Buffer Time Between Handyman Jobs: How Much Is Enough
Every Day Has Friction
Traffic, a job that runs fifteen minutes long, a quick stop for a missing fitting. With no buffer, the last customer always waits.
A Starting Rule
Leave about 15 minutes between jobs in the same neighborhood and 30 minutes when crossing town. Adjust from there.
Measure It
Compare clocked hours to job hours for a few weeks. The difference is your real buffer. If it's huge, routes need work. If it's tiny and techs are always late, add buffer.
Use Buffer Well
A van that finishes early can pull a short job from the waiting list nearby. That's where a map of waiting work pays off.
Tell Customers the Truth
Windows instead of exact times absorb buffer naturally. "Between 1 and 3" is kinder to everyone than "1:15".
Keep Reading
Next in this series: Choosing Handyman Scheduling Software: What to Check. Before that came Tracking Why Handyman Jobs Get Canceled. For the full picture, go back to the handyman scheduling software overview.
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