Employing specialists to do DIY and home repairs

Members request our help with odd jobs and specialists because:

• They may be keener on YDI (you do it) than DIY, and we have tradesmen that will take small and fiddly briefs
• They have high-spec homes which they don't want to mess up with botched jobs
• They need specialists, which we have experience in tracking down
• We have an excellent relationship with reliable tradesmen

One of our home experts Roberto Crovini says: 'Most people have a to-do list of domestic jobs that starts at the front door: broken doorbells, wonky light fittings, sash windows that don't open or pictures that need hanging. Many members have too many commitments to tackle small chores, so they give us to-do lists and we source tradesmen to fix them.

'We cover all member requests, from regular property maintenance to one-off jobs, such as fixing a curtain rail or wall-mounting a plasma screen. One member even asked us to fix his creaking door hinges. We also handle emergencies. For example, we arranged last-minute electrical work to be carried out in a member's property that was being sold the following day.'

As a private individual it can be difficult to find tradesmen to quote for small jobs, but our long-term contacts with reliable professionals mean we can always source someone to fix a problem. We check the quality of the work thoroughly – we have a wide range of tradesmen we use regularly and, if we're using a new contact, we always check their references and insurance.

Members say that setting aside time to find tradesmen is often the biggest barrier to completing jobs around the house. We have a bank of standard tradesmen and specialists and also take on members' unusual, one-off requests. Roberto says: 'We've tracked down a stone cutter with the expertise to cut brittle slate, sourced an expert in 18th-century antique chandeliers, and even found specialist sealant for a member's hi-tech swimming pool.'

Insider tips:

• Consider getting house upkeep done on a seasonal basis rather than tackling emergencies as they arise. We can arrange regular checks on boilers, smoke and burglar alarms, external lights and motion sensors, and gutters and drainpipes. We can also arrange for an NICEIC-registered contractor to check your electrics and book experienced tradesmen to examine your roof for slipped tiles, splits, bubbles or puddling.
• The more you can list about a problem, the easier it can be for a tradesman to diagnose its cause. If your boiler needs repairing, note down its make and type, how old it is, what it's doing (or not doing), and any unusual noises. It can also be helpful to find the boiler's service records.