What do I do if a client is unhappy with my work?
It’s a situation every tradesperson dreads: your client isn’t happy with the result of your hard work. Mistakes and misunderstandings…
The tools you work with are an essential part of your business and likely one of the biggest investments you’ve made to get yourself up and running. Damaging a tool or having equipment stolen is at best an inconvenience and at worst a blocker to trading (which could even present reputational risk) – in many cases, you simply can’t do your job without the right equipment to hand. It would be fair to say that keeping the tools of your trade safe and sound is crucial to your income.
So how do you make sure they’re properly protected? Here are our top tips to help keep your tools safe from theft and damage.
1 – Invest in a secure storage
If you want to avoid your tools getting stolen, then it’s a good idea to keep them somewhere safe. Using a sturdy, lockable toolbox or storage cabinet can be a great option. It’s also worth considering storage that is tamper-proof or has an integrated alarm system too to give you added security and peace of mind.
2 – Keep it discreet
Investing in secure storage with all the bells and whistles is all well and good, but if you put it somewhere obvious, you may be attracting thieves! So, it’s important to make sure that your tool storage is kept somewhere discreet.
3 – Install Alarms and CCTV
Once you have the position for your storage sorted, it’s worth installing alarms and CCTV into these areas. If a theft does occur, these can provide crucial evidence but just the sight of them can serve as a deterrent.
4 – Use tracking devices and smart locks
For your most valuable tools, it’s worth taking your approach up a notch! Why not consider using Bluetooth or GPS trackers on those items you can’t work without. It’s also worth making sure that your tool storage has smart locks that notify you when any of them have been accessed.
5 – Look after your tools
Make sure you are aware of and follow the best practices for tool safety, proper handling, storage, and vigilance against potential theft. If you are working with others who also use your tools, make sure they are up to speed too – you could even put documented procedures in place to ensure that protocol is followed consistently.
6 – Make your mark
Want to make your tools and equipment less attractive to thieves? Add a unique identifier, such as engraving or UV marking. Marking your tools also makes them easier to spot on a worksite or recover if they are stolen too.
7 – Keep a Detailed Inventory
If you don’t know what you’ve got, it makes it harder to know when it’s gone astray. It’s essential to keep a list of all your tools, including their brand, model, serial numbers and what you paid for it. Having this list will be crucial to keep track of any equipment that goes missing and is essential for insurance purposes, especially if your policy provides ‘new for old’ replacements.
8 – Insure your tools
You’ve likely got insurance for your van, but do you have it for your other tools? It’s important to make sure everything you have on site is covered by insurance, and that you pick a policy that will cover the full value of your equipment. We would strongly recommend considering a package that provides ‘new for old’ replacements for tools and goods that are damaged or stolen.
Our trade professions policies typically combine Public Liability insurance, Good and Tools cover and Employers’ Liability as standard for complete peace of mind all in one place. Plus, you can add additional cover on such as Contract Works, Hired in Plant, Owned Plant, and Professional Indemnity.
9 – Check your safety measures
Regularly assess your storage, positioning and any additional safety measures you have in place to ensure everything is in good working order and nothing needs upgrading or replacing.
10 – Stay Alert
Be on the lookout for suspicious activity, especially on job sites. If you see any behavior that raises an eyebrow, it’s probably worth reporting it to your site manager and to local authorities.
By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of losing your valuable tools to theft or damage and avoid the significant work disruption and financial burden of replacing them by having adequate insurance in place.
Get a quote for our Trades insurance today via our online quote and buy.
