Why planning pays off

A handyman visit is most useful when it covers everything on your list in one trip. That is especially true in South Gippsland, where homes are spread across towns, hills and farms. A little planning before you ask for a quote means the right materials are on the van, the time is estimated properly and nothing is forgotten.

Walk the house with a notepad

Go room by room, then walk around the outside. Write down anything that sticks, rattles, leaks, wobbles, drags, is cracked or is missing. Common items people forget:

• The laundry door that does not latch
• A loose towel rail in the second bathroom
• The flyscreen torn by the dog
• The cupboard hinge under the sink
• The gate that has to be lifted to close
• The downpipe that has come away from the wall
• The cracked cornice in the hallway

One line per job

Write each job on its own line, with the room. For example:

• Hallway: cornice crack above front door, about 1 m
• Main bedroom: wardrobe sliding door off its track
• Bathroom: shower silicone mouldy, redo
• Back yard: three palings loose near the shed
• Lounge: mount 65 inch TV on brick wall, bracket already bought

That format makes it easy to quote each item and for you to choose what goes ahead.

Photos that help

Take one photo showing the whole area and one close-up of the problem. For a TV or shelving job, a photo of the wall and any nearby power points helps. For fences and decks, stand back so the full length is visible.

Measurements

Rough measurements save time: length of a fence run, size of a flyscreen, width of a door, size of a deck, height of a gutter. A tape measure and a phone are all you need.

Materials

Tell us whether you have bought the brackets, furniture, rails, blinds or paint. If not, we can supply them, and the quote will say so.

Access

Tell us about locked gates, dogs, livestock, steep driveways, tenants or keys. For holiday houses or rentals, give the contact details for whoever will let us in.

Jobs for licensed trades

If your list includes electrical, plumbing, gas, structural, roofing at height or tree work, we will tell you so you can book the right trade.

Send it through

Use the quote form. We reply by email with questions or an itemised quote.