How Maintenance Drives Resident Retention and Protects Your Investment
Maintenance is the single largest factor in resident retention.
At Duerksen & Associates, Inc., we know that resident retention is one of the most powerful ways to protect and grow your investment. Every time a resident renews their lease, it reduces vacancy loss, minimizes turnover costs, and keeps a stable, reliable resident in place. Over the past four years, we have been working diligently to understand what truly drives retention. Both our experience and national data tell the same story: maintenance is the single largest factor in resident retention.
Why Maintenance Matters
Maintenance is more than just repairs. It is one of the most important touchpoints between residents and property managers. Studies show that nearly one-third of residents who move out do so because of poor maintenance experiences. On the other hand, almost half of residents say that positive maintenance service is one of the top reasons they choose to renew their lease.
This means that timely, effective maintenance is directly tied to income stability and the long-term value of a property. Poor maintenance increases turnover and vacancy costs, while excellent maintenance strengthens satisfaction and drives renewals
How We Approach Maintenance
We have built our systems around the understanding that maintenance is a key to retention. To measure our effectiveness, we send surveys after every maintenance request to capture resident feedback in real time. These results feed directly into our Success Scorecard, where resident satisfaction is one of the key metrics we track.
By making maintenance a top priority, we not only prevent costly damage and keep properties in top condition, but we also build trust and positive relationships with residents. This proactive approach has a measurable impact on renewals.
The Results Speak for Themselves
Our lease renewal rates have shown steady growth since 2020:
- 2020 ~ 45.27%
- 2021 ~ 49.13%
- 2022 ~ 52.75%
- 2023 ~ 63.27%
- 2024 ~ 65.16%
This represents an increase of nearly 44% over five years. That improvement translates into fewer turnovers, lower vacancy losses, and stronger returns for our owner clients.
Protecting Your Investment Through Retention
Maintenance may seem like a basic function of property management, but the truth is that how it is handled has a direct impact on your bottom line. By delivering fast response times, clear communication, and high-quality repairs, we create a better experience for residents. That better experience translates into higher retention, stronger returns, and greater peace of mind for owners.
At Duerksen & Associates, Inc., we are not just managing properties — we are building lasting relationships with our residents that protect and grow your investment.
Contact us today to learn more about how our proactive maintenance systems can help maximize your property’s performance.
