Small business owners have a lot on their minds. Property maintenance might not always be a top priority, even if they own their work premises. A rattling air conditioner may not seem like a problem until it stops working on the hottest day of the year. The same goes for a few loose tiles that later cause a customer to trip and fall or clogged pipes that flood the kitchen.
That’s where your handyman services could come to the rescue. Busy business owners can hire you to help them stay on top of all those small property maintenance jobs before they cause them real grief.
Here are five handyman tips for helping other small business owners keep their shops, offices, and commercial properties in excellent shape.
1. Create a maintenance schedule
Catching problems early might help your customers save money. A maintenance schedule could help you stay on top of small issues and help prevent big emergencies. For example, regularly cleaning a building’s gutters could prevent flooding or leaks that are more expensive to fix.
A property maintenance schedule will usually include jobs that must be done on a regular basis. These may be monthly, quarterly, or yearly projects such as:
- Cleaning gutters
- Clearing pipes
- Waterproofing windows and doors
- Waxing floors
- Checking smoke detectors
- Landscaping
However, you can also schedule regular walkthroughs of a property to catch small jobs as they appear. This may include minor things like changing lightbulbs or replacing tiles. So instead of visiting your customer’s business several times a week, you may be able to ‘bundle’ jobs into one or two visits a month.
2. Encourage simplicity
Every business wants to stand out from the crowd. Many business owners carry this idea over to their workplace, decorating their premises with eye-catching fixtures and trimmings. But while fancy interior and exterior design might look nice, it could be a pain to maintain.
Encouraging your customers to decorate more simply could make their property maintenance easier and cheaper. For example, a custom lighting fixture is fine, so long as it uses standard sized bulbs that can be easily purchased at any hardware store. Landscaping can dress up a shop’s entrance but making it too complicated could require more upkeep than a simpler design.
3. Sell them on automation
Automated systems can make property maintenance a breeze for you and the business owner. Investing in ‘set it and forget it’ systems may be more expensive at the outset, but they generally require less maintenance going forward. This often makes them a money saver for businesses on a budget.
Your customers might consider buying:
- Tamper-resistant fire alarms with long battery lives
- Solar lights for pathways
- Automatic lights near back entrances
- Programmable thermostats
4. Partner with other tradespeople
You may be a jack of all trades, but there are probably projects that are beyond your skills as a handyman. Partnering with other tradespeople could help you get your customers the help they need if you’re unable to do the work yourself.
Working with skilled plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and other tradespeople in your area could benefit you and your business customers. If a project arises that is too big or technical for you to complete, you can suggest a trusted person who can get the job done (perhaps with your assistance). Your customers will likely appreciate your recommendation and ability to quickly solve their problems.
5. Document your work
As a skilled handyman, you likely take pride in the work you do for your customers. Documenting large projects can provide you with before and after examples to show potential new clients.
Documenting your work could also come in handy at tax time. Some work may be tax deductible for the business owner, and they might ask you for photos to help back up your invoices. These photos might also come in handy if your business is ever audited by the IRS.
Handyman Tips for Small Business Property Maintenance
Offering your handyman skills to business owners in need of property maintenance could be a great way to grow your business. You’ll be providing them with much-needed assistance, so they can focus on running their business instead of everyday maintenance issues.
Here’s another tip: Handyman insurance could help you protect your growing business. Learn more about handyman insurance and contractor insurance for small business owners.
