If you own apartments, offices, or have an investment property or two and in which you have paying renters, then there will always be some property maintenance that needs to be done. Whether it’s done while the people are still living there or they have just moved out and you need to fix a few things before the new tenants shift in, you should have a handyman scheduled to do these jobs for you.
Fast Fix
It’s common knowledge that something that needs fixing, if not attended to quickly, will definitely get worse. That, of course, means it will cost a lot more money. So, as they say, taking care of business as soon as possible might mean a lower cost. Whether the handyman is a permanent employee depends entirely on the number of properties you own. A block of flats and a couple of houses could mean almost full – time employment. That’s a serious overhead you need to consider in your running costs.
All Rounder
Most tradies don’t necessarily just specialise in their one trade. You will find that a trades-person can turn their hand at most basic repair jobs – a bit of plumbing, some carpentry, a splash of paint, and basic electrical work. There is always some minor repair work needed while tenants are in residence and definitely after they have left – so, in between tenants.
Licensed Work
The real problem will occur if your handyman doesn’t have the necessary licences to do certain plumbing work and electrical work. Signing off on electrical work is a government requirement and protects you as a landlord as well as protecting your tenants from any electrical hazards. The same goes for plumbing. You’ve heard the term ‘licensed plumber’ and ‘licensed electrician’ for a good reason. Building regulations require it and so will your handyman if the work is of a more complex nature.
Odd Jobs
Usually the work involved is almost the same as you would encounter in your own home during daily living. Door knobs, scratches, repair and painting walls, changing out light globes, replacing batteries, repairs to some electrical appliances, tightening screws, oiling hinges, cleaning gutters, sweeping the yard, and removing rubbish are regular chores that a professional handyman is easily able to do. When tenants are moving in and out, you as the owner just call in your handyman to take a look at the property and do all the things that need to be done in preparation for a new tenant.
Larger Jobs
Not all tenants are created equal, nor do they behave the same and that can mean some fairly large repair and refurbishment jobs. In all fairness to the tenants, accidents also happen. Large jobs like carpet replacement, door replacement and even a remodelling job on the kitchen or bathroom may require to be done. Obviously, the security deposit you got from the tenant will pay for deliberate damage, but you still need a repair guy to fix it all.
Seasonal and Scheduled
Seasonal property maintenance is another job for the professional handyman. This can include periodical exterior painting washing windows and changing batteries in smoke alarms.
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