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Renoir provides local property managers with tips on handling maintenance problems. What is a quick solution to maintenance problems? The answer to most maintenance problems is finding the right person with the right experience to do the job. Sometimes, when properties are short-staffed, a temporary employee is a perfect fix. To give you an idea of the possibilities, these are some of the ways property managers have used temporary maintenance employees to quickly solve problems:* Flooded sidewalks and the fear of water seeping into apartments prompted an emergency call seeking a temporary maintenance technician who knew how to operate and use a pump. * A major renovation project was taking up so much of a maintenance manager's time that a property requested a part-time maintenance technician to help keep up with routine maintenance projects such as changing filters, replacing light bulbs and clearing gutters. * A major tenant appreciation event was coming up and the manager was expecting the regional manager to attend so she requested a temporary porter to sweep up the property, move boxes to storage and wash patios. *An excess of vacant apartments and an unexpected injury that laid up the maintenance manager made it cost effective for a property manager to request a temporary maintenance employee with experience in turning apartments. * A property manager used a contractor for the major tasks in a renovation but found that it was more cost effective and convenient to hire a temporary employee to paint and touch-up the work. Whether your property is experiencing an emergency, surge of work or an unexpected leave of absence, a temporary maintenance employee may be able to supplement your regular staff. Your team benefits from getting a helping hand without adding to your payroll. And the staffing company is responsible for all taxes and insurance. Temporary staff can also be assigned a flexible schedule to work around your needs. When you are seeking a temporary maintenance employee, be sure to be clear about the work to be performed and the skills required so the personnel agency can locate an employee who meets your requirements. For instance, some temporary employees are experienced in the multiple skills needed to turn an apartment. Other temporary employees specialize in one area such as plumbing, painting or electrical work. If you need someone to clean up an area, a porter may be more suited to the job. Some staffing companies offer skills assessments and testing to verify experience. In addition, a handy man may have the skills to do a project but lacks experience working in an apartment community. Look for temporary maintenance staff that has experience working in a multi-family residential community. Since employees will be working around people's homes, you'll want them to be courteous and respectful of your residents. With temporary employees working in and around apartments, you should find out if the staffing agency provides background searches. A seven year, multi-county background search of misdemeanors and felonies is the most complete. In addition, some personnel companies offer optional drug testing to meet clients' requirements. Another benefit of using a temporary employee is that you can use the assignment as a "working interview" of someone you may want to hire. Personnel agencies call this a "temp-to-hire" program. The recruiting fee is modified to reflect that the person worked as a temporary employee before you made the offer to hire. If you have a big project coming up or an unexpected emergency, remember that temporary staffing agencies may be able to provide qualified property management maintenance staff to meet your needs and solve your problem. Author Julie Fleury is the Branch Manager for Renoir Staffing Services, Inc.'s (www.renoirstaffing.com) San Jose Office and has over 15 years of human resources recruiting and branch management experience. She can be reached at (408) 573-6326. The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal listed Renoir as one of the Top 50 Women Owned Businesses and 50 Fastest Growing Private Companies in 2005. Headquartered in Oakland, Renoir employs over 800 people with over $7 million in sales. Renoir provides temporary staff and recruits employees for hire to meet the needs of the residential multi-family and commercial property management industry in Northern California.