House Expert – the good guy of the courtyard

House Experts know residents’ everyday lives and make sure everything works as it should in SATO’s rental homes. Their varied role combines practical skills, problem-solving and the joy of helping others – and that is exactly why Kim, Mikko and Sami enjoy their job so much.

It is a crisp October morning at SATO’s office in Käpylä, Helsinki, as House Experts Kim Rautio, Mikko Rantanen and Sami Perälä sit down with a cup of coffee to talk about their work. Each of them has arrived at SATO via a very different career path – and soon realised they were in exactly the right place.

Mikko started his career in construction and joined SATO a little over two years ago. He was surprised by how varied the work turned out to be.

“I thought being a House Expert would mean leaning on a broom all day, and that I’d get bored quickly. But it’s nothing like that – the work is anything but monotonous, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Kim, who started around the same time as a summer House Expert, has a degree and work experience in property maintenance. Sami joined SATO in 2021 after working as an electrician.

What is a House Expert’s working day like?

A House Expert’s working day usually starts at eight o’clock in the break room.

“The break rooms are basically our offices. We catch up with colleagues, have lunch and take care of computer work there,” Mikko says.

“In the morning, I first go through invoices, check incoming defect reports and review the day’s apartment inspections. After that, I head out into the field,” Kim lists.

The content of a House Expert’s day varies depending on, for example, the area they work in and the time of year.

“Typical tasks include move-out inspections and small repairs, such as replacing bidet showers. In autumn, we get a lot of reports about apartment temperatures. Major renovation orders are fairly rare in my area,” says Kim, who looks after relatively new home buildings in Keimolanmäki and Kivistö in Vantaa.

“For me it’s the opposite – just the other day I ordered three major renovations,” laughs Mikko, who is responsible for an area in Pikku Huopalahti with buildings dating back to the previous century.

Sami, who works in Martinlaakso and Pähkinärinne, points out that a House Expert’s day does not always go according to plan.

“One phone call can turn the whole schedule upside down. If there’s, for example, a water leak somewhere, it requires immediate action. The situation needs to be investigated and drying equipment arranged quickly.”

“House Experts work office hours on weekdays, and on-call duty is not part of the job.”

Why is the job so engaging?

When asked what makes the job interesting, the answer comes in unison: the work is extremely varied, and no two days are the same.

“Our role includes the whole package, and there’s a lot involved that wouldn’t usually fall under property maintenance,” Sami says.

House Experts have different strengths, which often shows in their tasks.

“We have the opportunity to do things ourselves, based on our own skills. I recently painted a bathroom and carried out water damage repairs, for example. If you’re willing to try and learn something new, you’re given the chance here,” Mikko explains.

“And the job is quite flexible. As long as things get done on time, you can largely decide your own schedule and how your day looks,” Sami adds.

Kim is pleased that House Experts can develop their skills through various training courses.
“For example, I’m starting sprinkler supervisor training next week.”

SATO also receives praise as an employer.

“Occupational healthcare works well, and it’s easy to talk to your manager about absolutely anything,” Mikko says, and continues:

“From the very beginning, I’ve had the feeling that I don’t want to go anywhere else – employees are really well looked after here.”

What makes a good House Expert?

The men consider problem-solving skills and a willingness to learn as the most important qualities.

“You don’t need to know everything, but it helps to be eager to learn and to understand bits and pieces from different areas, so you know how to start figuring things out,” Sami says.

Carefulness is also essential.

“When you’re doing routine tasks, it’s easy to just glance at things. But if you forget to check a meter even once, it can lead to problems,” Mikko notes.

“And good nerves and the ability to handle pressure are real assets in this job – they help you stay calm in busy or challenging situations,” Kim reflects.

Social skills and language skills, in turn, are helpful in customer encounters.

“You need English every week, and any other language skills are an advantage too,” Sami says.

“But you manage well with English and Finnish, and even weaker language skills improve when you use the language constantly at work,” Mikko adds.

What is rewarding about the job?

Meeting residents is at the heart of the job – and something all three enjoy.

“Positive feedback always feels good,” Mikko says. “When I unblock a clogged sink, it’s a small thing for me, but a huge relief in someone’s everyday life.”

“And often you exchange a few words or crack a joke while you’re at it. It brings joy to both sides,” Sami adds.

The trust of residents feels especially rewarding.

“We’re the good guys who come to fix things and help,” Mikko says.

“People wave when we drive past, and you get this kind of folk hero feeling – like being the hero of a small village.”

The job offers a glimpse into many different life situations, and sometimes House Experts notice that a resident may need extra support in their daily life.

“If we see that someone isn’t doing well, we contact SATO’s housing advisor, who helps arrange the necessary support,” Mikko explains.

The meaningfulness of the work is ultimately found in small, everyday encounters.

“It feels good to be able to genuinely help,” Mikko says.

No one gets left behind

The House Expert team is a multi-skilled and warm-hearted group where everyone helps one another and laughter is often heard.

“You can always ask for help, and there’s always someone who knows how to help – or at least point you in the right direction,” Kim says.

“We’re a diverse group, from different professional backgrounds and at different stages of life,” Mikko adds.

According to Kim, the team spirit is strong.

“This is a relaxed group where colleagues are happy to support each other,” he says, and continues:

“We try to go out for lunch together once a week and keep up team spirit that way as well.”

This content has been written by a human utilizing generative AI.
This content has been translated with the help of generative AI. Tämä sisältö on käännetty generatiivisen tekoälyn avulla.