Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have just one heating company to cover everything?
As an estate agent with multiple properties on your books, arranging annual gas safety checks/CP12s, PAT testing, EPC and sorting out any repairs or emergencies can become complicated. The bad news is that if you’re relying on small companies, many of them only specialise in one or two different areas.
One of the biggest reasons for this is that to carry out EPC checks and PAT testing, plus become qualified for repairing different appliances, you usually have to pass extra exams, and it can also mean a little more investment.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel, though; it IS possible to have just one company cover everything you need, as long as you know what to look for. Below, I’m going to tell you how it could even save you money!
An all-in-one solution
As everything changes and more companies are gearing towards the digital and cloud-based era, some contractors are offering gas servicing, CP12s, repairs, maintenance and service plans, plus PAT testing all at once – something that particularly appeals to estate and letting agents.
As a lot of this work involves logging details such as gas readings and defects, and if the company has already invested in modern IT systems, it can be easy to do this all at once. Also, a good system should enter these all-important due dates in a diary for next year, so really takes the pressure off for letting and estate agents.
The benefits of this solution
When you’re running a busy estate agency, and managing a large property portfolio, you’re probably going to want to simplify things as much as possible, which means sticking to a small team of reliable contractors instead of going to many different companies for different reasons. It cuts down on costs, paperwork, and time.
We’ve also noticed in recent years (and even more so with tighter regulations now in place) is that letting and estate agents are increasingly looking for an all-in-one solution, with the peace of mind from knowing that everything can be taken care of and reminders sent out for future.
I once did some work for a small letting agent who was using one company to do all the gas checks, another to replace boilers and carry out repairs, and yet ANOTHER electrical company to conduct PAT testing. They were all small, reasonably cheap companies, however the agent was constantly chasing paperwork and certificates.
We offered a one-stop solution, and although they were apprehensive because of the cost, it wasn’t an issue 3 months down the line when they could access certificates immediately and electronically. They also put many of their clients on a monthly plan with us which seemed more affordable and removed all stress and worry.
Always check with a company first
If you’re looking for a new Gas Safe registered heating company to carry out all of these checks, my best advice is to call them up and do a bit of research on their website first.
Read my blog post ‘What Should a Property Manager Look For in a Gas Engineer?‘ for more information of exactly what you should be asking about. They should also be able to send you electronic copies of their qualifications, certification and public liability insurance each year.
TIP: If they can offer a monthly service or maintenance plan for some of your clients, I’d highly recommend choosing this option, as it can help to give them ultimate peace of mind and can also save money.
Conclusion
If you can find a good heating company who is digitally aware, and can take care of absolutely everything you need (including all your annual checks and repairs) it can take a bit of stress away, and streamline your entire process.
I would recommend letting your clients know that some companies also offer monthly service and maintenance plans, which can make it even easier and will also mean the company in question will be more likely to send you reminders and ensure everything is done on time.
How many contractors do YOU currently use for all your clients’ annual checks and repairs, and could a one-stop solution help you? Let me know what you think in the comments.
