First impressions matter and when you’re making first impressions every day, it’s even more important. This is why your lettings portfolio should be treated as more than just bricks and mortar. Keeping these properties in premium condition is a way to reflect your own standards so a high-level property maintenance team is a must. But how do you choose the right one?
Availability
When handling multiple locations and people, issues can crop up at any time. In these situations, the last thing you want to hear is that your team is only available within certain hours or require an extra charge for a weekend visit. Before choosing someone to take care of your properties, make sure they operate around the clock on a daily basis. Tenants might be unpredictable, but the answer to their problems shouldn’t be.
Reliable quotes
Of course, your maintenance team isn’t going to be brought in for a single job. With end of tenancy cleans and other maintenance tasks, it’s far more likely that you’re looking at multiple jobs over time. That means you should make sure there are no hidden expenses that can come back on you later on. If you make your needs clear from the start, there’s no reason for your maintenance and cleaning costs to be a shock when unexpected situations arise. Be upfront with what you want, when you want it and how you want it done. This is the key to a happy relationship with your maintenance team.
Communication
Once you’ve begun the process of keeping your properties in top condition, it’s essential that you’re able to keep track of what has happened and what will happen. The way to make this possible is with clear lines of communication. This can be as simple as a quick phone call whenever you need an update, or more specific details that need to be discussed at length. Even better, you should receive a report of every incident that has been resolved, to give you peace of mind that promises are being met.
Enthusiasm
It’s vital that your maintenance team have a good attitude towards their duties. Due to the stresses that come with being a letting agent, it makes sense to look for workers that make your life easier, not harder. When every cog in the maintenance machine is working together with a positive outlook, all problems can be tackled efficiently.
One-stop-shop
Property maintenance isn’t easy. There are multiple areas that need looking after, often requiring the help of various specialists. It can be difficult putting together an expert team of workers by yourself as different tradespeople work in different ways so getting them in sync can be a mammoth task. The smart move is to source your entire team from a single trusted company. This saves time and money as you don’t need to go through multiple quotes for individual services, plus it centralises all of your resources. When you have an army of expert helpers available at the drop of a hat, you’re ready for every situation.
When it comes to property maintenance, there are a vast number of options and this can often feel overwhelming. It’s worth taking the time to understand what really counts when it comes to keeping your tenants and landlords happy and your property portfolio running smoothly, based on advice from people with a wealth of experience in this field. Choosing the right maintenance team is important so get it right the first time with the help of Agent’s Army. You can find out more information here.
I am on a mission to help London’s Letting Agents increase their re-lets, management retention and profits by improving the service their contractors provide to their landlords.
