Build Your Vacation Rental Team | Hiring Airbnb Handymen

Running a vacation rental business is rarely a one-man operation and most often requires a team of staff that take responsibility for different tasks, such as cleaning, maintenance and repairs. While you don’t necessarily have to employ full-time staff for the different tasks, unless you own that many units that it will make sense for you to do that, you do need to make sure that the people you hire are good at their job, professional and can be relied on. A handyman constitutes an essential member of this team, taking responsibility for minor repairs, preventive maintenance, larger issues that need fixing or even renovations like making your vacation rental accessible to people with disabilities.

Why Hire An Airbnb Handyman?

Your vacation rental property is a long-term investment, generating revenue for you for years to come, so it is essential you take good care of your property if you want to keep reaping the benefits of your investment. The services of a qualified handyman will help you do just that. Here are reasons why you should hire a handyman.

Keep Guests Happy

Broken air conditioning, wobbly furniture and leaky pipes lead to unhappy guests, and keeping your guests happy is the key to the success of your vacation rental business. A handyman can not only repair broken items and fix issues in your property, but also engage in preventive maintenance, like making sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working.

Run Your Vacation Rental Efficiently

You don’t want to be in a position where you’re forced to cancel bookings at the last minute because your property keeps falling apart in places. To keep your vacation rental business running smoothly you need to keep your property well-maintained. A qualified handyman will not only correct any issues that come up but also prevent most issues from happening in the first place through preventive measures allowing you to run your business efficiently.

Save Money & Time

You may be tempted to try your hand at taking care of repairs yourself, but unless you know what you are doing it is more than likely that you will make things worse. Even if it seems like you fixed it at first, it is likely to keep causing trouble down the road, leading to a higher cost of repair and many more upset guests and more bad reviews. It also saves you time, which you can use to focus on the things you do best while the handyman takes care of what he is best qualified to do.

Increase The Value Of Your Property

Hiring a qualified handyman to take good care of your property ensures it retains and increases in value. In the long run, this will add to you being able to charge a higher nightly rate from guests.

How To Find A Qualified Airbnb Handyman

There are a number of tried and tested ways to go about finding a qualified handyman for your property. You can use one or more of the following options to find yourself a great handyman.

Word Of Mouth

A referral is probably the best way to find yourself a qualified handyman. Ask friends and family. Ask other property managers you know. Take the time to ask them for details, like what they didn’t like about the handyman they recommended to gain a full picture. You can also join a host community or local community on Facebook and post the question. Expect to get a lot of recommendations.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a digital marketplace where users can buy, sell and trade items and services. It is a great place to find listings of handyman services, however be prepared to scroll through a lot of other listings to find what you are looking for. Facebook Marketplace is also easy to navigate and you can contact potential handymen directly through the app without having to use your personal contact information.

Angi

Previously known as Angie’s List, Angi allows you to book home (interior and exterior) services, request project quotes, and research local professionals and pricing, for free. Professionals pay to advertise services on Angi and quite often offer discount offers. Angi Certified providers are required to maintain an average review rating of at least 3 stars; the business owner or principal must pass background check; and the business must maintain all applicable state and local licenses.

Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a social media app that connects people, businesses, non-profits, public agencies and brands based on the neighborhood they are located in. All members must verify their identity and address before joining a group and joining in discussions. Referrals to service providers are common and welcome. Just keep in mind that Nextdoor also allows sponsored posts so some listings may not be completely unbiased.

Craigslist

Craigslist is the online version of the classifieds. Despite being the punchline of many jokes, it is still going strong. Search for ‘handyman services’ and you will get a list of handymen offering their services in your area. The best thing about Craigslist is how basic and easy it is. The worst? Anyone can advertise so you can never be completely sure about who you may be letting into your property.

How To Hire A Qualified Airbnb Handyman

Making sure the handyman you hire is not only qualified but suits your work process and environment can be a challenge. Here are some tips to do just that.

Conduct An Interview

Once you’ve shortlisted a few prospective handymen, interview them, on the phone or in person, at your property. Important questions to cover to include:

• Are you licensed?
• How much experience do you have? What kind of experience do you have?
• Can you provide references of past clients?
• Do you provide a written estimate before you take the job on?
• Do you have liability insurance?
• What is your pricing structure?

Try to get a sense of how they view their work and what they are like to work with.

Try Them Out First

You can always try them out first with a small project that is not too complicated to get a real sense of how they work before deciding on continuing your relationship with them in the long-term.

Key Takeaway

Neglecting property maintenance is considered one of the 5 worst mistakes you can make as a vacation rental operator. Hiring a qualified handyman is a crucial element in ensuring your property is well-maintained and your business is flourishing.