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The importance of great tradespeople

The importance of great tradespeople

One of the major causes of friction between landlords and tenants is a lack of responsiveness when it comes to repairs and maintenance. At Storeys we always advise our landlords to stay on top of these practical details, to preserve relationships with tenants and also to help avoid minor problems escalating into expensive issues. Great tradespeople are the key to this - they not only provide essential expertise but form part of the service that we provide as managing agents to our landlords, and the experience that tenants have of renting from you.

Why are great tradespeople so important?

  • Safe and legal repairs. Any home can be hazardous if not properly repaired and maintained so it's just not worth the risk of working with tradespeople who cut corners or don't have a good grasp of what the law requires when it comes to gas safety, for example. Knowing that the tradespeople you use are legally compliant and will mitigate risks to the building and its occupants when carrying out the work provides great peace of mind.
  • Interaction with tenants. In a way, the tradespeople you use are an extension of you and so it's important that they understand how to interact with tenants who are there when work is being carried out on the property. Giving proper notice, being polite and professional and clearing up afterwards are all key.
  • Value for money. At Storeys we firmly believe in value for money for both tenants and landlords and so we only work with tradespeople we know can deliver on this front.
  • High quality, professional work. Having to pay twice for repairs, deal with repeated maintenance, or getting complaints from tenants that issues are just not fixed is not ideal. Great tradespeople deliver high quality work to a professional standard so that you don't have to worry about the job not being done well.
  • Reliable and consistent. As a landlord you can't police everything that people do on your behalf so it's important to know that tradespeople will turn up when they say they will and deliver consistently great service.

How to find the right people

If you're new to being a landlord you may not yet know how to find tradespeople to support your renting investment - these are our tips:

  • Word of mouth. Recommendations from friends and family or others who have used specific tradespeople are very valuable.
  • Local Facebook groups. You might be able to find reviews of services in Facebook groups that are local to where your property is based.
  • Commercial internet review sites like Checkatrade.com. These sites are specifically designed to show you what others thought of tradespeople - although this isn't always the most reliable way to source someone it can be a useful option for checking those that others have recommended.
  • Other landlords. Once you start to make contacts in your industry other local landlords may also be able to recommend tradespeople in the area.

We are letting agents in Hackney with a wealth of experience and lots of contacts with high quality, reliable local tradespeople. Contact us if you'd like to know more about our management services.

11 July 2019Written by Andrew Blythe

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We pride ourselves on being genuine industry experts, providing a positive experience, from enquiry to after care. Storeys focuses exclusively on lettings, and we value properties, we don’t just list them. Knowledge and innovation mean we can be competitive on costs while also delivering an individually tailored service.
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Short-term lettings
Providing value for tenants and continuity for landlords, Storeys short-term lets run from 4 weeks to 6 months. We work with major London relocation teams and a global contacts network to match international tenants to perfect London properties.
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We can manage your vacant property in-between tenancies or refurbishment, giving you peace of mind that the property is being looked after and inspected on a regular basis.
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There is just no comparison between static photos and VR when it comes to property marketing. VR allows tenants to do a virtual walk around and get a realistic feel for the property - their expectations are grounded in reality, and properly managed. This makes VR a very effective tool, not just for generating interest and viewings but also converting those to offers. That’s why we partner with VRPM to create a virtual reality perspective for every property we handle.
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We can manage your Airbnb account and make sure each booking runs smoothly, keys are always available for handover and the property is ready for the next occupation. This can run very well alongside our short-term corporate letting service.
Rent Protection
If your tenant defaults on the rent, Storeys have you covered. We also cover your legal expsenses and pay you rental income if your property is vacant whilst we remarket for new tenants. Don’t worry Storeys have your back.*ask a member of the team for more info. This service is included for every Storeys managed property.
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