The Handyman Business

-The most import thing to remember when asking someone to look at or work on your home is GET MULTIPLE QUOTES. You cannot rely on one person to tell you what the scope of the work will be.

-It must be noted that a Handyman differs from a full service Construction company in a number of ways.

-A construction company generally works hard to sell. I work hard to advertise but I would not try to coax anyone into buying anything. I do not try to initiate work that the customer is not confident in. I want from the very beginning for us to have a rapport so the job goes smoothly. I work by myself so I am not going to commit myself to something the customer had not really wanted. It makes for a work environment I do not want.

-The customer should make use of construction companies’ FREE ESTIMATES. A construction company will give you a price as well as additional information. They might be a little aggressive with their sales pitch but “Just say no” and you can make up your mind another day.

-If you only call one person about a job, they probably know much more than you about that particular piece of work. Thus you are at their mercy. If you call multiple people and have many conversations about that piece of work, you now know more than the pros. So again, GET MULTIPLE QUOTES.

-I do not give a sales pitch. When I arrive for an estimate, I answer questions you may have, take pictures, take measurements and give you a quote within a few days.

-While I do advertise it often happens that my schedule quickly fills up and thus have to turn down work; even if I have just recently put a door hanger on your door. To which again I say, GET MULTIPLE QUOTES.

-There are advantages to going to a bigger construction company. 1) They have a large staff and can answer phones calls more readily. I work by my self so might be on a job. Of course I always get back to you but a company with an office staff can communicate with you a little better. 2) While the salesperson at a construction company obviously wants to sell, they can spend more time with you going over the work. If you have questions, they can answer. I of course will always answer any question you may have but if you feel you need a dedicated product specialist, a larger company can give you that. 3) Construction companies have multiple crews and might be able to get to your job quicker. You of course are paying handsomely for this but for some it might be worth it.

-Generally the only product I will insist on high quality is paint. I do not use paint from box stores. I use Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore and paint from dedicated paints stores. The reason is box store paint is runny and leaves a bad finish. I know this sounds snooty but having started out using whatever paint the customer would give me and seeing the difference in finishes, I decided no more box store paint.

-It would be behoove you to use wood from lumber yards and not box stores as well but I do not insist on it. The reason is a lumber yard sells wood less likely to warp and rot. And yes, pressure treated wood does sometimes rot as well. I do not warranty wood.

-If I need a part. Such as a light for an outdoor security box, I will go to a specialized store. In this case an electrical supply store. The same goes for plumbing, roofing and whatnot. I know that I will be able to get something high quality and deal with a staff that knows what they are doing.

-Again, I work by myself. Cancelled jobs can sometimes be hard to reschedule.

-After I have purchased materials, I ask for reimbursement. But I do not ask for any kind of job payment until the job has been finished at the end of the day. If it goes on multiple days, I ask for a portion of the payment at the end of each day.

-If we have not worked together before, I ask that someone is there upon completion of the job that can approve of the work and pay me.

-Of course I will meet with both spouses but it helps me if afterwards a person is able to communicate with me and speak for both of you. I have have had couples who have wanted to include me in group chats. That does not work for me. Unfortunately I would need to speak to someone who can speak for the both.

-For the DIYers. Be careful about doing all the small jobs in your house by yourself and then looking for contractors for the big stuff. This puts you at risk to the more cunning and high priced construction companies. If you like to do stuff yourself, continue to do it, but bring somebody in to do something small here and there. This way you maintain the ability to get other people to do good work for you. Also telling a contactor or handyman about your skills is a bit like telling someone you know karate. Good folks might avoid working for you just to avoid hearing your war stories.

-And finally, GET MULTIPLE QUOTES.