When a cabinet door falls off while you have guests coming over or the blinds aren’t ready for a new renter to move in tomorrow, a same day handyman in Burnaby will be more than just convenient – they’ll be a time-saving solution to fix a problem quickly so you don’t spend all day trying to find someone to do it.
While using same-day service isn’t necessarily an emergency (every repair doesn’t need to be treated like one), it’s primarily meant to reduce the amount of time between recognizing you have a problem and having it fixed. While a single repair might take 30 minutes to complete, coordinating that work with others could potentially take up to 72 hours. That’s where many of the headaches occur.
When a Burnaby same day handyman makes sense
Some tasks are relatively simple, yet they have a major impact on how things function. For example, a faulty door may impair both the security and private nature of a room. Also, loose parts will continue to deteriorate as they are used repeatedly, with resulting damages. As well, unfinished mounting, patchwork repairs, and assembly work may hinder a relocation, an inspection, or the daily activities of employees at a place of business.
When all of these factors come together – a very straightforward job, one that is urgent for timing, and one where the scope of the job is easily defined – same day handyman services would be a good fit. The jobs listed above (minor drywall repair, assembling furniture, hanging TV’s, installing shelves, installing curtain rods, applying caulk, adjusting doors, replacing hardware, etc.) do not typically need weeks of advance planning; special permits from local authorities; nor multiple trips to visit the property.
As well, same day handyman services make sense when the cost of lost productivity due to delays is greater than the cost of the actual handyman service itself.
What same-day really means
While same-day service appears easy enough to define, there are many variables involved. Most commonly, this means the contractor will evaluate your problem, set an appointment, go to your home and finish the repair all before the end of the business day. It doesn’t have to mean he arrives at your home within one hour.
Many other factors determine how long it takes for the contractor to arrive. The first is what kind of project you are hiring him to do. A simple job where the contractor has all the necessary details is going to be much simpler to fit into his busy schedule than a vague complaint about something being wrong that isn’t clearly defined until he inspects the area. Another factor is access. Many times contractors are unable to park near your home. Sometimes buildings have restrictive policies regarding entry. When you have people occupying your rental property that require time to secure your belongings prior to allowing us access, our window of opportunity is reduced as well. Finally, we need to consider the availability of tools or parts. Some projects require special hinges, anchors, fillers, etc. These items may not be readily available so we may need to take a trip to purchase them prior to completing the work.
This does not necessarily indicate bad or unreliable contractors. It simply indicates that reputable contractors base their estimates on accurate assumptions rather than guesswork.
The jobs that get done fastest
What most fast same day services have in common? They are all easy to verify prior to coming. If you can write down your problem in one or two simple sentences then it will be easier for you to get good customer service.
Installing a shelf onto drywall where there are studs is an example. Other examples include re-securing a towel rack that was previously loose, fixing an interior door to make sure it closes properly, or closing a gap around a bathtub. Any type of small repairs/installations (like putting together a pre-boxed desk) are examples of this. These types of problems are great since they are independent and don’t rely on hidden variables.
On the other hand, water damage, electrical issues, mold concerns, structural issues, etc. that may require a local building code compliance typically need to follow a different route. Although a handyman may be able to assist with the visible portion of the repair after the root cause has been resolved; not all emergency problems qualify as a “same day” handyman type of problem.
How to book without wasting time
If you require immediate assistance from an appliance service technician, then providing detailed information in your initial email to us will be the quickest way for us to assist you with your problem. For example, sending an email stating only “I have several items I would like repaired” may delay our ability to address your problems; whereas, providing more specific detail as follows, “I have a refrigerator that has broken, the stove’s burner won’t light and the dryer makes no noise”, will allow us to assess each situation immediately.
Including photos with your initial email may also assist with those issues which visually present the problem. Providing dimensions (length x width) of the area where the issue exists may be helpful. For example, if you are requesting a television mounting, please advise of the television’s screen size and type of wall (drywall, brick etc.) if known. When a door does not close properly, provide additional detail such as: Is the door rubbing at the top? Does it stick at the latch? Or is it pulling along the floor?
Providing this level of detail can significantly shorten the communication process and eliminate unnecessary back-and-forth, ultimately reducing the overall time required to complete the booking. Those companies/individuals who are focused on efficient completion of tasks can create more accurate schedules knowing exactly what to expect upon arrival.
If you are responsible for maintaining a rental property, office space, storefront or any other Strata related units, providing access information can be equally important as identifying the necessary repairs. Access information includes but is not limited to: entry codes, loading restrictions, parking instructions and onsite contact personnel.
Cost depends on more than urgency
The idea that “same-day” always equals premium pricing is very common. In some cases, providers will charge extra for rush appointments; however, most of the higher costs come from labor time, complexity, travel and materials used for the repair.
For example, a single 20 minute hardware fix booked on the same day as the service call may have a moderate price tag. A multi task appointment involving complex walls, missing parts, etc., could possibly cost just as much (if not more) than had you scheduled this appointment for the next two days. Therefore, urgency is only one factor when determining the total price of your repair.
The importance of transparency in your pricing model is directly related to how clearly you frame your job. If a provider is willing to explain exactly what he/she believes can be completed during one visit versus what may need follow up work, then it’s likely a positive sign. This typically indicates that the contractor has thoughtfully planned the scope of their work and isn’t going to say yes to every request and sort through it all after hours.
Why local responsiveness matters in Burnaby
Burnaby’s combination of newer condo buildings and older single family home and smaller commercial areas will define how same day service will be delivered. There will be different requirements to deliver services within a similar timeframe. For instance, working in condominiums can involve dealing with elevators (if they exist), booking windows, and rules for accessing common space. Older houses can have characteristics such as uneven walls, old hardware sizes, and patchwork fixes from previous tradespeople. Smaller commercial locations require work to occur while allowing customer use by employees during normal operating hours.
Therefore, a company that offers local same day service throughout the greater metropolitan area of Vancouver will generally be better suited to understanding these logistical issues. A service provider that operates locally will understand that a “quick fix” in one location does not always translate into a “quick fix” in another. Additionally, customers do not desire an extended sales process. Customers would like to have an estimated start window of their service delivery, an accurate definition of the service to be performed, and completion of the service.
This is why a service-based approach is so important over marketing hype. When there is a defined project, time is a factor, and the primary focus is completing the needed task(s) quickly and efficiently without prolonging the process, a service-based organization such as QuickHand will meet your needs best.
How to tell if a provider is actually built for same-day work
Not all handymen services will do turn-around with speed. Some will mostly bid on larger project and only bid small projects if they have a gap in their schedule to fit them in. Other handymen services are structured around providing good, timely dispatch and smaller, higher needed repairs.
It’s easy to determine which one you’re dealing with based on communication. If they seem to focus in on your problem and answer questions related to it; if they quickly agree upon the scope of work; and if they provide you with a realistic timeline for completion (as opposed to making a generic statement) those are indicators of a good “same day” service. On the other hand, if you find booking to be difficult or they don’t seem to know what type of service you’ll receive until after they arrive at your home, that would indicate that “same day” service isn’t really their business model.
Another indicator is whether or not the person understands that there are trade-offs. There is nothing wrong with being able to say, “yes, I can come to your house and fix this today,” however, there should also be an ability to say, “no, this requires a specialist,” or, “I can fix the leaky faucet, but since it was a matching color, I may not be able to perfectly match the finish…you’ll need to bring it back.” This helps save everyone time as you both now have the correct expectations before someone arrives at your home.
Preparing for the visit
A bit of planning will speed up the work process. Take care of clearing space around the area if possible. Secure your pets. Allow for another person to let the handyman in. If this is a task that requires items you’ve purchased (e.g., new handles, brackets, etc.), store these with other items related to the project.
You should list every single task on your short list when scheduling the visit. Combining several smaller projects and having the handyman complete all of them at once could be more time-efficient than calling out individually. Be truthful about your list. You can manage three simple tasks at one time. Managing seven vaguely described tasks could cause what was initially going to be a same-day handyman appointment, to be converted into an estimate appointment.
The best way to utilize “same day” service by a handyman, is when the issue is visually evident, easily accessible and able to begin immediately.
Same-day handyman services do not eliminate your daily troubles. Same-day handyman services simply limit how much trouble you have with small issues by keeping those minor problems from consuming your schedule.