The debate that has been going on for decades. And will continue to rage between management and maintenance techs for years to come. Should the company pay for a maintenance tech’s tools? Yes they should! Now, before you feel like putting my head in a vice let me explain.

Does anyone ask the office staff to pay for the computers they need to get their job done? How about the scanners, printers, paper, pens, and fax machines? Nope, they sure don’t. That’s all paid for by the company. Yea but Lex, computers, printers, and fax machines cost thousands of dollars. Well, so do tools! 

But, I will say that a tech should buy basic hand tools like wrenches, a hammer, screwdrivers, and a tool bag with his or her own money. When they ask you at a job interview if you have tools and you say no. That doesn’t look good. I mean, you’re applying for a handyman job for Pete’s sake. You better have some tools! But, if I break a screwdriver while working on the company’s equipment, I expect the company to pay for a replacement. It broke while working on your stuff! 

In my opinion though, a tech is responsible to show up with basic hand tools bought with his or her own money. You shouldn’t expect the management company to pay for those. That’s like a female that works in the office asking for the company to pay for her make-up and hygiene products she uses to look professional at work.

Good tools are expensive and can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. If the management company wants quality work then they must provide quality equipment and tools. Period!

I personally like to buy my own tools. I have built a nice arsenal of tools by saving my cash and slowly building my tool collection throughout the years. I just don’t like sharing. I like knowing a tool is going to be there when I need it. And it will always be there sitting in the back of my truck. Plus, there’s guys out there that don’t treat tools bought for them the same way they’d treat tools that they paid for themselves. So public tools become raggedy pretty quick. And some tools grow legs and walk off the property. Keeping inventory should be a monthly habit or your business is going to lose thousands of dollars. 

Owning your own tools cuts out the drama as well. If I’m working on the weekend and need a certain tool, only to find out that a co-worker took it for the weekend to use on his side job, then there’s going to be drama and conflict come Monday morning!  Also, I like to own my own tools because I can take them with me if I decide to leave a company due to not being treated right. They’ll feel the wrath after I’m gone and know the value my tools and I provided to them when the work order box starts overflowing. 

Conclusion

Owning great tools shows that you’re bringing value to a company. When I list my tools at a job interview, the person that’s interviewing me knows that I’m serious and will be providing a lot of value for them. I wish more companies would focus on the value that a person provides. Not the length of time that person has worked there. Someone that has no interest in learning more skills and providing more value should not be making more money than someone who does just because they’ve worked there longer. We should be paid by our value not by the length of time put in at a company. Encourage people to chase knowledge and skills. Not time put in.

Well, there you have it! That’s my 2 cents. Yes, a company should buy all the tools requested and needed so their maintenance staff can do their job efficiently.

 

 

Related Topics:

Going On Call As An Apartment Maintenance Technician – Link

Good HVAC Tools For Apartment Maintenance Techs – Link

The Maintenance Man Myth – Link

How To Have A Successful Student Housing Turn Season – Link

How To Get Into The Apartment Business – Link

How To Deal With A Goodbye Talker – Link

 

Lex Vance the creator of Dirty Maintenance Nation is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.