Anyone who regularly sends employees on assembly as a craft company knows that the question of accommodation is not a side issue. She decides how relaxed and efficient people arrive at the construction site in the morning – and how smoothly a project is going on overall. Nevertheless, accommodation planning in many companies is still done ad hoc, shortly before the start of the project and without a fixed system. If you change that, you not only gain time, but also more satisfied employees.
What distinguishes craft companies from private travelers
A single fitter who is looking for accommodation on their own has different priorities than a company that accommodates five people for three months. For the company, it’s not just about comfort and price – it’s about planning, billing and the question of how much administrative effort the accommodation procurement causes.
Added to this is the responsibility towards the employees. A company that accommodates its people in bad accommodation has a problem – not only humanely, but also practically. If you sleep badly, eat insufficiently and don’t feel comfortable in the accommodation, you’ll bring less on the construction site. This is not a question of attitude, but simply physiology.
What good accommodation for employees
Employee accommodation that really works meets three basic conditions: It is close enough to the place of work, well equipped and bookable at a price that can be realistically mapped in the project budget. Sounds simple – but in practice it is often the point where the planning is stuck.
Close enough doesn’t necessarily mean walking. It is said: The daily travel time to the construction site should be manageable. Over thirty minutes of a single route add up to a considerable total load on a three-month project – time that employees would better use for recreation.
What craft companies need when booking accommodation
The requirements of companies differ clearly in some respects from those of individual fitters. Three aspects are particularly important.
First, the capacity. A company that sends a team of six to a construction site needs an accommodation solution that covers all six – ideally under one roof or at least in the immediate vicinity. Distributing several bookings in different accommodation across a city is organizationally complex and not conducive to the team structure.
Second, the billing. A company apartment for employees must be able to be billed cleanly via the company. This means a proper invoice for the company name, clear information about the performance and the period of time – and a landlord who is familiar with this process and handles it without much effort.
Third, reliability. Anyone who sends employees to a project lasting several months does not want to find out after six weeks that the accommodation has been awarded elsewhere. Binding bookings with clear conditions are therefore more important for companies than for private individuals planning short-term.
Direct cooperation with the landlord – why this is crucial
For companies that regularly need accommodation, it is worth building a direct relationship with the landlord. That sounds more complex than a quick portal booking – but it’s not in the long run. Anyone who has ever found a reliable provider in a region does not have to start over with every new project.
Direct communication also allows individual agreements that go beyond what a portal can depict. For example, reserved parking spaces for several transporters, flexible extension options in the event of project delays or the option of rebooking rooms in an uncomplicated manner if staffing changes. This flexibility is often crucial in the everyday work of a craft business.
Regional planning – which locations are relevant
Crafts companies working in Baden-Württemberg are dealing with a region where demand for good fitter accommodation is high. The greater Stuttgart area, the Filstal, the Ostalbkreis and the region around Heidenheim are among the most economically active areas in the state – with a corresponding number of construction sites and industrial projects.
Those who work regularly in these regions and plan early will find reliable accommodation at fair prices. If you are looking for short-term bottlenecks, you will quickly encounter bottlenecks – especially at peak times when many projects are running at the same time. Another reason to understand accommodation planning as an integral part of project preparation and not as a task for the last week before the start.
What to consider when handing over to employees
If the company books the accommodation and the employees move in, it needs a clear handover process. Who has the key? Who is the local contact? What applies to the use of the common areas? And what happens when something doesn’t work?
The following points should be determined before moving in:
- Who is the direct contact with the landlord – and how can he be reached?
- What house rules apply and have they been communicated to the employees?
- How does the key handover work, especially for late arrival times?
- Who reports defects – the employee directly or through the company?
Anyone who clarifies this internally before the employees arrive avoids ambiguity that takes time unnecessarily during ongoing operations.
Reliable partner for craft businesses
Raumschmide Apartments offers fitter rooms and apartments for craftsmen’s teams at several locations in Baden-Württemberg – with company booking, invoice for the company name and direct contact person. A predictable and uncomplicated solution for companies that work regularly in the region.