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Was wondering if any of you guys offer a Handy Man Service. I have been
thinking of offering this service along with our electrical, plumbing &
hvac service, the reason being is we get a lot of requests for small
types of home repairs when were doing service repairs in homes.
alot of contractors in my area dont want to do small jobs and the
home owners have no one to turn to. we do alot of service work in
home developments in my area and the home owners are looking for this
type of service, my queston is this a good thing or is it going to
come back and bite me in the butt ???? was just wondering if any one
else offers this service??? like to hear the pros & cons…
Thanks, The ToolDoc
Replies
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I do, booking nightmare if you want to fill your dance-card.
*A friend of mine does it for a company that has 160 apartments.. gets $500 a week for 25 hours. anything over 25 hours he gets $25 an hour.. I wouldn't like it. Most big landlords have full time crews. Most of the time he can keep on top of it on 25 hours. Turn over time is in the summer and that is when he works more that 25 hours.. I have done handyman work when things get slow but that has been seldom in the last few years..Sometimes you can't charge enough to make it worth your while.
*Here's a site with good info on running a handyman business. Of course they want to sell you something but it's still good info.Click on the handyman link at the left.http://www.hometechonline.com/handyman/
*I know one individual who's retired, heck of a wood worker and also does handyman work - he seems to focus on older clients. Don't believe he makes great "wages", but he enjoys it and certainly provides a needed service. Randy
*ToolDoc,Somewhere I have an column I tore out ofi Remodelingmagazine (I think that's the name) that discusses the idea of a Handy-man business. What I mostly remember off of the top of my head is:> $80.00 an hour.His point was that it takes $80.00 an hour to make it work. Also, if you are able to perform a large variety of tasks in one visit, then you are worth $80.00 an hour (saving the costs of minimum charges from several trades).But how do you get $80.00 an hour? Charge by the job with the understanding that circumstances may require higher charges.The interesting thing (since you are a plumber) is that most of the Handy-man business I get is plumbing...new kitchen faucets, fix the toilet, etc. You've probably got a nice price list already for those jobs.The carpenty end gets more difficult. You can have set prices for hanging a door, weatherstripping, installing a lockset, but a lot of the carpentry handy-man jobs I get don't fall into a neat category, like a broken door jamb. To justify the $80.00 per hour, you have to work efficiently. And you've got to carry a lot of tools and supplies. Runs to the hardware store are killers.Can you do well at it? I think so, but it takes highly skilled (and highly paid) employees.The problem of keeping your dance card filled is real. I would think with the right marketing you could overcome that.Rich Beckman
*I know a guy who offers this service. He does everything from framing additions to putting in a faucet. Hes busy 7 days a week 360 a year. He isnt cheap. He charges quite a bit especially for finish carpentry work and building cabs ect. Most of what he does is T&M. Doesnt advertise or even have a sign on his truck ( Heck I dont think he even has business cards). Its all by word of mouth.
*Doc,I think it's a viable business to enter if you do the work. I think it would be difficult to manage it if you hired a crew.I've done some of this work, overcharged and felt semi-bad about it, but mostly for me it was uninteresting work so if I'm gonna be bored, I may as well make it worth my time so I can sit back here and amaze myself with Breaktime later!
*A lot of what is in the "Small tasks take BIG amounts of time" thread in the Business folder is applicable here.Rich Beckman
*I get the feeling that we're all working off a different page when we think about "handyman" and the initial context of "small jobs". A lot of handyman work is changing lightbulbs, replacing passage sets, and filling in deep scratches in trim: you can't get decent money for it; and, if you book tight it only takes one delay to kill your appointments; but, if you book loosely, then you can't make any money.What I really hate are the folks who want a written estimate for a 1-hour job.
*Used to live in a condo and the neighborhood handyman was a retired guy who put flyers in our mailboxes and worked when someone called. Seemed to be enjoying the freedon (able to take time off whenever he stops answering the phone), and being retired he didn't need to stress about the 'slow' times. Gave me something to think about for myself in, oh, about 25 years.Seemed like it would be pretty tough to raise a family like that. Maybe only fun after you don't need it to eat.
*Handyman work is what I do. I fix and repair items needed with an occasional bathroom remodel, electrical service upgrade or tile job thrown in for good measure. I charge $40 an hour for T&M and typically end up a little better on bid jobs. I don't bid small jobs, just tell them I work things like that T&M. I am insured, bonded and licensed. I am clean and drive a nice work truck and clean up after myself. I don't over schedule so I am there on time. I am not getting rich but am booked 3 to 6 weeks out most of the time. I haven't advertised yet and at this point believe I can hire someone else full time next year. We'll see. DanT
*I did quite a bit of this, I wasn't trying to get handyman work but seemed to get called for it quite a bit.All the work I got in this area came from a couple of very upscale housing developements, mostly homes in the 500's and higher.The lady of the house would have a list of small repairs she needed done from changing hardware on kitchen cabinets to adding another clothes rod to a closet or changing lightbulbs on some security lights.I billed hourly and sometimes spent a morning going from task to task on the list, sometimes a couple of days. The frustrating part was that I live and work in a pretty rural area and wasn't very close to any suppliers. A 5 minute job replacing a faucet washer could take an hour and a half getting the washer. And being well equiped to do construction means your work truck is poorly equiped for handyman work.
*Tried doing handyman stuff when I first started and it killed me. Folks in my area wouldn't pay more than $25 an hour and some of the things you had to do were just not worth it.Plus I ran into a lot of bandage repairs where folks would want to pay you small change to "just make something good enough" since they didn't want to pay to fix it the right way. There is just no way to "fix" a rotten door jamb with putty and caulking!Too frustrating, too much headache...too little money. Just my experience and opinion of course.Mike
*I am right now involved in a job that is filling the time before my next project begins. It began as a small 'handyman' type job and has progressed into a full kitchen gut. The owners spoke with 3 others contractors before me--none wanted it. I'm making some good money ($2K/wk)on this one and there's more work to come at a later date.I have gained the owner's trust and they have already passed my name to at least 6 other homeowners in need for a contractor. Basically, they have pre-qualified my next customers for me and I don't have to advertise or face an open bid. In fact, once you get established you may not ever again be face with having to provide a competitive bid. They'll just say, "Do it".There is definitely a niche market. And it's only going to get better. I quit doing this a couple of years ago because I got too busy. Of course, not all that 'busy' pays.This type of operations is very sensitive to runaway overhead--multiple trips to the hardware store, owner being difficult, slow to pay, etc--so it is more critical than in wholehouse building market to watch it.Also, don't let the Realtors run you all over town on your dime as they look to you for a freebie on the promise of work to come.Another downside is the amount of tools you'll have to carry. Do what I did and keep your truck clean. Organize tools by trade into different tool boxes and stow them in your shop (garage?) until needed. No sense in carrying a set of wood chisels to a shower door job.And when the sun is out you go goof off.
*0r buy a bigger truck LOL. I bought a 1 ton cut van cut away with a Spartan box on it. It has compartment doors on the side like a utility body and a box over the whole thing. 12' long and you can stand up in it. I carry everything and some misc material for small jobs. Fasteners, washers, basic fittings etc. Rich is right though you can't carry it all. Ditto on the realtors. I tell them that I bill from the moment I start the truck. I don't do that with my normal customers but this way the realtors think prior to calling me. In my area there are a few other guys that do handyman work but most of them like doing larger jobs if possible, so they get tied up and can't do small work. And the few that are cheap but few want them in their homes. I cater to the upper middle class working couples and I have a number of widows and single proffessional women too. The item I really sell is trust. I can do good work in a number of areas. If I can't I say so. I sub roof work and have a friend who is a union electrician that is laid off some so I use him once in awhile when I need help or want to sub a job. But I only use guys I am sure of in terms of theft, manners and cleanliness. And I take them where they are going to work and introduce them first. Comfort with me and my company I believe is why I can charge 40 vs 25 and hour. DanT
*I was waiting in line at a supply house and a woman asked to cut in front. She said her handyman was charging $50 per hour and she had to get the supplies back to him right away. (The guy had called in his order and she was picking it up.) I found that people did not appreciate that you were carrying your entire tool inventory with you to work on their problem. One guy complained that he did not like my hourly rate. I explained that I only made so much per hour but my tools rented for the rest. If he wanted to go rent all of the tools I needed I would be happy to work for less money. He thought for a minute and agreed to my price.
*Handyman service, in my limited exerience, can only make money in a few areas. There's no money in trying to do somebody a favor by doing something cheaply. And alot of people will want you to find a cheap way to do something...run away.Realtors are the worst for this. They want cheap, not good. And they want it so cheap that it's usually impossible. don't fall into the trap of trying to do without the necessary materials to do it right because instead of them spending the money on the right materials, you'll be spending your time to do it the hard way.I kept my truck stocked with the usual construction tools and had a large plumbing tool box, a large plumbing parts box (wax rings, pieces of pipe, flushvalves, etc.), a medium electrical tools box, a large electrical supplies box (wire nuts, outlets, boxes, cable clamps, staples, etc.), and a painting cart. I'd put whatever I needed in my truck for the day.Drives to the hardware store killed me. I'd scope out all the work on the days list and try to anticipate materials to get all at once but still usually needed three trips during the day.And if you remind them a couple of times politely that they're paying you by the hour, they will get out of your way and work around your schedule alot better.
*Ryan has some good points. Much of the hassle can be circumvented by dealing with the property owners directly. A long time ago I did try to please everyone. I lost money just getting out of bed. (I don't mean I didn't make as much as I thought I would, I mean I lost money.)Then I figured that I'm just as worthy as anyone else...and should be compensated for it. This new attitude turned the tables. I walk away from cheap. And I just did the first open bid in over five years.But strictly in regards to the rich market of handyman, that owner who has had it up to here with that leaky faucet is not going to want cheap. That is why you should avoid the agents like the plague. Two things to keep in mind: you don't do cheap and you don't work for free.To substantiate that you must offer a tangible service above and beyond your construction knowledge. I know it sounds like the Boy Scout pledge, but your customers will value you alot more if you instill a sense of honesty and trust in them. If you are successful in this you will most likely never have to advertise again.The word about a trustworthy person spreads faster then wildfire. That is a sad commentary on today's standards but that's a different story.
*My original company name had "remodeling and repair" in it. I did as much or more repair as I did remodeling.Rich and Daniel T. have hit the nail squarley on the head. Although I no longer do this full time for a living, I have a good second income from both remodeling and repair.One of the luxuries of it being a second source of income is that in that situation where you get an overbearing or pushy client, I can politely turn them down. The other nice thing is that I also get to "chery pick" my jobs. I only take what I know I can make money at, and do it on my schedule. Over the past 17 years I could have worked every night and weekend( at least it feels that way sometimes).I do wish this forum had been around 28 years ago. Maybe the advice I would have gotten would have saved me from some of the school of hard knocks that I had to learn at.
*Interesting thread. As I have mentioned I do work for realtors. I do the same quality work and charge the same rate realtor or not. The main reason they call me is I get it done and give honest advice. I know most of them have a cheaper handyman that they use too but I still get a fair share of business from them. As far as the issues Ryan C. brought up, I go to the job make a list then go to the supply house or wherever for parts. I charge for that time too. There is no way I can anticipate having every piece and I am not working for free. I also of course mark up all parts and material. If I have it on the truck then all well and good but if not I bill for the time. I have never had a complaint with this policy and I am very up front with my pricing. DanT
*Danial T is doing EXACTLY what I'm aiming to do. My goals are to charge by the hour (with a minimum charge) and be EXTREMELY reliable. I'll fill in my down time with quoted jobs and being a sub-contractor. I'm very curious as to what you would charge. I was thinking $35.00 an hour with a minimum of $50.00. Do you give customer's an idea as to how much something will cost? Would you quote t & m not to exceed? How much do you mark up materials....20%? Thanks! jocobe
*jocobe,I charge a minimum fee of two hours for scheduled work. I explain this this before I accept a job. If it is an emergency repair that I get called on, the minimum is four hours. In both cases the customer is then charged at an hourly rate if the time exceeds the minimum. I also give quotes for scheduled work and include a hidden damage escape clause for both the customer and myself. This gives the customer a chance to stop the job if it is suddenly going to go above what they can afford. It also allows me to continue the job at a hourly rate beyond my qouted price. The key to this agreement is trust and explainigeach phase of the job as I proceed.Now that said, I have rarley used this part of the contract. Most of the time "hidden damage" can be anticipated from prior experience with repair work.By the way you may want to think about increasing you storage and parts organizing capacity. My shop looks vaguely like a hardware store with all the extra stuff I have accumulated over the years.
*I have been doing Handyman work for the past 5 years. I charge 48.00 per hour with a 2 hour min when I work hourly. Most of my customers want a fixed cost on their work so I have fixed costs on a variety of services. Those fixed costs are based on the going rate in my area. I also do small remodels of kitchens and bathrooms. I am booked out 3-6 weeks at a time. When biding a job I base my bid on 55.00 per hour. I have been told I am a little pricey but the same customers call me back time after time. I give a level of customer service that they are not accustomed to in the contract business
*Have any of you had luck with computer software programs for estimating jobs? I see a few on the internet but also know you don't know what your buying until you purchase it. I am looking for a moderatly priced package that would get me going.Thanks
*Jocobe, I mark up my material 100% on 1 or more items under $50. Over that I mark it up 40%. I do this because you would be amazed how many times you go to the supply house for $31 worth of material. Same truck, same effort, same wear and tear etc. As I said I charge $40 an hour but if I bid a job I bid at $55. I try to encourage customers to do jobs T&M but some are set on a "fixed" price even when I explain the cost savings of shared risk. I will however ball park a job for someone when asked and always do so with a real safe figure. They are thrilled when it is less. Today I did a plumbing repair job that I ball parked at $400 to $600. Once started they asked me to do a couple other items and the bill was $474. They were thrilled. I am agressive with my rate but do as Frank said offer a level of service that most are really pleased with. I have also found a few other contractors that I sub work too. One is a roofer who is also a one man show. He is real competative and I mark up all sub work 20%. With his pricing I can do this and be at a mid level for roofs in my area. I am very careful who I use as I work hard at being a premium service and don't want someone to screw that up. If I have someone giving me a hand (my high school son helps me some and a couple of others occasionally) I intoduce them to the home owner first. I explain who they are, what they will be doing and why I brought them. As I said before, I believe what you are selling is trust. DanT
*I have a funny small story I would like to share.General has punch man working on the final on his jobs,and while he was there he installed anything the owner wanted ,like security lights,walk lights ,etc. Any way he wanted the same wage as his top carps.General said no way,they have a lot more experience than you. So, he quit a few weeks later with handy man cards in his shirt pocket.Seems he had done some canvassing.He told me A short time later that he was making twice what the top carps were making , and the general was having to use him also as he had noone that did the work as well.
*In the Sunday Oregonian (Portland Oregon) in the job classifieds...."Wanted Handyman $10- $15/hr. must supply own tools." Subtract out minimum wage and this means that you would be renting out your tools at $4 to $8 per hour.
*mike, thats one person that wants the service, that is trying to set the price.
*Hey guys thanks a lot for the advice I am going to give it a try and like they say Ill run it up the old flag pole and see if any one salutes it.. I will let you guys know how it turns out. Thanks, ToolDoc