Predictable price, predictable response.
A retainer trades unknowns — when can a contractor come? what will it cost? — for known answers, in writing. Here's how the agreements are structured.
- Monthly base + itemized jobs
- SLAs written into the agreement
- No portfolio minimum
When a retainer is the right call
Retainers don't make sense for everyone. They're right when these are true.
- You're managing or hosting more than one property and the contractor calls are eating your week.
- You need a written SLA for emergencies, not a verbal "we'll try."
- You want photo-documented work without having to ask each time.
- You'd rather pay a known monthly base than wonder what each fix is going to cost in trip charges.
- You're tired of re-onboarding a new contractor every six months when the last one stops returning calls.
How a retainer is built
Every retainer is the same shape, with scope tuned per client.
- 01
Monthly base
Covers guaranteed response, SLA enforcement, photo reporting, account management. Sized to your portfolio.
- 02
Itemized work orders
Each job billed at agreed rates — labor, materials, parts. Listed on one monthly invoice.
- 03
Written SLAs
Same-day for emergencies (flooding, no heat, lockout). 48-hour for routine. Quoted into the agreement.
- 04
Property profiles
Each unit gets a profile: access codes, mechanical info, notes, owner contact. We don't re-learn each time.
- 05
Photo reporting
Every job: before, during, after. Forwardable to owners or guests as needed.
- 06
Quarterly review
Once a quarter we sit down (Zoom or in person) and review what worked, what didn't, what to adjust.
Operating since 2014.
A few practical metrics. The rest are in writing in the agreement.
“They started Monday like they said. Done in three weeks, and the kitchen looks better than the renderings.”
Questions we hear from retainer plans.
-
How is the monthly base priced?
Sized to portfolio: number of properties, expected work-order volume, response-time tier. We send a written proposal after a discovery call; no surprise pricing.
-
Is there a contract length?
Standard 12-month agreement, cancellable with 30 days notice for any reason. No early-termination fee.
-
What if I have a slow month with no work orders?
You still pay the monthly base — that's what reserves the response capacity. The trade is predictability, not pay-per-use.
-
Can we start with a trial?
Yes — month-to-month for the first 90 days, then convert to standard if it's working. Most clients convert.
Talk through what a retainer would look like for your retainer plan operation.
30-minute call, no commitment. We'll send a written proposal a few days later if it's a fit.