You know to bring the basics when you're called in for a repair job on a manufactured home. But extras like bellyboard tape, a mat, and plumbing supplies can make your life as a repair professional much easier (while also making your customers happier).
Let's face it, repair calls don't always go as planned. You show up for a job and realize the problem isn't what you initially thought. Or you find more issues with the manufactured home than the owner expected. Or, perhaps, most embarrassing of all, you get to a job site and realize you're missing a key tool or piece of equipment.
Chuck Thomas, Director of Contracting at Style Crest, breaks down the unexpected and must-have items every handyperson or manufactured home repair professional needs to bring with them to every job. These items will help you get the job done correctly the first time while earning your customers' trust and respect.
If there's one thing every repair professional who works on manufactured homes needs to have with them, all the time, every time, it's bellyboard tape. The bellyboard, or underbelly, is the plastic sheeting beneath the home that holds the insulation in place and keeps the elements out of the home.
"I get calls weekly because the floor is buckling, and 99% of the time it's because the underbelly is cut. Heat's transferring into the house and moisture gets trapped in the subfloor, which buckles the floors," Thomas said. Bellyboard tape fixes the problem.
"A lot of repair pros don't have it on their truck," Thomas continued. "They may try to use duct tape to fix the problem, and that'll start peeling within a week. Bellyboard tape is made from a specific type of fabric that matches the material used on the underbelly." It provides a permanent repair and won't peel like duct tape.
A homeowner gives you a call, complaining about a leak. Usually, it's a quick fix, but you need to have the right gear on hand to fix it. Since plumbing fittings for manufactured homes are often different than those used for site-built homes, you can't just make a quick trip to a big box store to get anything you may be missing, so it pays to be prepared. Thomas recommends always having a wax toilet ring on hand, as that's usually the quickest and most effective way to solve a leaky toilet.
It's also a good move to keep a few hot water line connections in your truck, as those often drip and leak and can cause more damage to a home if not fixed quickly. Style Crest has a large selection of plumbing parts and supplies made for manufactured homes, so you can always have the fittings and connections you need to stop leaks before they cause excessive damage.
Whether you're fixing the underbelly or repairing skirting, a house call to a manufactured home may find you in the crawlspace.
The last thing you want is to walk back into a person's home, covered in mud and leaves. Thomas recommends having a coverall or boiler suit to wear when you've got to go under the home. "You zip into the coverall, crawl underneath the house and when you get out, you zip out of it. And now you're not all full of mud and dirt," he said.
Speaking of dirt, you probably don't want to bring your smartphone under someone's home. A real flashlight, ideally one with rechargeable batteries and that's made for use in damp spaces, is a must. Actually, make that two flashlights, since you don't want to be left in the dark if your light goes out.
Skirting issues are one of the most common reasons for a service call, so as a repair pro, it makes sense to have all the skirting repair supplies you might need to fix a minor issue on the spot, on your truck. That includes extra panels, trim pieces and ground channel.
It's the small details that count, and that keep you from having to head back to a customer's home to make a fix. From sealants for windows and doors to a wide range of screws, keep the tools and hardware you need to finish a job on your truck at all times.
Thomas recommends having some electrical supplies handy, too, like cover plates for switches and receptacles. Another must-have is a staple gun for quick repairs.
When you get a call to do a repair in someone's home, you're visiting their home. And it pays to treat it with respect. That's why Thomas recommends going above and beyond to keep their home clean and to leave it in better condition than you found it.
Keep a mat on your truck, which you can roll out from the front door to the work area, so you don't track debris onto the homeowner's floor. He also recommends having a stash of disposable booties, to cover your work boots when you enter someone's home. It's also a good idea to keep a spray bottle of multi-purpose cleaner, plus a stash of clean rags handy, to wipe up any smudges or fingerprints that may get left behind.
Do you want to have to spend time looking for an outlet in someone's home? Or carefully threading an extension cord through a house, taking care not to create a trip hazard or knock into the homeowner's possessions? Cordless tools are a lifesaver for repair pros. Just make sure to keep them charged, so they're ready to go when you are.
Homes are full of surprises, so it pays to be prepared for anything they might throw your way, from a muddy crawlspace to leaky pipes to damaged skirting. Having everything you might need on your truck already, means you get each job done more quickly, and with fewer rescheduled visits. That's good news for your customers and can lead to more calls (and more referrals) for you.
Since the gear needed for manufactured home repairs is usually unique, it pays to know where to get, and to have a single source for all the materials and equipment you could need. Style Crest specializes in manufactured homes, so you can place one order and get what the tools and supplies you need to stand out among competitors.
Repair pros who work on manufactured homes should focus on skirting materials, such as trims and replacement panels, and the tools needed to perform a skirting repair. Underbelly or bellyboard tape is another must-have for manufactured home repairs.
Have a place for everything and keep everything in its place in your truck. Divide the parts and supplies into sections, such as one section for plumbing fixtures, one for skirting materials and one for entryway materials. Sort fasteners by type, so you don't have to sift through hundreds of tiny screws looking for the perfect one.