What Do You Take Care Of

FirstKey Homes partners with you to take care of your home—We handle the big stuff, you help with the minor things—and help you love where you live. FirstKey Homes is responsible for major repairs and maintenance, giving you the peace of mind that you won’t have to, for example, pay to replace the refrigerator if it breaks. There are, however, some smaller things we ask our residents to take care of in order to keep the home in good condition.

So keep in mind that many small issues around your home, as well as damage caused by neglect or misuse, may be your responsibility. (Note that if a technician is dispatched to address an issue found to be a resident responsibility, it may result in a charge-back to your account of a $75 trip charge plus $60 per additional hour.)

We will respond to service requests within 24 hours. Response time to your home is determined by the specific issue reported and may vary depending on unforeseen natural events. We take care of routine service requests from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; someone over the age of 18 must be home for work to be completed.

And although we love them, please remember to keep your pets away from service areas.

You will be responsible for the general upkeep of the property and for minimizing dangerous conditions at the home.

Pest Control

• Maintain a pest-free home. Schedule routine pest control visits to minimize pest issues.

Landscaping

• Maintain your home’s appearance by cutting and maintaining your grass and beds.
• Replace sprinkler heads and above-ground irrigation.
• Clean debris and leaves from gutters and around the exterior of the home.

Preventative Maintenance

• Keep the air flowing by supplying and changing heating/air filters once a month.
  • Review how to Change Your Air Filter. 
• Brighten up your home by supplying and replacing all light bulbs as needed.
• Keep your home safe by regularly supplying and replacing batteries for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
   

Plumbing

• Keep your toilets and drains clear. Do not put items other than toilet paper down the toilet.
• Repair toilets by adjusting or replacing the inner components in your toilets.
• Clear hair and other debris from drains and use chemicals to loosen clogs.
• Winterize exterior spigots and pipes to prevent freezing.

Utilities

• Maintain active utilities in your home including electricity service, water and sewer services, trash service, and gas (not all homes require gas service). Note: These will be set up automatically by FirstKey Homes and managed by YES Utilities. Statements will be provided by email and will also be visible on the Resident Portal. Statement and payment dates may vary by market; contact YES Energy Management at 833.363.7963 for details.
• Resident is responsible for cost of utility usage at home during the lease term.

Winterization

• Maintain minimum levels of heat to prevent frozen pipes.
• Winterize exterior spigots and pipes to prevent freezing.
• Wrap outside water main in winter.
• Remove snow/ice from walkways, driveways and eaves.
• If outside temperature is below 50 degrees F, keep cabinets open, drip indoor faucets, ensure garden/yard hoses are disconnected, and keep heat set to a minimum of 65 degrees F.

Gas