Important Questions to Ask When Searching for a Good Contractor

As a landlord, it’s inevitable that you will, at some point, experience unexpected issues with your rental property. For example, you might suddenly be faced with a leaky toilet or boiler breakdown. And, problems like these rarely occur at a convenient time. 

Therefore, it’s really important that you have a reliable, trusted contractor available to assist you when you need them most. If you’re suffering from an unforeseen issue, ideally, you want a professional who can get the job done quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. 

If you’re a newer landlord, it’s vital that you conduct extensive research to help you find the right contractor for your rental property. In order to help you choose the right contractor, we’ve written a quick guide to the questions you need to ask yourself and your potential contractor, to ensure that they’re the right fit for you.

Read on to learn more, and if you’d like to enquire about the Galway estate agent services we provide at Michelle Burke, then please do not hesitate to contact us via the details at the bottom of this post. 

Is the Contractor Local?

Whilst you may or may not live near your rental property, it is important that your contractor does, or is able to get to it quickly. This is especially crucial in the event of an emergency, when someone needs to attend to the property immediately. 

Whether the contractor you are working with is just an individual on their own, or is part of a larger operation with multiple contractors, you should try to find out how far they are from your rental property. 

This will help you determine if they’re able to reach your property in good time and resolve the issue without any difficulties. Having a local contractor should hopefully prevent you from receiving distressed, irate calls from your tenants. 

Do they Have the Correct Accreditations?

Secondly, another essential question to ask is about the accreditation that the contractor holds. It’s vital that you find out what the contractor does – whether it’s a bit of everything, or whether they specialise in a trade like plumbing or electrical services. 

If a contractor is going to be doing work on your rental property, you need to check their accreditations and ensure that they’ve got the right ones. This means asking questions like; are they registered with RGI (Registered Gas Installers), RECI (Registered Electric Contractors Ireland), and CIRI (Construction Industry Register Ireland)? Nowadays, it’s relatively easy to check online to find out if a contractor is accredited and qualified to do the required work. 

Do they Come Recommended?

You should also ask yourself if the contractor comes with recommendations. When you’re searching for a suitable contractor, word-of-mouth recommendations can be really handy. But in today’s digital age, it’s also a good idea to check if the contractor has a personal website or social media page too. Past customers, particularly unsatisfied ones, will be likely to leave reviews. And, this will give you a clearer idea of the level of service you will receive. 

Do they Provide an On-Call Service?

After you’ve established a relationship with a particular tradesperson or contractor, it’s worth asking them about whether they provide an on-call service and are happy to work outside of normal office hours. If the answer is yes, then you’ll want to know what the charge is. Make sure you know what to expect, as in urgent situations, you could be paying a much higher rate than normal. 

How Did Your Tenants Feel About Them?

If you’re using a contractor for the very first time, then make sure you ask your tenants what they thought of them. At the end of the day, your tenants are the ones who are using the service first-hand, so their opinion really matters. If your tenant has had a negative experience, then it’s worth asking if it is worth using the contractor again, or is it best to look for someone else. 

First Class Real Estate Agents in Galway, Ireland

At Michelle Burke, we’re proud to be leading estate agents in Galway city, passionate about providing the best customer service and results for our clients. Our team is dedicated to going above and beyond expectations, working hard to ensure optimal prices and speedy transactions. 
If you’re looking for assistance with buying, selling, letting, or property management, look no further – we have your best interests at heart. We guarantee a personalised service with unmatched diligence. Please do not hesitate to contact us today on 091 868080 or email us at info@michelleburke.ie and we’ll get back to you shortly.