Plumbers are often the first trade inside a flooded home, and property managers decide who gets called when a unit floods at night. A few strong ties with each can bring work all year, not just after storms. These partners care less about your price list and more about whether you show up, protect their name and keep tenants and owners calm.
For plumbers, start small and local. Visit shops in the morning before the trucks roll out, bring coffee, and leave a card with one number that reaches a person day or night. Tell them plainly what you will do: arrive fast, take over the drying and cleanup, and send their customer back to them for any plumbing repair. Never quote or take the plumbing work yourself. After each referral, text the plumber a quick update when you arrive and again when the job is done. If you want to thank partners with a referral fee or gift, check your state rules and the terms of any insurance job first, and tell the homeowner about the arrangement. For property managers, think like their vendor desk. Build a packet with your W-9, a current certificate of insurance that can name their company as additional insured, IICRC certifications, an after-hours contact list, how you price work, and a sample job report with photos and moisture readings. Ask to be added to their approved vendor list, and offer to sign their master service agreement. Many managers will test you on a small job first, so treat a single wet carpet like a big loss. Keep tenants informed, protect their belongings, and send the manager clear notes the same day. When a job may involve an owner's insurance claim, give them solid records and let the owner and insurer work out coverage. Every quarter, check in with a short lunch, a training on spotting hidden leaks for their maintenance staff, or a recap of the jobs you handled for them.