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
Rightmove House Price Index: Record number of sellers in promising start to 2025, but uncertainties ahead
The average price of property coming to market rises by 1.7% (+£5,992) this month to £366,189, the largest jump in prices at the start of the year since 2020: New seller asking prices are still nearly £9,000 below May 2024’s record, reflecting buyer affordability constraints A record number of early-bird new sellers have come to…
Read More 
Zoopla identifies housing markets with best prospects for house price growth in 2025
New analysis from Zoopla, one of the UK’s leading property websites, reveals that housing markets in Scotland and Northern England have the best prospects for house price growth in 2025, as Southern England continues to adjust to the impact of higher mortgage rates. Housing markets in Scotland and Northern England have the best prospects for…
Read More 
Shared Ownership vs. Traditional Mortgages: What’s the Difference?
Buying a property in Guildford is a significant decision, and choosing the right method of ownership is crucial. Two popular options available to buyers are shared ownership and traditional mortgages. Understanding their differences can help you decide which suits your financial situation and property aspirations. What Is Shared Ownership? Shared ownership is a government-backed scheme…
Read More 
Rightmove’s weekly mortgage tracker – 16/01/25
Average mortgage rates drop despite mixed economic news Commenting on the drop in average rates this week, Rightmove’s mortgage expert Matt Smith says: “Despite all of the economic news we’ve had this week, average rates have fallen. It shows that despite the challenges affecting the mortgage market at the moment, lenders are keen to…
Read More 
Breaking Property News 16/01/25
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. Prolonged corporate distress and uneven 2025 recovery Corporate distress levels in Q4 2024 showed signs of stabilising compared to the same period in 2023, but they remain above the long-term average, according to the latest Weil European Distress Index (WEDI). The report forecasts an uneven recovery…
Read More
Sunbury-on-Thames is 2024’s price hotspot
New data reveals that Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey is 2024’s price hotspot, with the average asking price for a home jumping by 12.5% compared to the previous year: Bristol City Centre is second on the list of hotspots, and Swinton in Manchester is third The rise in prices contrasts the more muted price growth on average…
Read More