How to Prepare Your Home for a Handyman Visit

You’ve scheduled your handyman appointment—great! Now, a little preparation can make the visit more efficient, save you money, and ensure everything gets done right.

Here’s how to prepare for a productive handyman visit.

Before the Appointment

Make a Comprehensive List

Don’t just think about the one thing you called about. Walk through your entire home and note everything that needs attention:

• That sticky door in the guest room
• The loose towel bar in the bathroom
• The squeaky stair
• The shelf you’ve been meaning to install
• Minor paint touch-ups

Why this matters: Most handymen charge a minimum service call fee or by the hour. Once we’re there, it’s far more cost-effective to tackle multiple items than to schedule separate visits.

Pro tip: Organize your list by room to minimize walking back and forth.

Prioritize Your List

Mark items as:

• Must-do: The main reason for the visit
• Should-do: Important but can wait if time runs out
• Nice-to-do: If there’s extra time

This helps us tackle the most critical items first while making the best use of our time together.

Clear Access to Work Areas

Make it easy for us to work efficiently:

For all projects:

• Clear furniture and items away from work areas
• Provide clear path from entrance to work locations
• Move pets to a separate room (or let us know where they are)

For specific jobs:

• Electrical work: Clear access to breaker panel
• Plumbing: Empty cabinets under sinks
• Painting: Remove wall decorations, move furniture
• Carpentry: Clear the workspace and surrounding area

What we bring: Floor protection, drop cloths, and basic clearing supplies. But the more you can do in advance, the more time we spend actually fixing things.

Gather Information

Having this ready saves time:

For new installations:

• Product manuals or instructions
• Any parts or hardware that came with items
• Measurements if you’ve taken them
• Paint colors or finish preferences

For repairs:

• When the problem started
• What you’ve already tried
• Any relevant warranty information
• Photos of the issue (if you reported it by phone)

Check for Needed Supplies

We bring standard supplies and common parts, but you may need to purchase:

Specialty items:

• Specific paint colors (we can’t match without a sample)
• Custom parts for unique fixtures
• Specialty materials you’ve selected

If unsure: Ask when scheduling! We can often pick up needed items on the way, or advise you what to have ready.

Day of the Visit

The Morning of Your Appointment

• Confirm work areas are accessible: Do a final check
• Secure pets: Keep them safe and out of the way
• Check your list: Make sure you haven’t forgotten anything
• Gather keys: If we need access to locked areas

When We Arrive

Be available for a walk-through: We’ll want to see each item on your list, ask questions, and confirm priorities. This usually takes 10-15 minutes.

Point out any quirks:

• “This door sticks when it’s humid”
• “The water shut-off valve is tricky”
• “That outlet hasn’t worked in years”

Discuss timeline preferences: Let us know if certain rooms need to be finished by a specific time (e.g., you need the bathroom back by 3 PM).

During the Work

You Don’t Need to Hover

We’ve got this! You can:

• Work from home in another room
• Run errands (if you’re comfortable)
• Go about your normal routine

When to check in:

• If we have questions (we’ll find you)
• When we’ve completed each major item
• If you hear something unexpected (we’ll explain what’s happening)

Questions Are Welcome

Don’t hesitate to ask:

• “Why are you doing it that way?”
• “Will this fix it permanently?”
• “What should I watch for in the future?”

We’re happy to explain our approach and help you understand your home better.

Unexpected Discoveries

Sometimes we find issues that weren’t on the list:

• “Your shut-off valve is failing—you’ll need that replaced soon”
• “This wall has water damage behind it”
• “Your electrical outlet isn’t grounded”

We’ll always:

• Show you the problem
• Explain why it matters
• Give you options
• Get approval before expanding scope

After the Work

Walk Through Together

We’ll show you:

• Each completed item
• How to maintain or use it
• Any limitations or care instructions
• Items we couldn’t complete and why

Ask Questions

Now’s the time to clarify:

• “How long should this last?”
• “What maintenance does it need?”
• “When should I call if there’s a problem?”

Keep Your List

Note what was completed and any follow-up items. This helps for:

• Future reference
• Warranty purposes
• Next appointment planning

Special Situations

Working from Home

Let us know:

• If you’ll be on calls (we’ll work quietly)
• Which rooms to avoid during certain times
• Best times for noisy work (drilling, hammering)

Kids at Home

• Identify off-limits areas for safety
• Keep children away from work zones
• Let us know about nap times for quiet work

Rental Properties

If you’re a landlord:

• Provide tenant contact info
• Confirm access arrangements
• Specify what tenant needs to prepare
• Clarify approval process for additional work

What We Bring

You don’t need to supply:

• Basic tools and equipment
• Common fasteners, screws, nails
• Floor and furniture protection
• Cleaning supplies for our mess
• Standard materials for minor repairs

What You Might Need to Provide

• Specialty parts for your specific fixtures
• Paint in your chosen colors
• Materials for large projects (we’ll specify)
• Access to water and electricity
• Parking information for street parking areas

Red Flags to Address Before We Arrive

Let us know ahead of time if:

• Access is tricky: Gated community, building codes, parking limitations
• Pets have special needs: Aggressive dog, cat that darts out doors
• Health concerns: Chemical sensitivities, recent illness in home
• Prior repair attempts: What’s been tried and why it didn’t work

Maximizing Your Investment

To get the most value:

1. Bundle tasks: Multiple small repairs in one visit is efficient
2. Be decisive: Having materials picked out speeds things up
3. Clear communication: Describe problems accurately when booking
4. Prepare properly: Less time moving furniture = more time fixing things

Our Promise

We’ll arrive:

• On time (or call if running late)
• With appropriate tools and basic supplies
• Ready to work efficiently
• Committed to leaving your home clean

Want to schedule a visit? Contact us with your initial list, and we’ll help you prepare for a productive appointment. We’re always happy to answer questions before we arrive.