Broken furnaces, leaking
roofs, and busted pipes…sooner or later we all
need to call a professional. You might think there isn’t
much to it. They come, they fix, you pay. But forming a good
relationship with your repairman (even if it only lasts for
an hour) is more import than you might realize. Just consider
what your repairman will decide:
1. How long will this repair
take?
2. If parts are needed, will he have them or order them.
3. Will he rush part orders?
4. Could you get by with a cheap fix?
5. If the repairman has to return, how long will it take?
These are just a few things that could make your life more
difficult, if you’re dealing with an irate repairman.
It’s not that you should walk on eggshells around them,
but your attitude will certainly have an impact on how they
deal with you. On top of all that, following certain etiquette
can make his job easier. This could turn a two-hour job into
an hour-long job…cutting your labor costs in half.
Conversation
Limit your conversation to what’s relevant to the job…at
least until the job is finished. This is especially true when
you’re paying by the hour. It might seem natural to talk
about weather or other things while the repairman works. But
even simple questions could turn into trouble. Imagine asking
someone “how’s business” and getting a fifteen
minute answer. Some people can’t talk and work at the
same time, and you might be paying $2 for each minute.
Once you’ve got a copy of the work order, with the start
and stop times listed, then you can engage in small talk (if
the repair man seems willing). Remember that he may have a busy
schedule planned for the day.
Food and Drink
Some people can’t help being hospitable. They feel this
sudden urge to open a buffet the second anyone comes near the
house. For long jobs, it’s OK to offer him a drink while
he works. For shorter ones (less than two hours) wait until
he’s finished and give him a ‘take home cup’.
If you have someone (or even a whole crew of people) there the
whole day, there’s nothing wrong with offering some sandwiches
for lunch. But wait until lunchtime. It’s worthy to note
here that offering a good lunch can dramatically motivate a
crew of workers. You might even get a few freebies out of them
– “Oh, I had one of the guys clean your gutters
while we were working on your roof.”
I Don’t Understand
Yes it’s true: if you have no technical aptitude, it could
be easy for a repairman to take advantage of you. There’s
nothing wrong with asking questions while he explains his estimate.
If you don’t understand, ask him to explain it in laymen’s
terms. If he can’t put it simply, then ask him to show
you or get someone who can explain it better.
Most repairmen will show you parts they had replaced. If yours
doesn’t, ask to see it and compare it with the new one.
Know-it-All’s
Let the guy do his job. The more you try to help, the longer
it’s going to take him…and the more it’s going
to cost you. If you doubt the repairman’s competence,
then get a second opinion or ask the company to send out someone
else. Remember that repairmen all have their own ways of doing
things, and it might not be what you’re used to. At the
most, ask them if there’s anything you can do to make
their job easier.
Information
If your repairman has to diagnose a problem, give him all the
relevant information. Don’t hold ANYTHING back. Some people
are afraid to mention that they had fooled with something and
may have broken it. The repairman isn’t there to pass
judgment on anyone…just to fix the problem. A smidgen
of information could cut his diagnosis time in half.
Not Compatible
If you really think that your repairman won’t work out,
then ask the company to replace him or call another company.
Be honest with yourself. Do you often have such problems? If
so, you might want to reexamine how you deal with repairmen.
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