As the weather turns chilly, property managers know that a change in season often brings a spike in out-of-hours repair requests. Adverse weather conditions, especially at night, can cause problems at any time. From burst pipes to a boiler breaking down on a cold weekend, the need for immediate action becomes critical.
But what if you didn't have to take your work phone home, worry about a contractor being on call, or stress over unnecessary expenses for your landlords? With Fixflo, you can use a strategy that provides peace of mind for you as well as delivering cost savings and safety for your landlords and tenants.
1. Get intelligent assistance (Aidenn)
A first-time fix can be achieved through intelligent, immediate digital assistance. This is where your AI agent Aidenn, built specially for repairs, becomes useful.
When an issue is reported, Aidenn's advanced AI can automatically engage the occupier with sophisticated, intelligent diagnostics. This means:
- Aidenn analyses the issue description and photos to diagnose faults, offer solutions, or resolve the issue. This reduces a property manager’s reliance on contractor callouts.
- The AI has a deep understanding of plumbing, heating and electrical systems and how to diagnose issues.
- In an emergency where a contractor is definitely needed, Aidenn can automatically dispatch them. This eliminates the risk to tenants and can also escalate issues to property managers.
2. Stop unnecessary call-outs with video triage
(Help me Fix)
Many out-of-hours requests don't actually require an immediate, expensive contractor dispatch. A frozen pipe, a tripped fuse, or a boiler error code can often be resolved with simple, expert guidance.
This is where Fixflo's video maintenance solution, powered by Help me Fix (HMF), becomes useful.
When a resident reports an issue out-of-hours on Fixflo, the system can automatically direct them to a video call with a qualified tradesperson. This means:
- The HMF engineer can use the video call to diagnose the problem, helping the tenant to self-resolve or partially resolve the issue on the spot.
- By guiding the tenant through a solution, this service reduces the number of unnecessary call-outs. This not only saves your landlords money but also saves valuable time.
- If an issue can be made safe or stable, a full repair can wait until the next business day, preventing an emergency call-out charge.
Go to our solutions page to find out how Help me Fix can be used to its fullest potential.
3. Ensure emergency safety with automated dispatch (Novex)
While video triage handles many calls, a genuine emergency, such as a major leak or a total loss of heat in freezing conditions, still requires a quick physical response. For these situations, you need a reliable emergency contractor network.
Novex, a partner in Fixflo’s Contractor Marketplace, provides a fully vetted, 24/7 emergency call-out service. This means:
- Novex's team of property professionals triages every call to confirm it's a genuine emergency.
- If a contractor is required, Novex will dispatch a fully qualified, vetted, and insured tradesperson within four hours to ensure tenants are safe.
- You get the reassurance that if a call-out is necessary, an expert will be there quickly.
4. Get your life back
The greatest value in combining these Fixflo features is the immediate improvement in your work-life balance. It means no more nighttime phone calls, with out-of-hours requests being managed quickly and automatically. Every repair reported, every video session, and every Novex call-out is logged in the Fixflo system, so you don’t have to worry about missing anything. In turn, this will build trust with your landlords as they know they can rely on a focused approach for out-of-hours emergencies.
Ready to fortify your out-of-hours strategy this autumn? Get your quote today!
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