How to Prepare Your Home for a Handyman Visit
A practical pre-visit checklist covering access, parking, materials, furniture, pets, utilities and decisions, so a handyman can work efficiently on the day.
The quality of a handyman visit depends partly on what happens before the person arrives. A cleared space, bought materials and clear decisions turn an hour of searching and waiting into an hour of work, which you are paying for either way. Use the checklist below the evening before.
Space and access
- Clear the work area. Move furniture, rugs and ornaments at least a metre away from the wall, window or door being worked on. If the job is in a bathroom, take out toiletries.
- Clear the route. Hallways and stairs should be free of bikes, bags and boxes, particularly for flat-pack deliveries or large items.
- Protect valuables. Move fragile or precious items to another room. Drilling creates vibration and dust.
- Cover what cannot move. Dust sheets are helpful. A good handyman brings some, but it is courteous to have old sheets or towels ready.
- Open boxes. For flat-pack, remove outer packaging in the room where the item will be built, then check the contents.
Parking and arrival
Tell the handyman where to park. In many UK streets, resident permits, time limits or congestion charges make a difference. If parking costs money, agree who pays beforehand. For flats, give the entry code, floor and buzzer name. If there is no lift, mention it, since carrying heavy items may take longer.
Materials and decisions
- Have the items on site. Shelves, brackets, tap fittings, blinds and curtain poles should be in the house, not still to be ordered. See who pays for materials if you are unsure who is buying what.
- Check parts. Count screws and panels in flat-pack, read the packing list and flag anything missing.
- Decide positions. Mark shelf heights, mirror positions and TV height with a pencil or masking tape. Standing in the room for five minutes before the visit saves repeated "a bit higher, no, lower" adjustments.
- Settle colours and finishes. White or clear silicone, brass or chrome handles, matt or gloss paint.
Utilities and safety
- Know where the water stopcock and the consumer unit are, and show them to the handyman if the job involves either. A stopcock matters most when a plumbing fault turns urgent, so find it before you need it.
- Ensure there is power for tools in the room, or tell the handyman if sockets are not working.
- Switch off appliances or move them if they are in the way.
- Tell the handyman about anything you know is hidden: pipes, cables, an old repair or damp patch. See checking for pipes and cables before drilling.
People and pets
- Keep children and pets in another room. Tools, open toolboxes and small fixings are hazards.
- If you work from home, warn the handyman about calls and noise limits, or agree quiet periods.
- If you are not going to be home, only leave someone alone in your house if you are comfortable with the arrangement and have chosen carefully. Many people prefer to be present, at least at the start and end.
Communication
- Share your phone number or confirm that messages are the best way to reach you.
- Agree the time window and what to do if either side is running late.
- Decide who has authority to approve changes if you are not there.
- Keep your job list to hand and mark priorities.
On the day
Be present at the start to walk through the list, point out anything you want protected and confirm the price. Be available for questions, but do not hover; handymen work faster when they are left to get on with it. At the end, do a walk-around together before they leave. Check the work against your list, check the room is tidy and ask about any aftercare, such as sealant curing times.
After the visit
- Take photos of the finished work for your records.
- Keep any receipts or notes about product names (for example, the paint or silicone used).
- Pay as agreed, and leave a review if the platform allows it.
- Note the next jobs for your future list.
On Compito, you can message your provider before the visit about all of this, accept the offer, pay online and leave a review after the booking is complete.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be home?
Not always, but it is usually best at the start to confirm the job and at the end to inspect the work. If you cannot be home, make sure access arrangements and instructions are clear and written down.
Should I offer drinks and use of the toilet?
It is a courtesy, not a requirement. Most handymen appreciate a glass of water and access to a toilet on longer visits.
What if I realise I forgot something?
Message the handyman as soon as possible. A small addition can usually be handled, but agree the price before they do it.