The best handyman visits are the ones where the list is clear, the materials are on board and nothing is left until “next time”. Whether you live in a Traralgon townhouse or on acreage in Tyers, a bit of preparation means more gets done in less time. Here’s how to plan it.

Keep a running list

Most people remember their jobs one at a time: the bathroom cupboard door that drops, the flyscreen the cat went through, the gate that won’t latch. Keep a note on your phone or a list on the fridge, and add to it whenever something comes up. When the list has a few items, it’s time to book.

Do a room-by-room check

Before sending the list, walk through the house, then around the outside. Look for:

• Doors, windows, drawers and gates that stick or don’t latch
• Loose handles, hinges, towel rails and handrails
• Cracks and holes in walls and ceilings
• Mouldy silicone and cracked grout
• Torn flyscreens and seals
• Overflowing gutters and loose downpipes
• Fence palings, posts and gates
• Things waiting to be hung, mounted or assembled

Photograph each job

Take a wide photo showing where the job is and a close-up of the problem. For doors, photograph both sides and the hinges. For walls, include something for scale. For fences and gates, show the posts. Good photos help us quote accurately and bring the right parts.

Measure where it matters

• Blinds and curtain rods: window width and height, and whether they mount inside or outside the frame
• Replacement doors: height, width and thickness
• Shelves: length and what they’ll hold
• TVs: screen size, weight and wall type
• Flyscreens: frame sizes

Have materials ready

If you’ve chosen a particular tap-ware accessory, towel rail, handle or blind, buy it before the visit or send us the details. Find leftover paint, tiles or timber from the build; matching is much easier with the originals.

Know which jobs need a licence

In Victoria, electrical, plumbing, gas and structural building work must be done by licensed or registered practitioners, and asbestos must be handled by licensed removalists. We’ll point out items on your list that need another trade.

Plan access

Tell us who will be home or how to get in, where to park, and about pets, alarms, gates and livestock. For rentals, tell us how to contact the tenant.

Prioritise

If budget or time is limited, put safety items first (loose rails, trip hazards, broken locks), then items that cause damage if left (leaks into walls, failed silicone, overflowing gutters), then the rest.

Send it through

Use our free quote form, list each item on its own line and attach or reply with photos. We’ll reply by email with an itemised quote.