Running rental properties? Need someone to haul away junk and to clean between move-ins? Having trouble finding a person to do the job?
There is a new and innovative mobile-based app to quickly help connect you with the right people to do these chores for you.
Dubbed the “Uber for small jobs and chores,” the Takl app helps you to tackle household chores, lessons and small jobs. The app’s founder, Willis Johnson, got the idea when he visited New York City and rode an Uber. It was on that trip where he had a lightbulb moment and came up with a ‘program for handymen that only did small jobs under two hours, under $400, but could show up like Uber.’
Seems like there are a lot of those kind of jobs when you are running rental properties.
What is Takl?
Primarily the Takl app targets professionals, seniors, stay-at-home and working parents. Rental property owners can definitely benefit too, though.
Takl aims to provide convenience. With just a tap on your smartphone, you can get any job done in an instant at a reasonable price. For $400 or less, you can expect the provider to reach your home in less than an hour and get the work done as soon as possible. The best part is that all chores are pre-priced and pre-defined so both parties know what to expect.
Since you are paying Takl instead of a contractor, you won’t have to mess with all the 1099 paperwork at the end of the year either.
Takl partners you with service providers, the ones who tackle the chores for you. All providers are professionals and must undergo extensive background checks before they are set to handle tasks. The app originally launched and operated solely in Nashville in the summer of 2016 but the company has a bigger vision to expand across America in the year 2017.
With the rising demand for Takl, the app now provides services to different cities and states such as Chattanooga, Tennessee; Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Tampa and Miami, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Los Angeles, California.
A List of Takl’s Services
Users are presented with thousands of small jobs such as cleaning kitchens, washing cars, hauling junk and furniture, mowing lawns, cleaning out gutters, assembling furniture, teaching someone to download software, or even helping someone write a resume. The list goes on and on, and the possibilities are endless.
There are 13 main categories to help you started. Each of these categories has sub-categories with a ton of tasks to choose from, such as:
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Auto, Boat & Cycle
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Electronics & Tech
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Handyman
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Haul Away
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Home Management
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Housekeeping
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Miscellaneous
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Move
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Music
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Pets & Animals
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Seasonal
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Sports & Fitness
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Yard
It’s all about providing services for the small chores nobody wants to do, and getting it done fast at a reasonable price.
Some of the services are completely unnecessary for a landlord (music?). However, Takl has a referral program called Takl Cash that may allow your tenants to take advantage of the wider range of services.
If you recommend Takl to someone else and they use it, they will receive 10% off their chore and you will receive $3 per recommendation. Three bucks ain’t a lot of money, but you can be seen as a landlord who cares about your tenants. In addition, if you have a lot of rental units it could add up.
How Does Takl Work?
Since most people these days have used Uber or Lyft, then it won’t be hard for you to navigate Takl. Its sleek and minimalist design makes it user-friendly and easy to use.
The first step is to download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
You then create a Takl account and pick a chore. You either type the chore on the search bar or select from featured categories. Then Takl will select a provider from the list.
In the app, you see the price for the chore you picked. The next step is to type in your address, if it’s the first time using the app. And then you will have an option to save it to your account and add a location title.
The next step is to choose when the provider comes. You can either have them perform the task now or at a certain date or time. If you chose to complete the task ASAP, then the service provider will arrive at your house in the next hour.
You will then be requested to upload detailed photos of the pending job as it helps the provider know exactly how and what to prepare.
The final step would be entering your credit card information. The amount will not be charged until the job is completed. But before pressing the submit button, be sure to enter the promo code C2A74 to get 10% off of your first Takl task.
And while your provider is tackling your chore, there is also a feature called “While You’re At It” where you can add more chores while the provider is still in your house.
Pros and Cons
The pros: it can be relatively inexpensive compared to hiring help yourself. You can also ensure that the providers are thoroughly screened and checked. And it can get your chores done within the day or whenever you like. In addition, Takl can help you with almost any chore you can think of.
Like everything else, it also has cons. As of now, Takl is not widely available just yet. Only in some parts in the U.S., as mentioned above. But the company is doing everything they can to make Takl available in all states. It is also relatively more expensive than doing it yourself or asking a friend to do it for you. Maybe you have worked out a sweet deal with a handyman to cover all your properties. Then this might not be the app for you.
It will make your handyman happier if they don’t have to go to your rental units for very small jobs.
Have you used Takl?
Tell us about your experience with the app in the comments below.
Check Out Takl - If you live where Takl is available, be sure to check it out at least once. It will come in handy in the future.
Determine If You Really Need to Hire Someone for a Certain Task - It is unarguable that doing the chores on your own is less expensive. So before you use the app, try doing the chore yourself. It might save you a couple of bucks.
Choose Your Provider Wisely - After submitting your chore, you will be presented with a list of providers within the vicinity. Usually, the app shows three to six available providers. You will be able to see their name, photo, star rating, bio and distance from your location. Compare each available provider and choose the one you like.