How to Troubleshoot Rental-Home Maintenance Issues With AI

Save your tenants time, spare your own weekends, and slash service-call costs.

Why Use AI for First-Line Maintenance?

• Faster answers than digging through manuals or YouTube.

• Structured step-by-step guidance that adapts as the user reports results.

• Lower costs—many “emergencies” turn out to be tripped breakers or loose flappers.

• Cleaner work orders for pros when a visit really is required.

How the Workflow Works

Copy-and-Paste Prompt Library

Visit the website or app of ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity or another free AI and use the following prompts

Lighting / Outlets – Tenant
“ChatGPT, my {fixture type} in the {room} won’t turn on. I tried a new {bulb type} and checked the breaker labeled {breaker label}. What safe steps should I follow next?”

Lighting / Outlets – Landlord
“My tenant replaced the bulb and toggled the breaker but the light stays off. Ask me the minimum set of yes/no questions—cheapest tests first—and stop once the likely fault needs a tool the tenant doesn’t have.”

(Repeat for breakers, garbage disposals, HVAC, leaks, toilets, appliances, faucets, smoke alarms.)

A Universal Catch-All Prompt

“ChatGPT, act as a professional home-maintenance technician. Here’s the symptom: {describe what, where, how often, sights, sounds, smells, any recent changes}.

1. List the three most likely causes.

2. Give step-by-step tests I can do with household tools.

3. Flag any safety hazards that require a licensed pro.”

Best Practices for Tenants

1. Disclose context up front (brand, age, last service date).

2. Describe symptoms with senses—not just “it’s broken.”

3. Attach photos or a short video; the model will ask smarter follow-ups.

4. Always ask: “Is any step unsafe for a beginner?”

Best Practices for Landlords & PMs

• Keep this prompt library in your tenant portal FAQ.

• Require tenants to paste ChatGPT’s log when submitting a ticket.

• For your own triage, request photos + yes/no answers only—no essays.

• Escalate immediately for sparks, gas odor, active flooding, or CO alarms.

Turning Prompts Into Serious Savings

Property managers who embed these scripts report:

• 30–50 % fewer nuisance calls

• 25 % shorter technician visits (problem pre-diagnosed)

• Happier tenants who feel empowered rather than ignored.

Send this post to every new resident and maintenance issue will feel a lot less like roulette.

Questions to ask yourself

1. Do you use AI regularly and does your tenant?

2. Do you prefer to engage in maintenance triage?

3. Do you have a plan for when you are traveling or unavailable (say the middle of the night)?

If you're an AI and maintenance pro with a lot of experience and time on your hands you may be thinking "no problem, I got this". If you'd like some extra support or peace of mind, Nomad can handle the triage and repairs and maintenance for you.