Mounting & Shelving Tips from Tasker Mayra P. – The Tasker Blog
Tasker Mayra P. knows what it means to build a business from scratch on Taskrabbit. When she was starting out as one of New York City’s first Taskers in 2012, she primarily did Personal Assistant and Photography tasks. Upon realizing she could make even more money doing Mounting tasks, however, she sought out to learn this skill, get new tasks in the category, and increase her tasking revenue.
Ten years later, Mayra is one of our star Mounting Taskers! She recently shared her top Mounting tips at our December 2022 Global Tasker All Hands. Watch the video below, or read on for more tips!
1. Confirm all task details in chat upfront
Knowing and confirming all your task details ahead of time will always help set you up for success in the Mounting category. This is especially true when you consider that you have to transport hardware, tools, and equipment from task to task. (More on this below!)
If you have a task-time minimum, Mayra recommends stating this upfront in your pitch and in chat so that clients are always on the same page. Similarly, you’ll want to scope all task details ahead of time so that 1) you come prepared for the task and 2) you don’t have new tasks sprung on you—sometimes in different categories that you have different rates for—in the middle of a task. According to Mayra, this happens most often when a client books Furniture Assembly and then needs a follow-up Mounting task done.
Occasionally, clients have moved locations without updating their address. Once they select you for a task, Mayra recommends confirming all details in the chat thread by specifically stating: “Thanks for choosing me, I’ll be available at [DATE] and [TIME] at [ADDRESS]. Can you please confirm this address is correct?”
Logging this information in the chat thread will ensure there’s a record of everything you and your client have agreed on, including any items you plan to expense.
2. Decide if you’re a backpack Tasker or a vehicle Tasker
Many Taskers in big cities like New York don’t own vehicles; they rely on public transportation to get from task to task. Mayra likes to call these people “backpack Taskers,” because they have to carry in a backpack or bag all the hardware, tools, and other equipment necessary to complete their tasks.
If you’re a backpack Tasker in the Mounting category, you’ll always want to carry the following items with you:
- Wall anchors. You’ll want at least 5 to 10 of each type, in multiple sizes (small and large). You may need more than this—plus some extras—if you know you’re mounting a large number of items (like picture frames, for example). Finally, Mayra recommends you have enough of the same type of anchor. This will ensure that all items requiring anchors align perfectly.
- Toggle bolts. Make sure to have both metal and plastic variations.
- Molly bolts. Along with small toggle bolts, these are great for walls with a small space between plaster and drywall and concrete or cinder block.
- Screws, hooks, nails, a mini hammer, and a drill. All these peripherals are necessary if you want to use the above anchors and bolts.
- Drill bits—including a black oxide drill bit. You’ll need all the common bit sizes, and black oxide bits will help you easily drill through metal studs in newer buildings.
- Tubed spackle and a putty knife. You’ll want these in case you need to patch up any wall holes.
- Needle nose pliers. You’ll need these to pull out wall anchors if necessary.
Do keep track of what pieces of hardware you’re using, as they can be expensed back to the client. Just be clear in the chat thread about everything you plan to expense.
3. Always search out the nearest hardware store
Mayra also recommends searching out the nearest hardware store before you start your Mounting task. This might seem unnecessary if you’re carrying all your hardware in a backpack, but if your client has an unforeseen need that requires a new tool—or you realize you forgot a particular piece of equipment—it will save you time in the middle of your task to know exactly where to go.
Remember: If you come prepared but a client has a last-minute adjustment that requires you to go to a hardware store, you can bill for this time. Just be sure to confirm the trip and any expensable items in the chat thread. Conversely, if you accidentally forget a tool or piece of hardware and need to make an emergency trip to the store, this time would not be billable. “If you’re not prepared for the task after already knowing what the scope was, you can’t bill because you weren’t prepared,” Mayra explains. “This is all the more reason to make sure you scope the task thoroughly and arrive 100% ready!”
4. Always triple check your work before drilling, and be prepared for changes
When you’re drilling into a client’s wall, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake.
“Before you drill, it’s essential that you double (or triple) check your measurements and drill location,” Mayra says. This means making sure that you’re indeed drilling into the proper stud or at a location that won’t interfere with water pipes, electrical work, or even brick that may be underneath the wall.
“Also, clients sometimes want one thing and then change their minds,” Mayra explains further. “This might mean you have to repair walls where you first drilled a hole.” This is where carrying a tube of spackle and a putty knife can save the day.
Finally, Mayra recommends yet again to log any changes to the original mounting plan in the chat thread, and have the client agree to them. “Always take ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos, and add them to the chat as well. It’s best to cover all bases so there’s a clear record of what occurred during the task. That way, if you ever need to contact support, you can immediately share the photos, along with a screenshot of the task details, including the date, time, and address.”
5. Have a ladder available
If you’re a backpack Tasker in the city, chances are you’re not going to be lugging a ladder around. Since Mounting tasks often require one, however, Mayra recommends arranging it ahead of time with your client.
As she puts it: “Sometimes, clients can buy a ladder ahead of time or arrange with their doorman to have one brought up to their space.”
Yet again, it all gets down to scoping the task thoroughly—and looking around corners to know what you need to plan for.
6. Arrange for assistance if needed—always ahead of time
When you’re lifting a heavy TV, shelf, or picture frame, you’re going to need assistance. Whether it’s your client or another Tasker they’ve hired to help with the job, Mayra recommends that you always arrange this ahead of time.
“Taskers can’t expense for extra help,” she says. “The only extra people at a task should be other Taskers hired by the client—ones who close out the task on their end. It should never be someone who isn’t a Tasker. Be mindful of this when scheduling any Mounting task!”
7. Increase your job requests with these two tricks…
“Sometimes on Taskrabbit, you can have steady work for weeks, and then suddenly it slows down,” Mayra says. If this happens, she recommends that you try the following approaches to help increase your task invitations:
- Expand your map. While this can add more commute time, it’s a great way to reach a wider client pool and gain repeat tasks.
- Activate Same Day tasks. This can quickly help you get new tasks scheduled instead of waiting to schedule other tasks with clients in advance. And with each new client comes new opportunities for repeat work!
We’re thrilled to have Taskers like Mayra on our platform, because they show just how powerful it can be for entrepreneurs venturing out on their own. Whether you’re a seasoned Tasker or just starting out, Mounting tasks are plentiful and can quickly give you a leg up in building your business and gaining the professional freedom you’ve always dreamed of.
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