Roy moved to BRF Räven in 1981 with his family, just as the building was ready for occupancy. They have lived there ever since, even after their children moved out. Roy was elected to the board as early as 1997 and served until 2017; he now serves as vice-caretaker, which keeps him in close contact with Hisscentralen.
Roy looks around the courtyard where we’ve settled down for a conversation about the association and the elevators, which Hisscentralen has serviced for many years.
“We have a stimulating environment here, an oasis in the courtyard, which makes for a very pleasant atmosphere.”
We ask Roy how the relationship with Hisscentralen has evolved over the years, given that BRF Räven is the company’s longest-standing customer and the two parties have enjoyed a long and successful partnership regarding the association’s elevators.
“I’ve mentioned that it’s very important to know and recognize the staff. We’ve been lucky with the staff who’ve been here renovating the elevators. It’s largely the same staff who are handling the maintenance now. They’re very good, and friendly.”
“If you have a core group of a few people who regularly provide services to a housing association of this size—71 apartments—it makes a big difference. We recognize them when they come and know who they are. It feels safe and reassuring.”
“I’ve also spoken with the staff at Hisscentralen, and we’ve told them that we’d like them to contact us a few days in advance before each service visit. That way, we have a chance to check things out beforehand. For example, if there’s any noise coming from the elevators that needs to be looked into, we can address it right away. I think that kind of foresight is great!”
“They’re also incredibly helpful with instructions on what we can do ourselves. If something happens—like dirt or gravel getting into the track leading to the doors—the elevator reacts: the doors won’t close, and the elevator doesn’t respond to signals. We can sweep away the dirt and fix it ourselves, but if we have any questions, it’s easy to call—we get answers and advice, quickly and clearly. That’s very important to us!”
Roy lights up when he talks about the association, the collaboration with Hisscentralen, and especially when we get to the personal relationships that have been built up over the years. Roy has been responsible for liaising with Hisscentralen, and explains that the association has primarily relied on three key suppliers as service partners for a long time, with Hisscentralen serving as the cornerstone as a reliable partner for elevator maintenance. We dig a little deeper into what has made the collaboration so long-lasting and successful.
“The staff has been incredibly helpful, and that really means a lot to me. Prices have also remained stable—not necessarily super low, but consistent—which is appreciated. And of course, it’s always nice to get something in return, like discounts and the like; it makes us feel that the company cares about us, and we’re eager to support them in return.”
Hisscentralen carried out a major modernization of the elevators starting in 2016, working to retain as much of the existing elevator infrastructure as possible while ensuring long-term operational reliability and enhanced safety. For several years prior to the modernization, there was close dialogue with BRF Räven, weighing the options of complete replacement versus modernization. Ultimately, they decided to proceed with the modernization. Roy describes the process and how the elevators have performed since then.
“We have six elevators, all of which have worked very well. I was a bit skeptical and hesitant about the replacement and modernization, but the old ones were starting to show signs of trouble, with maintenance costs gradually rising. It started slowly around 2010, and we kept working on it until 2016 before we finally got around to the project. We had an ongoing dialogue with Hisscentralen for a couple of years, during which we discussed various solutions and reviewed what could be done. They modernized the elevators, retaining the parts that were still functional while replacing the interior and ensuring long-term functionality.”
Roy describes a very close working relationship with Hisscentralen, and explains how, during the modernization projects, they were on site very often to ensure that everything was working properly.
“They were incredibly attentive and helpful. Ensuring that the elevators work properly is crucial for a homeowners’ association like ours, and it was clear to everyone that Hisscentralen took the task very seriously.”
We also took the opportunity to ask Roy—who had mentioned that he’d been a bit hesitant about the modernization itself—what made him choose that option instead of completely replacing the elevators.
“The elevator company took this very seriously; they emphasized continuity, and we felt reassured that they knew our elevators well, provided expert guidance, and could advise us on the best way forward. We also got the sense that they chose a cost-effective solution that took both financial and environmental considerations into account.”
In my conversation with Roy, it becomes clear that things are running smoothly at BRF Räven. A major contributing factor is, of course, the strong partnership they have with Hisscentralen, but it’s also evident from the well-maintained courtyard we visited and the warm smiles we were greeted with that the residents are happy and appreciate the environment here. They take their association very seriously and are committed to ensuring it is a pleasant environment to live in. This contributes greatly to the overall atmosphere and must make for a pleasant work environment for Hisscentralen to visit. We understand that they feel welcome and appreciated at BRF Räven.
When asked if Roy would recommend Hisscentralen to other associations, the answer is a resounding yes.
“I would definitely recommend Hisscentralen, of course!”
