The team from Block in a Box provides the perfect solution to finding a contractor for your block.
Managing a block of flats requires a little black book. For some, that may be a hand-me down notebook from previous directors, stuffed with hand-written names and phone numbers for trusted contractors they used over the years. For most though, the little black book can be found online.
We work with Flat Living to provide a directory of approved contractors in your area. Here we’ll explain how to utilise the directory, how to add yourself to it if you’re a contractor yourself, and how to avoid common pitfalls when it comes to employing external contractors to work in your block.
Tips for Finding the Right Contractor for You
As your contractors will be trusted to work on site to keep the building safe, compliant and your residents’ investments in good shape, it’s vital that you do your due diligence.
Make sure you’re checking:
- Their insurance
- Their reviews
- Their accreditations, qualifications and certificates
- Their previous work on other buildings and the relationship they had with the RMC there
- Their approach to customer service for you and your residents
- Their general manner (you may be working closely together for some time!)
Always approach at least 3 different suppliers for quotes with accompanying dummy contracts and compare them with the results for the checks above in mind. Do not fall into the trap of simply choosing the cheapest option.
There’s a lot to be said for gut instinct after a face-to-face meeting. If a contractor is open, clear and concise in their responses to your questions and seems willing to spend the time with you, you’re likely off to a good start.
Finding the Right Contractor Quickly and Easily
Head to the Flat Living website and hit ‘Directory’ or bookmark the direct link to the directory here. Once you’re in the right place, you can browse by area, or by the services required.
The areas are broken down as follows:
- East Anglia
- East Midlands
- London
- National
- North East
- North West
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
- South East
- South West
- Wales
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire
The services are broken down as follows:
- Accountants
- Alternative Accommodation
- Basements & Roof Tops
- Building Maintenance
- Cleaning Services
- Company Secretarial Services
- Flats Insurance
- Grounds Maintenance & Services
- Health and Safety Services
- Industry Associations
- Insurance Valuations
- Legal Services
- Letting Agents
- Lifts
- Prepay Meters
- Property Maintenance
- Property Managing Agents
- Recruitment
- Security Services
- Service Charge Recovery
- Software Solutions
- Storage
- Surveyors
- Water Leak Detection Services
As you can see, we have you covered!
If you filter by location, you can then select a service via the drop down at the top on the right-hand side. If you filter by service, then you can do the same and select a location. Either way, you’ll find a map of suppliers and, once you’ve clicked through to a particular supplier’s listing, you’ll find contact details.
Listings with a blue tick by their name represent suppliers that have claimed their listing. Their pages will contain more detail as they have confirmed the listing and provided further details for the directory.
Once without a blue tick will contain only basic info- if you are a supplier yourself, feel free to check the directory for your own listing and read on to find out how to claim it.
Adding Your Business to the Directory
The Flat Living website (now new and improved for a better user experience) received thousands of unique visitors every month. Why not add your name to our directory and bump up your profile to a claimed listing for a better outcome?
To ‘claim’ an unclaimed listing, you’ll need to follow the steps below:
- Locate your listing either by browsing the categories or locations, or by typing your business name into the search field on the top left-hand corner of the home page
- Once you have found your business listing, click the ‘Claim Now’ link on your listing page
- Complete the pop-up form with the details requested
If you’re a new user, you’ll need to enter an email address which you will then use to access your dashboard. You’ll receive an email with your user password, and you can then access your dashboard and update your personal details.
Once your listing claim is approved, you will receive an email confirmation. You will then find your listing available to you on your dashboard so you can go ahead and update your business details to complete your listing.
You can choose from a free plan, a silver plan at £120.00 a year or a gold plan (price on request)- the details for the different plans available are here. You can also head to this link if you’re not yet listed on the directory at all and you’d like your business to be included.
If you need any assistance or have any queries about the Flat Living Directory, please feel free to contact our team or head to the Flat Living Directory contact page.
Block in a Box not only provides information on how to protect your block of flats against emergencies over winter. We can also help with utilities, repairs, insurance, health and safety, and just about any other issue a flat owner or manager might face. To learn more about leasehold management companies or freehold management companies, contact our friendly and professional team today on 0333 0154 145.
