From time to time I receive phone calls and emails from companies telling me just how great they are and what an amazing new service they offer consumers or agents. Most of them require little more than a roll of the eyes, but every now and then I look at something and say cool. I receive about 4 emails a week. A few weeks ago I met with a company (Home Source – Home Assist) that allows home owners and real estate agents to pay an annual fee for a service that gives them a 1300 number for their tenants to call in case of an emergency. The cost is around $125 per annum, per property – although I guess if you have a large amount that fee could be negotiated.
For properties that are covered by the service; when tenants experience a plumbing, electrical or locksmith emergency, they call HomeSource. HomeSource then arranges for one of their fully qualified and insured tradespeople to go out and assist. And they cover the cost of getting the tradesperson onsite and half an hour of labour.
One of the features of the service is that the property manager isn’t harassed at 3am when the plumbing decides to burst. Also, since the issues are dealt with by trained professionals, landlords minimise damage to their property – as can happen when tenants attempt repairs themselves or worse, just left. For those agents that are loyal to an existing trades supplier, HomeSource is happy to work with them as long as they work to the HomeSource code of conduct.
Now I do not know how good the service is, but I think it is a pretty neat idea and the company now has over 10,000 tradespeople and users. They have also got contracts with pharmacies and hairdressers across the nation. Pretty cool idea I think. I have had problems in the past with agents where they just do not answer calls late at night or on weekends – which is fair enough I guess. Not too flash if you happen to lock your self outside in a towel.
Note: I am not aware of any other companies providing this service.