Nearly Everyone Uses 1099s. That’s Not the Problem…
I recently attended an IMN SFR event where managing 1099 contractors was on everyone’s mind. During one presentation, the speaker asked a fairly simple question: “How many of you use W2 technicians?”
Five hands went up. Maybe six.
Then they asked, “What about 1099 contractors?”
The rest of the room raised their hands.
It wasn’t that surprising, but it was telling.
It’s not a debate. We know SFR and property management companies rely on third-party vendors or independent contractors to handle maintenance work orders. It’s no longer a question whether to use 1099s. The real question is, what’s the best way to manage 1099 contractors? It all starts with having a reliable, pre-vetted network available for you to pull from when you need.
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Why So Many Property Teams Rely on 1099s
W2 techs work well if your entire portfolio is in one region. But when your properties are spread out across multiple cities/states, it’s not realistic to staff full-time employees at every location.
That’s where 1099 contractors have become the go-to. They offer:
- Flexibility
- Local coverage
- Lower fixed costs
But finding those reliable contractors is hard. And even when you do, managing them without a clear system often turns into a mess of emails, texts, and messy spreadsheets.
The Two Biggest Gaps: Visibility and Vendor Discovery
The teams I talk to say the same thing again and again:
- “We’re stretched thin. We don’t have the time to go hunt for new vendors.”
- “We’ve got a network, but each provider interacts with us in different ways.”
- “When a new property comes online, we’re scrambling to find resources.”
Without a trusted network or a smart way to expand your coverage, your team spends all day searching online, asking for recommendations, and hoping someone picks up the phone.
What It Takes to Find and Manage 1099 Contractors Effectively
If you’re serious about running an efficient third-party model, you need to solve two problems:
- How to find high-quality, available contractors.
- How to manage 1099 contractors and build an effective network.
Here’s what the ideal model looks like:
- Find: A Reliable, Searchable Contractor Pool. You shouldn’t need to start from scratch every time. You need a network that’s ready to go, with active providers across key trades and regions. Even better if you can filter by trade, location, rating, or field software used.
- Assign Jobs in Minutes. No onboarding delays. No paperwork exchanges. Once you find the right contractor, you should be able to send them a job instantly and know they’ll get you the info you need.
- Track Jobs in Real Time. Skip the phone tag. A good system for managing 1099 contractors gives you clear visibility into job status, technician progress, and completions.
- Keep Tenants in the Loop. W2 or 1099, residents don’t care. They just want to know when someone is coming and that the tech knows what they’re doing when they get there. Your contractor management tool should automatically send “on my way” texts, confirmations, and post-job surveys.
- Measure Performance. Know which contractors are showing up, closing jobs quickly, and keeping tenants happy. And know which ones to stop sending work to.
You Don’t Just Need a Bigger Network. You Need a Better One.
Adding more names to a spreadsheet won’t solve everything.
Instead, successful companies use a network of pre-vetted, already-engaged contractors who are:
- Actively working in your region
- Responsive to job offers
- Integrated into a system that works for both sides
This is where Dispatch comes in.
We give property management and field service teams:
- Access to tens of thousands of third-party contractors across the U.S.
- Filtering tools to find the right provider by location, trade, or platform
- Instant job assignment, no integration required
- Real-time job tracking and customer communication
- Consistent, trackable outcomes across your portfolio
Ask Yourself: Are You Set Up to Scale Efficiently?
- Can your team find a vendor in any new market by tomorrow?
- Do you know who your top-performing contractors are?
- Can you track work progress without calling or texting?
- Is your resident experience consistent?
- Are you confident in your vendor coverage for the next 90 days?
So, do you have confidence your team can do all of these or only some of them?
You Already Chose the Right Model. Now Make It Work Harder
You don’t need to hire more W2s or build a vendor network from scratch.
What you need is a way to:
- Find reliable workers on demand.
- Manage 1099 contractors with fewer tools and fewer headaches
- Deliver a better resident experience with less effort
This is what successful property management and field service looks like now. Don’t get left behind with outdated processes.
Stop Chasing Vendors. Start Using a Smarter System
Managing 1099 contractors can be a full-time job if you don’t have the right support.
However, with the right tools, you can scale your network, track jobs easily, and deliver service that feels seamless to your residents.
Whether you’re just getting started with 1099 employees or trying to improve what you already have, Dispatch gives you a head start.
Let’s make your 1099 workforce a force to be reckoned with.
