Sunday, December 13, 2009
Tips for Getting Good Tradesmen and Repairing Appliances at Christmas by LettingFocus.com
Following my appearance on BBC2’s “Working Lunch” programme, here are our tips for a hassle free Christmas.
If you need something repairing, whether it is a white good like a washing machine or a semi-fixed installation like a boiler, first check if it is covered by the warranty or guarantee period first - and also what the extent of cover is.
For example, is the machine only covered for parts or is it covered for both parts and labour. Is it covered under any extended warranty you have taken out?
Check if you have a service contract with British Gas or another provider such as your home insurer? Some of these contracts offer a service line that is open on Christmas Day – though you may have to wait a little longer than usual for someone to actually come out to you during the festive period.
As I said on the programme, I would always advise people to have white goods fixed by a tradeseman supplied by the manufacturer of the machine. They will know what they are doing, be familiar with the machine and if they don't fix it right you can always go back to the manufacturer and complain to their Service Help Desk. You cannot do that with a man you plucked frrom the Yellow Pages or the Internet.
Preventative Steps
But even before you get to Christmas get things checked out well in advance because if you are not covered by a guarantee or warranty it will probably cost more to get stuff fixed at Christmas (and even if you have a warranty it will take longer too.)
So, if the boiler is making a wheezing noise or the washing machine is clanking, have it checked out now.
Check gutters to ensure they are clear of leaves and other debris and have your roof checked for missing slates.
Make sure you know where the water stop valve is (and that you can turn it off) – this is useful in the event of a flood.
Make sure you know where the fuse box is and that you know how to turn off the gas.
Keep a note of the number 0800 111 999 – you should call this if you smell a gas escape.
Ask friends for names and phone numbers of good plumbers, heating engineers and other tradespeople.
Have some portable electric fan heaters you can use to keep warm if the heating conks out and no one can come out and fix it promptly.
Getting the Work Done
Only use properly qualified tradesmen who are member of a national body of association. Check what membership of the body gives you and check they really are members by asking for ID
For example, all gas engineers should be listed on http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ (the new name for Corgi)
Decent plumbers and some heating engineers should be in http://www.ciphe.org.uk/ (which also has a list of plumber and heating engineers who are available over the Christmas period) or the Association of Plumbing and Heating Engineers.
Some white good suppliers are closed for only one day at Christmas.
Agree Fees
Assuming you are not covered under a warranty, agree a call out fee. Check if it includes VAT or not. Never agree to “payment by the hour.”
The call out fee is your payment to the contractor to diagnose the fault. As it is Christmas, you may have to agree to pay a higher call out fee than at other times of year. Don’t be surprised about this – after all how would you feel if your boss insisted you come into the office.
Once the problem is diagnosed, decide if it is worth getting it fixed anyway.
You need to decide if it may be better just getting a new machine in - (make sure you have checked out prices of new models in advance from local suppliers as well as the Internet) - this is especially true if the machine is old anyway.
Fixed Price Quotes
Get fixed-price quotes in writing (not an estimate) showing how long the job will take to complete.
If a contractor says you need to replace an expensive machine like a boiler, get a second opinion first, if you can. We have heard of lots of big firm service engineers saying boilers cannot be repaired when they can be. Often it is just a question of someone having the right part!
If you are getting something fixed, only pay when the job is complete and materials and debris cleared away.
If it is a big job ask for references from others or from sites like RatedPeople.com.
Always check installer ID and finally pay on time, so they come quickly next time and you are front of the queue when the next big freeze comes or your white goods break down.
ABOUT US
At LettingFocus.com we are experts on landlord issues.
Hello, I’m David Lawrenson.
I have been a landlord and property investor myself for over 25 years and am author of “Successful Property Letting” – which has been the UK’s top selling property and buy to let book for the last 3 years.
We help landlords and property investors make money in property by coaching them in ways that work, which are ethical and which involve minimal risk to the investor.
At LettingFocus we pride ourselves on giving independent unbiased buy to let advice for property buyers and landlords both on a one to one mentoring and coaching basis as well as through occasional group seminars.
Property syndicates and property advice in the UK is still largely unregulated and what counts as “advice” is too often more about making the promoter money than giving useful information to the investor.
With no link to property firms, developers or bridging loan providers, at LettingFocus, we can advise you on where and what type of property to buy for investment, when to buy and how to buy property at a low price. We also show you how to manage tenants properly and in ways that take up as little of your time as possible.
We also do consultancy and write for companies such as banks, local authorities, property websites and social housing providers – helping them with their landlord facing or buy to let product strategies.
AT OUR WEBSITE LETTINGFOCUS.COM:
THE HOME PAGE OF OUR MAIN SITE click here: LettingFocus Home Page
THE HOME PAGE OF THIS BLOG click here: Blog
ONE TO ONE PRIVATE CONSULTANCY click here: Property Mentoring
NEXT SEMINAR AND NETWORKING EVENT for Landlords and Property Investors:
Next Property Investment Seminar and Networking Event
We have OFFERS on a range of services and products for landlords too; click here including landlords insurance, tenant referencing, tenancy agreements and more: Services and Products for Landlords
For general info on our SEMINARS AND CONSULTING click here: Property Seminars, Networking Evenings and Consulting
TO READ CLIENT TESTIMONIALS – both commercial and private click here: Testimonials
BUY “SUCCESSFUL PROPERTY LETTING” click here: Buy the Book at Amazon plus anything else you fancy at Amazon.co.uk
To JOIN our Free QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER simply send an email to david@LettingFocus.com - Please note we WILL NOT send spam or sell our mailing list to advertisers!
IF YOU HAVE A SITE WHY NOT LINK TO THIS BLOG OR OUR WEBSITE?
SELLING STUFF TO LANDLORDS – YOU COULD BE A PARTNER ON OUR AFFILIATE PROGRAMME. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!
See our Twitter page: http://twitter.com/LettingFocus
Copyright of Blog: David Lawrenson 2009. This blog is updated roughly once a week usually on a Monday or Tuesday.
WANT TO BE KEPT UPDATED WITH OUR LATEST BLOGS?
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If you need something repairing, whether it is a white good like a washing machine or a semi-fixed installation like a boiler, first check if it is covered by the warranty or guarantee period first - and also what the extent of cover is.
For example, is the machine only covered for parts or is it covered for both parts and labour. Is it covered under any extended warranty you have taken out?
Check if you have a service contract with British Gas or another provider such as your home insurer? Some of these contracts offer a service line that is open on Christmas Day – though you may have to wait a little longer than usual for someone to actually come out to you during the festive period.
As I said on the programme, I would always advise people to have white goods fixed by a tradeseman supplied by the manufacturer of the machine. They will know what they are doing, be familiar with the machine and if they don't fix it right you can always go back to the manufacturer and complain to their Service Help Desk. You cannot do that with a man you plucked frrom the Yellow Pages or the Internet.
Preventative Steps
But even before you get to Christmas get things checked out well in advance because if you are not covered by a guarantee or warranty it will probably cost more to get stuff fixed at Christmas (and even if you have a warranty it will take longer too.)
So, if the boiler is making a wheezing noise or the washing machine is clanking, have it checked out now.
Check gutters to ensure they are clear of leaves and other debris and have your roof checked for missing slates.
Make sure you know where the water stop valve is (and that you can turn it off) – this is useful in the event of a flood.
Make sure you know where the fuse box is and that you know how to turn off the gas.
Keep a note of the number 0800 111 999 – you should call this if you smell a gas escape.
Ask friends for names and phone numbers of good plumbers, heating engineers and other tradespeople.
Have some portable electric fan heaters you can use to keep warm if the heating conks out and no one can come out and fix it promptly.
Getting the Work Done
Only use properly qualified tradesmen who are member of a national body of association. Check what membership of the body gives you and check they really are members by asking for ID
For example, all gas engineers should be listed on http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ (the new name for Corgi)
Decent plumbers and some heating engineers should be in http://www.ciphe.org.uk/ (which also has a list of plumber and heating engineers who are available over the Christmas period) or the Association of Plumbing and Heating Engineers.
Some white good suppliers are closed for only one day at Christmas.
Agree Fees
Assuming you are not covered under a warranty, agree a call out fee. Check if it includes VAT or not. Never agree to “payment by the hour.”
The call out fee is your payment to the contractor to diagnose the fault. As it is Christmas, you may have to agree to pay a higher call out fee than at other times of year. Don’t be surprised about this – after all how would you feel if your boss insisted you come into the office.
Once the problem is diagnosed, decide if it is worth getting it fixed anyway.
You need to decide if it may be better just getting a new machine in - (make sure you have checked out prices of new models in advance from local suppliers as well as the Internet) - this is especially true if the machine is old anyway.
Fixed Price Quotes
Get fixed-price quotes in writing (not an estimate) showing how long the job will take to complete.
If a contractor says you need to replace an expensive machine like a boiler, get a second opinion first, if you can. We have heard of lots of big firm service engineers saying boilers cannot be repaired when they can be. Often it is just a question of someone having the right part!
If you are getting something fixed, only pay when the job is complete and materials and debris cleared away.
If it is a big job ask for references from others or from sites like RatedPeople.com.
Always check installer ID and finally pay on time, so they come quickly next time and you are front of the queue when the next big freeze comes or your white goods break down.
ABOUT US
At LettingFocus.com we are experts on landlord issues.
Hello, I’m David Lawrenson.
I have been a landlord and property investor myself for over 25 years and am author of “Successful Property Letting” – which has been the UK’s top selling property and buy to let book for the last 3 years.
We help landlords and property investors make money in property by coaching them in ways that work, which are ethical and which involve minimal risk to the investor.
At LettingFocus we pride ourselves on giving independent unbiased buy to let advice for property buyers and landlords both on a one to one mentoring and coaching basis as well as through occasional group seminars.
Property syndicates and property advice in the UK is still largely unregulated and what counts as “advice” is too often more about making the promoter money than giving useful information to the investor.
With no link to property firms, developers or bridging loan providers, at LettingFocus, we can advise you on where and what type of property to buy for investment, when to buy and how to buy property at a low price. We also show you how to manage tenants properly and in ways that take up as little of your time as possible.
We also do consultancy and write for companies such as banks, local authorities, property websites and social housing providers – helping them with their landlord facing or buy to let product strategies.
AT OUR WEBSITE LETTINGFOCUS.COM:
THE HOME PAGE OF OUR MAIN SITE click here: LettingFocus Home Page
THE HOME PAGE OF THIS BLOG click here: Blog
ONE TO ONE PRIVATE CONSULTANCY click here: Property Mentoring
NEXT SEMINAR AND NETWORKING EVENT for Landlords and Property Investors:
Next Property Investment Seminar and Networking Event
We have OFFERS on a range of services and products for landlords too; click here including landlords insurance, tenant referencing, tenancy agreements and more: Services and Products for Landlords
For general info on our SEMINARS AND CONSULTING click here: Property Seminars, Networking Evenings and Consulting
TO READ CLIENT TESTIMONIALS – both commercial and private click here: Testimonials
BUY “SUCCESSFUL PROPERTY LETTING” click here: Buy the Book at Amazon plus anything else you fancy at Amazon.co.uk
To JOIN our Free QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER simply send an email to david@LettingFocus.com - Please note we WILL NOT send spam or sell our mailing list to advertisers!
IF YOU HAVE A SITE WHY NOT LINK TO THIS BLOG OR OUR WEBSITE?
SELLING STUFF TO LANDLORDS – YOU COULD BE A PARTNER ON OUR AFFILIATE PROGRAMME. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!
See our Twitter page: http://twitter.com/LettingFocus
Copyright of Blog: David Lawrenson 2009. This blog is updated roughly once a week usually on a Monday or Tuesday.
WANT TO BE KEPT UPDATED WITH OUR LATEST BLOGS?
Over on the right hand side under all the previous blog entries you will find a button which says “Site Feed.” Simply copy the site feed link into your News Reader or News Aggregator.
If you have a website & are thinking of reproducing material here, that’s fine but we DO require a link to the blog to be included, including also all the links in this section. (The full article including all links must be available to ALL VIEWERS of your site and not restricted.)
TO VIEW RELATED POSTS select a “Category” at the bottom of this page.
WANT TO ADD A COMMENT OR VIEW OLD COMMENTS?
To add a comment or view other people's comments on this post, simply click on “link to this post.”
Labels: emergency plumber, find a builder, heating engineers, home emergencies, landlord information, Tradesmen, tradespeople, Working Lunch
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