Sheet 04 · Process
How it works.
What happens after you get in touch, step by step, and who does what at each one. Plus straight answers to the questions people ask most.
01The process
Five steps. No mystery.
The same order whether it’s a single faucet or a full maintenance visit.
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01 / 05
You tell us what needs fixing.
YouSend the request form or email us. Add photos if you can, and anything you already know: when it started, what you’ve tried, the make or model.
MKRead it properly and work out what else we need to know. One clear question now saves a wasted trip later.
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02 / 05
We reply with questions or a plan.
YouAnswer anything we ask. Sometimes that’s a closer photo; sometimes it’s a model number or a measurement.
MKReply by email. Some jobs can be priced from photos. Others need a short look in person first. We’ll tell you which, and why.
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03 / 05
We agree the scope, the price and a time.
YouSay yes, ask questions, or change the list. Nothing is booked until you’re happy with it.
MKConfirm in writing what we’ll do, what it costs and when we’ll arrive, so there’s nothing to remember or argue about later.
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04 / 05
We do the work.
YouBe there, or arrange access. If you’re a landlord, we can arrange it with your tenant.
MKProtect floors and furniture, then get on with the job. If we find something unexpected, we stop and explain before going any further.
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05 / 05
We tidy up and show you.
YouLook it over. If something isn’t right, tell us. That’s what the walkthrough is for.
MKClean up, walk you through what was done, and mention anything else we noticed. If you weren’t home, you get photos and a short written summary.
02Until we get there
Keep it from getting worse.
Some problems can sit for a week. Some shouldn’t be left alone overnight. Here’s how to hold the line between your request and our visit. Not fixed, just not worse.
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PLB
Leak under a sinkDo this now
Turn the shutoff valves under the sink clockwise until they stop, put a bowl underneath, and empty the cabinet so it can dry out.
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PLB
Toilet that won’t stop runningDo this now
Turn the valve on the wall behind the toilet clockwise to stop the water. Turn it back on when you need to flush.
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PLB
Water coming through a ceilingDo this now
Put a bucket under it, move furniture and electronics out of the way, and shut off the water to whatever is above. If the ceiling is sagging, stay out of the room. Don’t touch lights or outlets near the water.
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FLR
Cracked tile or grout in a showerDo this now
Use another shower if you have one. Water getting behind tile does more damage than the crack itself.
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CRP
Loose handrailDo this now
Don’t lean on it, and put a strip of tape or a note on it so visitors don’t either.
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EXT
Gutter overflowing or pulled looseDo this now
Stay off the ladder. Move anything sitting where the water is landing, and leave the rest to us.
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DOR
Door that sticks or won’t latchCan wait
Close it gently rather than forcing it. If it’s an outside door that won’t lock, mention that in your request.
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WAL
Hole in the drywallCan wait
Nothing. It’s waited this long; it can wait a few more days.
Smell gas? Leave the building, then call 911 or your gas utility from outside. That’s not a job for us, or for waiting.
Booking
Probably not. Small jobs are what we’re set up for. If it’s a quick fix, it’s worth checking whether anything else is on the list, so one visit covers more.
Yes, and it’s usually the most efficient way to work. Send the whole list. We’ll plan the visit around it and bring the parts we can predict we’ll need.
Photos (one from a step back, one up close), the make or model of anything involved, when the problem started, and your ZIP code so we can confirm we can get to you. The request form prompts you for all of it.
We work in Virginia and Florida. Put your ZIP code in the request (the form asks for it) and we’ll confirm whether we can get to you before anything else happens.
Use the request form and choose “It’s causing damage or a safety problem now”, or email info@mkrepairco.com with “Urgent” in the subject line. While you wait, Keep it from getting worse shows what to do for the common problems. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.
On the day
Not always. For many jobs you can arrange access and we’ll send photos when we’re done. If there are choices to make on the day, like exact positions for shelves or grab bars, it helps if you’re there.
Yes. Send us the tenant’s contact details and we’ll arrange access with them directly, keeping you copied. You get a summary and photos when the job is done.
Yes: shops, offices, studios and clinics. We plan visits around your opening hours so the work doesn’t get in the way of customers.
We stop and tell you. Nothing outside the agreed scope happens without your say-so, and you can always choose to leave it for another visit.
Pricing & materials
Per job, once we understand it. Sometimes that’s from photos, sometimes after a short look in person. Either way, you have the price before any work starts.
For most repairs, yes. We bring common parts and pick up anything specific to your job. For improvements, you’re welcome to choose your own fixtures; send us the links before you buy and we’ll check they’ll work with what’s there.
Often, but not always, especially with older or discontinued materials. We’ll show you the closest options we can find before we start, and tell you honestly how close they are.
Scope
Work that needs a specialist trade license or an engineer:
- Gas lines and gas appliances
- Electrical panels, new circuits and rewiring
- HVAC systems and refrigerant
- Water heaters and sewer lines
- Roofing
- Structural work, including load-bearing walls and deck framing
- Mold and asbestos removal
If your job turns out to be one of these, we’ll tell you plainly.
No. We do repairs, maintenance and small improvements that fit within a room as it is. If your project involves moving walls, plumbing or wiring, it’s a job for a renovation contractor.
Next step
Got a list? Send it over.
One job or twelve. Tell us what needs fixing and we’ll come back with questions or a plan.