By Marcus Williams | April 27, 2026
Picking, paying, and keeping good plumbers and electricians is half the job of being a landlord. Here's the system solo landlords can run.
The vendor problem
Software does not fix a clogged drain. Eventually you need a human with a truck and a license. The difference between a smooth landlord operation and a chaotic one is largely the strength of your vendor list.
This is the system I use to build and maintain mine.
!Stack of vendor invoices on a desk
The minimum vendor list
Every landlord, even with one unit, should have:
For a portfolio of 5+, add: appliance repair, roofer, tree service, landscaper.
How to find them
Three tier of sources, in this order of quality:
1. Referrals from other local landlords — by far the best signal. Find a local REIA meeting or landlord Facebook group.
2. Referrals from existing trusted vendors — your plumber knows good electricians.
3. Online review platforms — useful as a filter, not a primary source. Look for vendors with 50+ reviews and a long history (5+ years).
Avoid: lead-gen "matching" services that take a cut. The vendors on those platforms are paying for leads, which raises their cost and lowers their quality.