Turning Your Building into a Home with Watsons Block & Estate Management Service
Your practical and tactful approach to the problems here was much appreciated. Ms. W, Aylsham
we understand
A resident’s home shouldn’t stop at their front door First impressions last.
When a guest or visitor steps into your building, are they greeted by bikes in the hallway or an overflowing box of junk mail? Do maintenance works on your building remain incomplete with outstanding repairs that never seem to be organised? Let Watsons Block & Estate Management Service take care of all your building’s communal areas. Aligned around your requirements, we build a bespoke package of vital services that not only looks after the day-to-day running of your block, but also gives you the necessary tools you need to understand how our arrangement is progressing.
What do you need to effectively run your property? From day-to-day maintenance work like changing your lightbulbs, through to large scale property renovations and compliance with the latest building legislations, Watsons are here to support you. Our service is about your needs. No matter what size your property – from the smallest converted house through to a dedicated block of flats, all our clients receive the same attention to detail and high levels of service that have made Watsons an established name in this field since 1890. Our service does not only extend to managing your buildings interior and structure. If you have grounds and outbuildings, then you these can also be included in your management schedule. Watsons specialise in property management. This is not an add-on service that we offer in addition to an estate agency, it is one of the key focuses of our business. We have helped hundreds of blocks run smoothly, conducted thousands of call outs and visits to support our residents in maintaining a trouble free life. Do you want a property maintenance company that looks after everything right up to your residents’ front doors? Then try Watsons – call us on 01603 226500.
Working with you At Watsons, our service is shaped around our clients. The way you operate your property dictates how we support you. The majority of our clients are Residential Management Companies (RMCs) and as a result we understand how you function and prefer to communicate.
Filing accounts and producing annual returns – taking the worry out of completing paperwork both properly and on time.
Dealing with solicitors’ enquiries – understanding the legal terms and implications of their communications.
Our aim is to take the strain from you whilst giving your residents control over their homes. Through our years of experience helping hundreds of RMCs, our service is able to provide you with everything you need, including a registered office. Examples of the work we complete for our clients includes:
Compiling service charge budgets and maintenance plans – ensuring that an adequate amount of funds are set aside for both planned and emergency works.
Managing repairs and leaseholder enquiries – keeping all parties updated, progressing issues and solving problems.
May I take this opportunity to congratulate you on the general management and maintenance of the complex. It is visually excellent as my guests often mention.
we care
Mr and Mrs G, Norwich.
Working with leaseholders: Right to Manage Are you looking to exercise your Right to Manage under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act (2002)? This allows you to appoint your own agent in place of the freeholder’s appointed agent. Let Watsons guide you through this process with the necessary advice and experience to make the switch simple and painless.
Lease extensions
Negotiating your residents’ lease extensions can often be a difficult and complex process. Watsons has the ability to act as a third party, offering assistance, easing leaseholders and freeholders through the negotiations needed to come to a satisfactory arrangement.
Watsons – The right choice With a number of companies now offering Property Management Services, why choose Watsons?
We are regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), allowing you to relax in the knowledge that you are receiving the right advice in regards to all the physical work on your property. Periodic site visits to ensure that all the facilities at your property are working as they should be – so you do not have to worry about problems developing in your building.
Reduction in the environmental impact of your facilities. Where possible we endeavour to use sustainable and renewable technologies, saving you money on energy bills and helping build a better future.
A dedicated accounts team are on hand to deal with all your financial requirements. We liaise with debtors, pay insurance premiums and producing detailed expense and planning reports, taking the hassle out of money management.
Legal facilities that take care of all your property block’s administration and paperwork. This includes checking that all the necessary certification is up to date and we can even deal with the sale of properties within the block.
Access to property professionals through Watsons, including a team of in house experts, chartered surveyors and estate agents, who are on hand to give you the right advice in response to any property related enquiries.
Keeping you constantly informed When new clients come to Watsons, one of the most common complaints about the previous property management company is a lack of contact. As a result, good communication is at the heart of our relationship with you. Our proactive and personal service will keep you updated regularly on the progress of your building’s management alongside any issues we may experience. And key to your relationship with Watsons is a dedicated property manager. Based in your own local area with a knowledge of all our local contractors and working partners, these individuals are solely employed to respond to your needs. Your property manager works from home. With staff based across East Anglia, these well-trained individuals know what is best for your property based on full knowledge of your site and the surrounding areas. It’s our hands on approach that makes us stand out from the competition. At Watsons we believe that all our clients have different needs, requiring us to provide a responsive service that’s ready to adapt to the latest situation, problem or call. They are available 24 hours a day, all year round to deal with you – including public holidays. There is always someone on hand to take your call, no matter what it is you want to say. Every time one of your residents contacts Watsons, a log is made of their enquiry together with any progress that’s made on the issue. If your point of contact is called away, all the facts are readily available to our alternative members of staff.
This doesn’t mean that Watsons are only ready to hear from you when there’s a problem situation either. Our managers are happy to take calls at any time to talk you through various options you might have for work or to help you understand fixes or changes we have made to your building. No one wants the worst to happen, but sometimes accidents and damage are unavoidable. It is how your situation is handled that is the difference between our service and the competition. Watsons will start the process of sending a tradesperson the moment the phone is put down. In potentially dangerous circumstances your property manager will also attend your site. We are regularly audited and inspected by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and your money is held in accordance with their regulations. We are also covered by the RICS Client Money Protection Scheme, so no matter what happens, your money is safe. Find out how your property management service can benefit from effective communication. Call us now on 01603 226500.
So far I am really impressed! The work has been excellent and fast. Ms T, Cromer.
we listen
How it works
What does Watsons Block & Estate Management Service actually look like to your residents? How do we make sure that we complete every job to the highest standard? A large part of our service is providing you with essential building and maintenance work, keeping your property in good shape and ensuring that all the facilities are working all year round. To achieve this we have developed a number of close relationships with local firms, trusted suppliers and regulated professionals, who are able to look out for the health and safety of your site and protect your liability.
Working for you Unlike other property management agents, Watsons do not use in-house maintenance teams. Why? Because local tradespeople offer a more cost effective service. No additional charges are placed on your invoices, ensuring that you receive a fully transparent, great value service.
Larger projects
Tenders are put in place for larger contracts for work on your block. At least two quotations are always obtained and the most suitable is selected. We do not always advise you to choose the most cost effective supplier, it’s about deciding which company will do the best job for you.
Property surgeries
Effective management is not always about the big problems. Sometimes there are minor faults that are simply never reported. This is why Watsons offers the option to run regular surgery days at your building, taking time to attend your site at the end of the working day, giving residents the opportunity to discuss any issues they wish to raise.
An accountable service
No company is 100% infallible, and Watsons strongly encourages clients and residents to tell us where our service could be improved. If however you are unhappy with our handling of any situation then you are free to start the complaints procedure. Your issues are taken to an impartial authority within our company and if a resolution cannot be found then you will be put in contact with the ombudsman.
we resolve
Your next step
Do you think Watsons could make a difference to the way your property is cared for and looked after? Why not contact us and take a new look at how a property management service should be operated... When you call us, a mutually convenient time is chosen for Watsons to attend your site. This gives you the perfect opportunity to meet with our management team. As this personal relationship is so important to the continued success of any arrangement, it is vital that you feel our professionals are the right people to work with you. Key to understanding what you need from your property management service is reviewing the work of your incumbent supplier. What is it that you wanted from them that they failed to provide? How would you like your Managing Agents to behave? And most importantly, can Watsons fulfil your needs? Next a full visit is conducted of your site. As Watsons are members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors this means that we are able to quickly able to assess how to best service your site and meet with your expectations. Following the visit, a full report and quotation is produced for you that lists all the details and benefits of the Watsons service, demonstrating the difference we will make to your property’s management.
Take a look at a different approach to property management with Watsons — call us now on Norwich 01603 226500 Kings Lynn 01553 603020 Ipswich 01473 358202
Cambridge 01223 656525 to arrange a meeting.
we can help
The Block and Estate Management Team
Norwich 01603 226500 Kings Lynn 01553 603020 Ipswich 01473 358202
Cambridge 01223 656525
management@watsons-property.co.uk watsons-property.co.uk regulated by RICS