Speed Complex

The Teller is pretty handy around the house. Hell, we’ve even been put to work in the office fixing this or that.

It’s a nice feeling knowing you’re the go-to person when the sink is clogged or a light bulb’s burned out.

But what The Teller lacks – around the house, at least – is speed. That burned-out light bulb is likely to remain in its socket for a while before The Teller removes it. The empty socket will then be on display for a few days until The Teller remembers to pick up light bulbs, and for a few days more until The Teller actually puts in the new light bulb.

So, The Teller was flabbergasted when we heard that one J.P. Davis can complete about eight maintenance challenges in slightly more than two minutes.

J.P. works for Corcoran Management and is the maintenance manager at the Brockton Commons apartment complex in Brockton. Earlier this month, he was named a finalist in the annual Maintenance Mania competition to be held in Boston next month by the National Apartment Association.

That’s right; Maintenance Mania, in which the 20 finalists will vie for $20,000 in cash and prizes by taking part in games based on common maintenance matters like repairing a toilet or changing smoke detectors.

We can probably assume that anything called Maintenance Mania involves some pretty passionate individuals, but that’s an understatement. Davis calls Brockton Commons “my property” in materials sent out by the Rental Housing Association.

The competition that will end June 30 in Boston began in August 2011 with nearly 3,000 competitors, who all probably have complexes of their own (certainly physical, and perhaps mental as well), from around the country.

This all helps The Teller realize we don’t need to pick up light bulbs – we need a maintenance man.