For landlords and property owners, the cost of building maintenance is both their biggest challenge and their biggest opportunity. It is a challenge because building maintenance costs can quickly spiral out of control. Yet maintenance is also the one area where landlords have the most opportunity to save money.
The difference between spiraling costs and maintenance spending that is kept under control often lies in the owner’s preferred maintenance strategy. Landlords and owners who take an impromptu approach to maintenance will usually have more problems than those who create a structured maintenance plan, warns Keyrenter Salt Lake. The second type of owners will see better results.
The simple reason for this is they are able to detect and deal with issues on time before they escalate into major costs. They do maintenance on an ongoing basis rather than only when problems happen. And the singular explanation why they can do this is because they retain the services of a professional handyman for their property.
Who is a Handyman?
The best word to describe a handyman is “a fixer” because handymen are professionals who undertake a wide range of repairs in the home. They are not jack-of-all-trades but are specifically trained for this role. A handyman can handle most of the light repair jobs which regularly pop up in households. This includes both external and internal repairs.
They are not specialized in any particular system or structure in the home. This means that the handyman is not an electrical, plumbing, or roofing contractor. Therefore, they cannot install the plumbing or electrical system in your home. However, after these systems are installed, the handyman can maintain them in the best condition.
Why Do You Need a Handyman?
Property owners can have a standing agreement with a qualified handyman that ensures that the handyman is always available to handle issues in their building. Many landlords and owners find this to be a mutually beneficial way to solve maintenance problems. The handyman is assured of regular work from the owner and the owner gets a lower rate for all jobs.
Why is this approach the best way to handle maintenance in your property? Here are the reasons why:
- A handyman is cheaper than a specialist
A specialist will only handle problems in the area of their specialization, but a handyman can handle all kinds of problems. Specialists also cost more. As a rule, use a handyman for all jobs and only call a specialist for larger issues.
- A handyman costs less than an in-house staff
You only pay a handyman if they do any work for you, but a full-time employee must be paid whether there are repairs or not. Retaining a handyman’s services means you are not paying for hours when no work is being done.
- Top-notch maintenance
Handymen are trained to the highest professional level and apply a systematic approach when dealing with problems. A handyman does not solve problems by guessing, they look for the root cause and work to solve them permanently. Additionally, they are often very experienced.
- Fewer maintenance problems
Hiring a handyman is the first step to creating a preventative maintenance plan for your property. A handyman is able to spot and attack problems when they are at their early stages. They keep minor issues from developing into major problems that cost a lot of money to fix.
- Lower overall maintenance costs
Over time, a handyman will significantly reduce the amount of money you spent on solving maintenance issues in the property. Instead of dealing with emergency repairs, the majority of your maintenance will center on solving issues that result from natural wear and tear. You will mostly be updating the components of the home.
- Improve the value of the property
A handyman introduces a measure of efficiency into your building maintenance. By keeping all systems working as they should, the handyman can make the home more attractive. Handymen will prolong the life of your home’s structures, systems, and appliances by slowing natural wear and tear.
What To Look For In a Good Handyman
Overall, a good handyman means peace of mind and money in the bank. But how do you find a qualified handyman? Here are the qualities of a good handyman.
- Skill
You can evaluate the handyman’s level of skill by asking for licensing and certification. Membership in the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals (ACHP) is an advantage.
- Experience
The more experience a handyman has, the better they will be at finding and solving problems.
- Insurance
Does the handyman have liability insurance or will you be liable for injuries that happen on the job? Make sure that your handyman has all the proper insurance for your protection and theirs.
- References
Who are they currently working for and can you talk to those clients? Interview their most recent clients to gain more knowledge on their skills and experience.
- Payments
Can they provide a sample of their quotes and are they happy with being paid only after a job is completed?
- Guarantees
Do they offer guarantees for any work they do? This will protect you from handymen that do a shoddy job.