An apprentice who works for a property maintenance company has won an award from the college where he studies. Sam Cooper, an apprentice property maintenance operative at Platform Property Care – a subsidiary of Platform Housing Group, one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has been awarded a Best Progress Award from Herefordshire and Ludlow College. Sam started at Platform Housing Group in November 2020 as an apprentice working towards becoming a multi skilled engineer. He combines his time at Platform with his college course which includes brickwork, plumbing, carpentry, decorating and electrics. Platform Housing Group has worked closely with Herefordshire and Ludlow College for more than 10 years, seeing many apprentices complete their studies with its support in areas including plumbing and heating, electrical and carpentry. In 2020, the two organisations worked together to introduce the property maintenance operative – or PMO – role into Platform Property Care under the apprenticeship umbrella. “Sam joined us just over a year ago, successfully gaining one of eight property maintenance operative apprenticeships placements from more than 70 applicants. This was Sam’s first success! Since then Sam has consistently demonstrated the values we believe he possessed from the point of his interview,” said Adam Rudge, Head of Voids at Platform Housing Group. Sam is a humble man who has shown honesty, commitment and dedication to learn his trade, whether this be at college or onsite in one of our empty homes. Sam is a likeable person who has fitted well into the wider void team and has developed a strong working relationship based on mutual respect with his mentor. We are all so proud of Sam and would like to encourage him to build on the success he has justifiably achieved to date.” The college awards take place annually to reward the students for their hard work. “This is a new qualification in its first year; Sam had lots to learn, including skills, knowledge and behaviours and new surroundings at college and in his workplace. He has taken it all in his stride and his commitment during what has been a tough year has been excellent. Well done Sam,” added Brian Rodgers, Apprenticeship Support and Marketing Officer at Herefordshire and Ludlow College. “Platform continues to develop its apprenticeship programme; it is not just the number of apprentices that is impressive but the individual support the apprentices receive from this forward thinking and vibrant company. Each apprentice has a mentor and is able to access support and guidance within the company. The contact with the college is superb and we have established a great working relationship. Platform most definitely put their apprentices first and is with them every step of the way. An excellent company and a well deserved award for Sam.” Since September 2021, 17 new apprentices have joined Platform Property Care; with 30 apprentices in total, this equates to 5 per cent of its total workforce.

Selling the old to move onto the new can feel like a painfully long task, but what if there was a way to speed this up? Research suggests the average UK home selling times take 4.2 months on average from first day of marketing to legal completion. When you’re looking to start a new chapter of your life, you can make the process quicker and add more property value with these fixes. Look after the details  Make sure that any cracks are fixed in window frames or walls. Cracks in walls can knock £9.49k off your home, while no double glazing knocks off £9.14k.  Fixing this is often simple, so before you call in professional help, check the cracks in your wall to see if it’s something you can mend yourself. If the cracks are less than 5mm, then you can use filler to sort them out and get your walls looking great again.  Property value added: £18.63k  Introduce popular trends  Keeping your décor up to date can add up to £8.85k to your property, so having a home that brings visitors a sense of joy will massively benefit the sales process. Ways to do this are simply by introducing modern trends that are universally liked. One way to do this is going for Scandi-inspired style; neutral colours, house plants full of life, and occasional moments of colour around the property that create a homely feeling which visitors will love. It’s an environment where people can easily picture their own design choices.  If you want to go one step further, then try dried flowers – a bold yet minimalist interior design trend that brings a feeling of edge and character to a living environment without it feeling too over the top.  Property value added: £8.85k  Look after your garden  Over lockdown, the demand for outdoor space has gone up significantly. In fact, 64% of UK residents say they wouldn’t buy a home if it didn’t have outside space. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, if you do have an outdoor space, look after it; it could be the difference in securing the deal or losing it. 30% of UK residents also said that when looking to buy a home, they place more value in the garden than the inside space. Lockdown brought out the nation’s inner gardeners with 39% getting more into gardening over the past year, so having a space where they can plan a new project is going to be important, and one factor that could make buyers favour your property over others. Property value added: Up to 5% of property value  Cleanliness is key  It’s obvious, but a clean house is always going to be preferred to a messy one. With 43% of UK residents saying they would only arrange a viewing for a clean property, a messy home will be detrimental to the sales process. 61% of UK residents also said that they would put in a lower offer on a property if it wasn’t clean when they viewed it, so keeping tidy is an absolute must.  Look at your property with a critical eye; what could visitors be put off by? Mess and clutter can knock £9.29k off a property, so the cost of fixing this is inherently worth more than leaving it to new occupants.  Property value added: £9.29k  Paint for profit  Scuffed paintwork and marked walls can take £9.25k off a property, so don’t hesitate to give the walls a fresh lick of paint. Stick to neutral colours such as white, light grey, and natural wood, which are the most popular three colours that attracted buyers. However, going dark with your paint choice can prove to be detrimental. A comparatively small 8% of buyers were attracted by light blue and black, while 5% were attracted by light brown and dark blue, so keep it light and neutral.  Property value added: £9.25k  In total, you can add a huge £46k to your property value by following these simple tips. Getting a home sold quickly is many sellers’ dreams, so take the opportunity to make some extra cash while you’re doing it. The steps are simple, but too often overlooked.

Management can be a tricky business to take on. Many different aspects need taking care of – from dealing with tenants and their concerns to properly maintaining the property. However, if you’re not careful, property management has the potential to turn into a nightmare. So, don’t let it get to that phase. Be Proactive: Conduct Periodic Repair, Inspection, and Maintenance Homeowners are not the only ones who have an interest in their property. Your tenants expect a certain level of service and amenities as well. Prioritize your repairs so that more serious issues do not fall through the cracks.  For example, you can have movers shift buildup stuff so the building remains clean and clutter-free. Alternatively, you can have an appropriate waste management system that gives existing tenants and potential ones a peaceful mind. Also, remember to inspect your unit and conduct periodic repairs, inspections, and maintenance. This will prevent minor problems from becoming major headaches.  Finally, make sure to have a maintenance schedule that allows you to work your way down the list and tackle each repair as it arises. Having this type of plan in place can help reduce tenant complaints about minor issues, like leaky faucets or clogged gutters. Have a Method for Attracting the Right Tenants Your property management methods should have a way to attract the right tenants. If you are struggling with this, consider adding an application fee or pre-qualification questions that weed out those who aren’t serious.  In addition, implement a credit check criteria for screening purposes and ensure your applicants provide recommendations as proof of a good tenant. You should also consider creating an incentive program for the best tenants to keep your property management team busy with things other than evicting. It may be worth considering adding move-in bonuses, referral programs, and renewal incentives that can help you attract the best applicants and keep them around. Have Open Communication With Tenants Open communication is essential for healthy property management. When you have an open line of communication with your tenants, they are less likely to complain or make noise about every little problem. A few simple phrases can keep them happy and the relationship on good terms. The best way to start is with a simple “hello” when you see them. It may feel awkward at first, but once the tenant realizes that their landlord cares about them, they will begin to open up more often. Acquire and Use IT Systems IT systems are an integral part of property management trends. They can help you streamline your processes and get a better overview of how profitable your properties are. Still, most importantly, they allow you to be flexible in the face of changing competition and market conditions. Once you acquire IT systems for yourself, there is no going back: it’s going to be the unbreakable backbone of your property management. Conclusion The problem is that many property managers are not proactive enough to ensure success. But, if you recognize the warning signs and take action when needed, your property management strategies can be an excellent asset for your business.