. More than that, if something does go wrong- an appliance is on the blink or a cabinet comes unhinged- all you have to do is either call your property management team or go to your online portal and open a work order, and a Service Technician will handle the issue. At times like these, you can truly appreciate the importance of your maintenance service team. 

If you pass by any one of Fairfield’s many communities across the nation, the first thing you will notice is the curb appeal. Building exteriors are attractive, grounds are clean and well-maintained, and walking around on any day proves you can count on consistent overall quality. This is all because our on-site and after-hours emergency on-call Maintenance Technicians are an essential part of each community’s management team. Read on to learn more about these integral positions, or explore our current openings and apply now! 

 

333 Ellington, Gaithersburg, MD 

What Residents Say About the Impact of Maintenance Technicians at Their Fairfield Communities 

Our Maintenance Technicians take pride in their work, knowing how important their service is to each community. It’s not just all about cleaning and fixing things; it’s about customer satisfaction. 

Residents Love to Share Their Feedback 

New resident reviews attest to the fact that residents can look forward to moving into freshly prepared apartment homes with everything in great working order:   

“…Extremely clean upon move-in.” and “…Our new apartment is IMMACULATE!” 

Current residents know their Maintenance Technicians respect them and truly care about their maintenance concerns: 

“Maintenance man Jeff is nice and responsive as well.” and “…Fixed everything with delight and a smile.” 

Renovations are sometimes necessary and are handled as efficiently and painlessly as possible, with residents’ quiet enjoyment a major consideration: 

“…It has been a nice experience. Even with the construction, we never felt inconvenienced, and we love the communication from the property team about renovations that are to be happening and when to expect them. This, among others, is why we chose to renew our lease here and continue to look forward to what the future has in store for us for the duration of our stay.” 

What a Maintenance Technician Brings to The Table 

Many of Fairfield’s Maintenance Technicians bring a solid background in building, property, or apartment maintenance. They stay because they know they can count on cultivating a long-lasting career in residential property maintenance. New and seasoned Maintenance Technicians alike receive comprehensive, regular training in all aspects of safety and job responsibilities. 

Fairfield Maintenance Technician on the job 

Essential Skills and Traits of a Maintenance Technician 

If you are skilled in general maintenance or specific trades that require the ability to fix things, make repairs, maintain apartment property standards, and diagnose problems that may require higher-level service, repair, or replacement, could you see yourself as a Fairfield Maintenance Technician? Maybe you know someone who fits this description. We are hiring nationwide! 

These skills include working with electrical, plumbing, HVAC, swimming pool and jacuzzi maintenance, carpentry, drywall, exterior structural repairs, appliance maintenance and repair, pet park cleaning, painting projects, and much more. 

However, being a first-rate Maintenance Technician takes more than trade-related skills. In every aspect of maintenance service, impeccable customer service matters most. Senior Maintenance Technician Jeff Weeks sums it up best as he walked us through his day: 

“The most important part of this job is to provide the residents with their best apartment experience. We treat our residents with respect and want them to be happy where they live. I see them every day, so my goal is to always be friendly. It’s their home.” 

A Day in the Life: Follow Technician Jeff Through a Day on a Fairfield Maintenance Team 

The Day Begins 

It’s 6:30 a.m., and Jeff has already arrived at Norte Town Lake Apartments. Days can get hot fast in Tempe, AZ, so Jeff knows an early start on the grounds, garage, courtyards, and pool will not only make his day easier but also please residents who enjoy their outdoor common areas in the cooler morning air. By 9 a.m., he’s ready to tackle the day’s work orders.  

Prioritizing Tasks 

There’s never a dull moment when working in maintenance service. Fairfield Service Technicians know that a fast-paced, challenging environment requires strong time-management and organizational skills. They can plan their days around the work orders they receive, but the next day’s priorities may require last-minute adjustments. As you might expect with any home, things break, chip, and malfunction: The ceiling fan needs repair, the dishwasher or washing machine stops working, the shower head or sink faucet leaks, lightbulbs get stuck in sockets, the upstairs neighbor overflowed their tub, the air conditioning isn’t working right… the list is endless. New concepts, upgrades, and modern amenities also raise questions that need to be addressed: Why don’t my blinds have a cord? (Yes, even blinds have been updated to just lift and pull down.) 

Every work order represents an inconvenience at best and can seem like — or truly be — an emergency to a resident, which is why all members of Fairfield maintenance teams agree on one thing: Excellent communication skills are required to provide excellent customer service. 

Everyone Works as a Team in the End 

Jeff’s day ends around 3:30 or 4 p.m. Some other shifts end around 6 p.m. Because of every service team’s on-call schedule, they are prepared to be dispatched to handle after-hours emergencies. Fairfield Maintenance Technicians may work on weekdays, weekends, or after office hours when emergencies arise. Here’s where teamwork comes into play: 

“Are you a team player? That’s what makes a property function. Here, it’s a great team. We work together really well and pick up the slack for each other.”  
– Jeff Weeks, Senior Maintenance Technician 

Maintenance Technicians at work

Trust, Respect, and Patience are Integral Parts of the Job 

Maintenance Technicians are in and out of residents’ homes all day. Sometimes residents are home, yet many must trust their Maintenance Technicians to enter their apartments while they are gone. All Fairfield associates adhere to strict ethical standards while respecting confidentiality and fiduciary responsibilities. Not every resident is happy to wait for service. Maintenance Technicians are adept at dealing with many different personality types, knowing full well that a resident who had a bad day at work, missed the metro, and arrives home on a hot evening to find their air conditioning isn’t working may just be angry about everything by the time the Maintenance Technician arrives to tackle the problem. 

In addition to resolving resident and property maintenance issues, Maintenance Technicians also make apartments ready for resident move-in days. They take pride in ensuring that our residents are pleased from the day they inspect their new home to the day they must move on to someplace new. 

Jeff and our many other Maintenance Technicians across the nation know their jobs aren't just about fixing things in apartment homes and beautifying exteriors. Because they maintain the many amenity areas our residents enjoy, they may be responsible for checking that the big-screen TV in the lounge, pool and jacuzzi equipment, fitness center equipment, on-demand workout technology, BBQ stations, firepits, HVAC units, and equipment in business centers are in good working order. Some Fairfield communities even have dog parks, dog-wash and self-grooming stations, and social lounge demonstration kitchens that require attention. For technicians who truly like to fix things, there’s plenty to do and a wide variety of Fairfield apartment communities across the nation to choose from as their home base! 

Fairfield Maintenance Technicians Go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty 

Occasionally, you come across a resident who just seems to have many bad days all the time. It may have nothing to do with his living environment. There’s no real explanation. When that happens, it might be the Maintenance Technician who puts a smile on his face and brightens his otherwise grim outlook 

Jeff recalled the resident who always remembered his birthday and delivered a homemade cake to the leasing office. They share the same birthday, so it was her way of showing her appreciation for the work he did for their apartment community. 

Fairfield Maintenance Technicians

How To Begin a Career as a Maintenance Technician 

Besides previous experience, some Maintenance Technicians supplement their high school or college education with additional certifications. In some cases, HVAC-EPA (Type II) is required. Certified Pool Operator (CPO) licenses may also be required based on the property’s needs. 

Fairfield Maintenance Technicians must have valid driver’s licenses and reliable transportation to and from the property, and to leave job sites to obtain parts and supplies. They should also have basic computer knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Yardi (or similar) software. 

“My favorite thing about working for Fairfield is the potential for career growth and the promotion of learning new skills. My hard work and commitment have not gone unnoticed. I love being part of a team and using my leadership skills to help make our properties successful.” 
– Mark Cooper, Regional Maintenance Manager 

As you can see, the role of Maintenance Technician can mean many different things. They don’t just clean and repair things. They are dedicated inspectors who prevent problems before they happen. And, to some residents, they are like family – always present and ready to help when needed. 

Associate Appreciation Matters at Fairfield 

Fairfield salutes all of its associates for their dedication, expertise, and hard work. We know that when we value our associates and we all strive to offer a high level of customer service, our residents love where they live and are proud to call our communities home. 

Learn more about our culture by reading about the benefits of working at Fairfield. And be sure to check out our referral and sign-on bonuses on our Careers page.