Have you tried to engage a tradie at the moment or an engineer? Outside of emergencies, getting a tradie to site is the equivalent of asking people to do chin-ups. Yes, we are in the midst of a tradie shortage and it is unlikely to end any time soon. The Housing Industry Association (HIA) thinks the ongoing house building and renovation boom keeps skilled tradespeople like plumbers, bricklayers, electricians and builders busier than ever. Although this is a temporary situation, owners corporations are patient of the situation, but frustrated.
Taking the next step and engaging new contractors is a big step, and from my experience, a very rewarding experience. Those of us that provide recommendations want assurance that these contractors can provide the goods and in reverse, contractors across the industry are under the pump. They don’t want to be messed around, they are too busy, so it’s far from a walk in the park. New contractors are just as dubious of working with new clients as we are of new contractors.
So how do we find the equilibrium?
A great starting point would be if building management companies utilise fair play.
Wasting contractors’ time to provide a second quote for a job they will never get is the first step. This is the unspoken elephant in the room for our industry. A close second is (and my most cringe worthy) when I have heard said, “we will get our preferred contractor to provide a second higher quote so they maintain their relationships with the lead contractors”. A great example is witnessing underhanded building management companies submitting alternative tenders on behalf of other companies with a higher price to ensure their contractors get the contracts.
This not only scars our industry, it is pointless. Grow your database with wonderful experts and suppliers. Manage what they do so the job is done correctly and they have an opportunity for growth.
Our clients expect integrity. They want to protect their investment and feel secure, knowing everything has been taken care of by someone who knows what they’re doing. They expect when a building manager, defect facilitator or an engineer engages subcontractors for repairs or remediation, we are acting in good faith that we are not stacking the deck or providing jobs for the boys. For defect facilitation and remediation, choosing the wrong builders can be costly.
Securing great contractors is vital for us at Grays Rescue Building Management and there is still a plethora of great tradespersons yet to be met, some with skillsets yet to be enjoyed. As a defect coordinator and facilitator, finding reliable and trustworthy tradespeople and engineers are essential to us and our success. Over the last year, Grays Rescue has grown dramatically in skillset and knowledge as a result of working with new contractors, new engineers and new experiences. Due to supply and demand, Grays Rescue has had no choice but to expand our suppliers, our current contractor shortage is an opportunity to expand our networks, and grow together.
As a defect facilitator, Grays Rescue prides itself on demonstrating leadership and providing ethical services for our clients and experts that depend on us to perform at our best every day.
Talk to Grays Rescue Building Management about your defects, and your maintenance concerns today.
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