/ BLOG

5 Customer Service Tips for Handyman Businesses

Nov 16, 2022 · 5 minutes to read

Customer service is important, no matter which industry you’re working in. Being a handyman or handywoman is no exception! Customer service can make or break your small business, turning excellent experiences into more paid work, a steady income, and continued growth.

Two carpenters fitting a kitchen

But what does ‘handyman customer service’ really mean? Whether you’re new to the field or have been helping homeowners for years, there may be steps you can take to make your customers even happier with your services. These five handyman tips will help show you how to do this:

1. Make customer service a priority

Going the extra mile for your customers can set you apart from the competition. Exceeding their expectations not only makes them happy but could lead to valuable word-of-mouth referrals and positive online reviews.

Small steps can help you provide excellent customer service. Replying to calls and emails in a timely manner and arriving on time or calling ahead if you’ll be delayed sets the right tone from the start. When you’re in a customer’s home, continue acting professionally—avoid taking personal calls, remove dirty boots on carpeting, and leave their home cleaner than when you arrived.

Once a job is complete, consider following up with the customer a few days or a week later. This is a great opportunity to check that they are still happy with the work you did, possibly line up future projects, or ask for a review or referral.

Recommended reading: How to Win Your Customers’ Loyalty as a Handyman

2. Become an estimate writing pro

Homeowners typically contact several handymen to compare prices. Providing them with an estimate as close to the final price as possible could help you win jobs, even if your prices aren’t the lowest in town.

A formal estimate might not be necessary for every customer. If a homeowner has a few small jobs to be done around the house, you may be able to quote a standard hourly rate. However, larger projects might require a written estimate. You’ll need to consider the cost of materials, your labor, business overhead, and markup to ensure the job will be profitable for you.

Accurate and detailed estimates help sell you as a pro—you know exactly what work goes into a project, how long it should take, and the skills necessary to get it done right the first time. While some homeowners may still go with a cheaper handyman, others will appreciate your expertise and hire you for the job.

3. Learn new skills

Handymen are expected to have a broad range of home repair and maintenance skills. While you might occasionally need to refer customers to a general contractor or specialty tradesperson, ideally, you want to keep as much business for yourself as possible.

Learning new skills allows you to offer more services to customers. They’ll appreciate the convenience of calling one person to take care of repairs and odd jobs around the house. Skills you might consider adding to your skillset include cabinet making, appliance repairs, and basic landscaping.

4. Put your business online

The internet is a huge part of people’s lives. It’s where most people now look for tradespeople, including handymen. If they can’t find your business online, it’s unlikely they’ll find it at all.

Building an online presence is crucial for many small businesses. This generally starts with a website and listing your business on search engines, such as Google. You can also create business profiles on social media sites and even advertise your handyman business across the web.

There are many user-friendly apps that can help you create a professional-looking website and ads. However, you might consider hiring a marketing assistant or web designer to help you create and maintain your online presence.

5. Partner with other businesses

Many homeowners look for recommendations from their trusted tradesmen. Networking with other contractors in your area could lead to referrals for your business. For example, a customer might ask their gardener if they know a handyman who can repair parts of their fencing. The gardener could recommend you for the job.

You might also partner with businesses outside of building and construction. Real estate agents and HOA presidents can be good sources for referrals, as they often know people needing to fix up their properties.

Is your handyman business protected?

Another handyman tip you might consider—buying business insurance. Handyman insurance, such as a General Liability policy or tool coverage, shield your small business against everyday risks like third-party property damage and equipment failure.

Compare handyman insurance with BizInsure and get covered in minutes. Your policy documents will even arrive instantly in your inbox. Start comparing quotes now.

As with any insurance, coverage will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained on this web page is general only and should not be relied upon as advice.The number of quotes provided varies between products, occupations and other underwriting factors determined by the insurers.
© Copyright 2022 BizInsure LLC, 2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BizInsure LLC; CA DBA: Simple, Smart, BizInsure Insurance Agency LLC; NY DBA: BizInsure Services LLC; NH DBA: Simple, Smart, BizInsure Insurance Agency; PA DBA: BizInsure Services LLC. 2950 Buskirk Ave Suite 300, Walnut Creek, CA 94597. License #0H81929

Let's find

The coverage you need for your business

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance

Get a quote

General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance

Get a quote

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Get a quote

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance

Get a quote

Let's find

The coverage you need for your business

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance

Get a quote

General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance

Get a quote

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Get a quote

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance

Get a quote

Good professional services. quick and simple easy steps for an insurance quote for my business. Thank Biz Insurance
I called today a bit unsure, but once I spoke with Andrea, she guided me through the entire process with patience and clarity. She also pointed me in the direction of other helpful services. A+ experience!
BizInsure is the Best. Not only was Andrea informative, she was professional, and spot on! Give them a call you will not be disappointed!
Easy to use, called in advance so I was not late on renewal.
I called 3-4 companies. Bizinsure / Andrea knew exactly what I needed! She guided me through the process and was very informative. Give them a call you won’t be disappointed!
My representative Andrea was great ! She was informative, personable and made me feel comfortable. I called at least 4-5 companies and by far Bizinsure was the best!
Great
Excellent customer service
Very easy process! Very reasonably priced! Will be using them going forward!
very easy to access and obtain the coverage that you need
You guys make things so easy for your consumers. THANK YOU!!!
Very easy, simple to use and straight forward
The process was very easy and my company is now covered.
Alessandro helped me and he was so kind. It was my first time getting business insurance and it was a very good rate, so helpful too!
Easy to work with and thorough with what is being requested and provided.
Excellent experience with Shantana on all the occasions we had the pleasure to speak with a rep.
Straight to the point. Very easy and convenient
A Company that is easy to deal with and that I have used for several years. I appreciate the continued support.
Super easy and detailed
This company is excellent! They provided my business with General and Professional liability. Something that no other company could provide at a good price. BizInsure covered me and the rate is Unbeatable. I will continue to use them for all my business insurance needs.
Alex was very helpful answering all my questions. I am very happy that he will be my contact person , if I should have any other questions. Thank you to Alex
Bizinsure is an exceptional company. The customer service is excellent. The receptionists are very knowledgeable. The insurance agents are very professional.
I use this for my Business and its easy to navigate and start





    This will close in 0 seconds