Tips For Easier Repairs This Christmas.
December 8, 2014
Santa might not be the only one calling this season – don’t forget your tenants this year.
IT may be time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, but while it’s tempting to abandon yourselves to festive frolics come tinsel time, your responsibilities to tenants don’t stop up just because it’s the silly season. Wise letting agencies will plan ahead to ensure their clients aren’t frozen out, locked out or in a whole host of other sticky situations, asking themselves bitterly, “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?”
They may not be at the top of your Christmas list but our top tips for keeping clients happy this festive season might just be the best present you’ll get this year:
Make sure your tenants know your Christmas opening hours and how to get hold of you in an emergency. Nobody expects you to forego the turkey in order to man the phones in an empty office (which is where an online repair reporting service could come in handy – more about that later), but it is reasonable for tenants to have some means of contacting their letting agency in an emergency. Just not a brussels sprout related one.
Substitute location, location, location for education, education, education. Common pain points can sometimes be headed off with a bit of knowledge and common sense – perhaps encouraging tenants to undertake a few simple self-help steps in key maintenance areas before getting in touch, could pay dividends.
Speaking the language. It can be hard enough to get your point across at Christmastime, let alone when you’re trying to tell someone who doesn’t speak your language. For those with an international tenant base, ensure your staff have been through their client lists closely with the colleague who will cover them before they take annual leave.
Standards may slip under the mistletoe, but not on the phone. It can be easy to let things slide when you’re operating a skeleton staff and you’re dealing with the inevitable energy crash after Christmas, but it’s imperative that you remain meticulous when it comes to note-taking and record-keeping. ARLA and TPOS members are required to keep written communications with tenants for 6 years and for good reason – not having an accurate account of all contact is the fastest way to land in hot water when it comes to a dispute. We’ve seen it happen before but it’s easily avoided.
And now for some festive cheer – why not let Fixflo make all your Christmas wishes come true this year with our effective and easy to use repair reporting software? With a 14 day free trial period and only a 15 minute installation time required, why not let us cut the time you have to spend on tricky customers in half this year? To be set up in time for Christmas, just contact Fixflo for a 15-minute remote demonstration by 15th December. At last – something to celebrate!
You May Also Enjoy
Popping the Asking Price Bubble
Where in the Uk Can Buyers Snap Up Property Bargains and Where Properties Go for a Premium Above Asking Price New research from fast selling property company, Upstix has uncovered the UK’s most surprising postcodes for snapping up a property at bargain prices this year, highlighting a widening gap between sellers’ expectations and the…
Read More Highest demand to lease office space since pre-pandemic
The latest insights from the UK’s number one commercial property website Rightmove, reveals that the number of unique enquiries to lease office space is at its highest point since pre-pandemic, as businesses look for spaces that meet modern requirements. Demand to lease office space is 19% higher than the same period a year ago and…
Read More Planning consultations for major infrastructure to be streamlined
Robert Bruce, a planning and infrastructure partner at law firm Freeths LLP, said he: “Welcomed the change as a significant step to speeding up the DCO process and the focus on the quality and effectiveness of the consultation, rather than box ticking and a risk averse approach to pre-application consultation due to the current legal…
Read More ‘The property ladder pulls further away’ warns Open Property Group
For many first-time buyers across England, the dream of homeownership continues to slip further out of reach. Despite rising wages, soaring house prices are making it harder than ever to get on the property ladder. A leading UK professional house buying company ‘Open Property Group’ based in Buckinghamshire UK, has raised concerns over the ongoing…
Read More How Long It Takes to Buy a House in the UK: 5 Common Delays That Can Slow Down Your Home Purchase
Wondering how long it takes to buy a house in the UK? The average timeline ranges from 8 to 22 weeks, but even that can stretch significantly due to unexpected delays, especially if you’re a first-time buyer or caught in a chain. That’s why working with experienced professionals like Belvoir — one of the UK’s…
Read More Rightmove to host Renters’ Rights Bill webinar with Guild of Lettings
Rightmove is hosting a live and interactive webinar session with the Guild of Lettings to help agents get Renters’ Rights Ready. The webinar will take place from 10:00am – 11:00am on Wednesday 23rd April. Susie Crolla, Managing Director for the Guild of Lettings, will be joining Rightmove to help agents with questions they may have about…
Read More