3 lifehack services to ease an estate agent’s woes

06 August 2015 6200 Views

Let’s face it: the work of an estate agent can be a thankless task. With clients on both sides of the purchase causing multiple stresses, and solicitors who never answer telephones or emails, it’s a wonder the estate agency community gets any sleep at all.

This article isn’t about to promise an end to your solicitor woes, but there are a few startups emerging from London that can take some of the chores out of your work. Maybe you’ll use them yourselves, or maybe you’ll recommend them to sellers who need to get their house in order – either way, we reckon you might find a bit more time on your hands to take up meditation, punch bag-whacking, or whatever it is that you do to open the pressure valve.

Squirreling stuff away

If there’s one thing this world is full of, it’s junk. Almost every house we’ve been into recently spills over with clutter. And in this industry, clutter isn’t good. Stuff-strewn houses don’t sell, and when there’s little room to hide it all away, it might be time to recommend a company like Boxman.

These guys do self storage London style, zipping out from a location in Southwark to almost anywhere within the M25, on-demand, whenever you want. They bring sturdy-but-loveable blue, waterproof boxes, your client fills them, and then they whisk them away again. They can be returned at the touch of an online button, and they cost from £5 per box per month. They’ll store bigger items, too, if you give them a call (020 3434 0909). It’s self-storage with a difference: all your messy clients have to do is pack.

Getting stuff fixed

If appearance is everything in the real estate trade, then having a decent handyperson on call can be the key to making the sale. But your usual handyperson isn’t always available, so then who do you call?

Enter 1ROOF, a kind of home improvements matchmaking service that hooks you up with highly-recommended professionals in your area. The startup takes your requirements, finds the right people to help you, gathers your quotes, oversees payment and even guarantees the work so that you have peace of mind throughout the process. A great recommendation for you or your clients, taking the hassle out of having to find the right person for the job.

Removing the stains

Ah, the misery of mysterious stains. You don’t want to ask where that dark patch on the living room carpet came from – you just want it gone. It may be that you have a cleaner on your books already, but for a great service that gives back to the local economy, try Hassle.

Much like 1ROOF, this startup hooks you up with professional cleaners in your area, and much like Boxman, they get the pro to your doorstep within a very short time of you requesting them. They charge £10 per hour, and there’s a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the work.

The company’s motto is, ‘because there are better ways to spend your lazy Sunday’, so this might be one to bookmark for your own private use, too.

Click through to the Box Room for a more in-depth list of startups providing London lifehacks. See you there!