Know who you are writing to
Letting agents manage homes for landlords. Block managers look after shared buildings. Housing associations own and repair their own homes. Each wants different things, so pick one type to start with and write for them.
Look for businesses near you. A property manager with a quick local contractor can fix a problem in a day, which they value.
Start with a short, specific message
A long pitch gets deleted. Say who you are, what trades you cover, which area you work in, and how quickly you can attend. One question at the end, such as whether they have a list for new contractors, is enough.
- Name the area, not just the country
- Say what you can do in a day, not everything you can do
- Offer to send your insurance and certificates
- Keep it under 100 words
Be ready for the paperwork
Most managers will ask for public liability insurance, trade certificates and sometimes health and safety documents before they add you. Have them in date and in one place. Many managers also ask for references or details of similar jobs, so keep a simple record of work you have done.
Follow up politely and more than once
A quiet inbox is normal. Follow up after a few working days, and again after a couple of weeks, with something short and useful, such as a note on a type of job you cover. Stop if they say no, or ask to be left alone.
Make yourself easy to keep
Reply quickly, attend when you say you will, send photos when the job is done and invoice clearly. Managers move work to the contractor who makes their life easier. A good first job is the start of repeat work.
Where Gaffio helps. Gaffio helps with the finding and the first emails: Lead Finder lists property managers and letting agents near you, and email outreach sends your short sequence and stops when they reply.