Learn AboutHandyman ServicesHow to Hire a HandymanHiring your handyman is similar to hiring a contractor, landscaper, accountant, or any type of professional service. There are a number of things to keep in mind when choosing your next handyman. Listed below are a few things to consider...Full story February 05, 2017

Common Handyman JobsA handyman can perform a number of common household issues that arise during home ownership. Many local handymen are trained professionals that specialize in a number of different areas. They are licensed and insured just as any other contractor and...Full story January 02, 2017

The Incredible HandymanAll of us have those little troublesome problems around the house. Things like a door that won't close properly, a torn window screen, leaky faucets, or even hanging pictures are problems we can't or don't want to do ourselves. This...Full story December 16, 2016

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How to Finance a New Jersey Home Improvement ProjectA home is a great investment and probably your biggest one. Over the years, prices have always increased and there is no reason to believe that won't continue.. Maintain your property, keep it up to date, and make improvements over...Full story January 21, 2017

Making Your Home Improvement Project Pay OffA home remodel is a very costly venture. Homeowners are always looking for ways to add value to their home. Renovating is a great way to update an area of your home and add value to your biggest investment,...Full story January 15, 2017

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KNOXVILLE (WATE) A handyman business has left yet another customer completely dissatisfied. Money was collected and some of the work was started, but it was never finished.

EPM Handyman Services is operated by two brothers. WATE 6 On Your Side has been following them for two years. The name of Jonathan and Warren Presleys business has changed since then, but the people who have hired them tell the same stories and are not happy.

They were supposed to paint the ceiling a pale blue and the trim while, said Peggy Ogle.

Ogle hired contractors who never did the job they were hired to do. They didnt paint the ceiling of her carport, nor did they paint the supports to the structure. They didnt fix her front porch steps and didnt repair and paint the front door, nor did they replace an old wooden door.

Ogle paid the handymen $3,000 on March 29.

They tell me theyre going to be out Monday. Monday comes, theyre not here. You call them on Friday. Oh, well be there, Ive been sick. They dont show up, she said.

Ogle discovered EPM Services on Angies List.

Previous story: Handymen leave work unfinished on Tellico Village widows house

I was on the computer looking for handyman services because I needed help around here. I wasnt even finished looking through the ads when they called me on the phone, she said.

The Presleys hired Mikael Moses to paint inside Ogles home.

I painted this bathroom, that bedroom and the other bedroom, said Moses.

Moses said she first scraped the rooms walls to remove old paint and fill in holes. The work she did for the EPM Handyman Services took several days and the job is very professional. However, Moses said the Presleys never paid her.

WATE 6 On Your Side tried to reach Jonathan Presley but never got a response. Attempts to reach his brother Warren also failed. When you look for the Presley brothers contractors license on the Department of Commerce and Insurance website, no file is found. Theyre not licensed.

Olge is about to take legal action against the Presleys. Shes looking into filing felony charges with Knoxvilles district attorney, which she can do. The law says if work is unfinished after 90 days of signing a contract and a certified letter is sent to the contractor requesting completion but nothing is done, charges can be filed.

Three thousand dollars is a lot of money to me. Id hate to see another little old lady get taken, said Ogle. Dont hire them. Please dont. You are going to get taken.

Previous story: Kingston couple pays 75 percent up front for garage remodel in April; work still isnt done

Earlier this year, Amey Elias hired EPM Services to do extensive handyman work inside her home in Tellico Village, but the laminate flooring they were paid to replace was never removed. Paint was slopped on the floor throughout her home but never cleaned up. In the garage, kitchen cabinet doors and shelves were stacked up by workmen to dry after being painted. However, once dried, the cabinet doors were never returned. Many that had been painted had unprofessional work.

Last November, Carolyn Whited explained that for years, she and her late husband had planned some renovations to their West Knoxville home. Work started a year ago, but then abruptly stopped not long after she had paid Jonathan and Warren Presley more than 90 percent of the bill upfront. The Presleys then operated a company called RFG Construction of Knoxville.

In October of 2015, Barbara Croft was frustrated about the 6 month delay in finishing the garage at their home in Kingston. Material like windows and doors were delivered but the job stalled and excuses piled up. The work was contracted then with RFG Flooring different name, but Jonathan and Warren Presley were the operators of the business. The Crofts had paid the brothers more than 75 percent of the total bill up front.

Each time, the people who contracted with the Presleys were forced to hire a second contractor to finish the work. Some of the online sites that provide information about contractors have dropped EPM Handyman Services from their list of recommended contractors.

Read the original here:
Knoxville woman is latest with unfinished work by handyman brothers - WATE 6 On Your Side

Charles Winokoor Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter @cwinokoor

TAUNTON Congressman Joe Kennedy stopped off Friday at Community Counseling of Bristol County to get feedback from officials representing the non-profit group about their concerns over possible cuts to Medicaid funding.

But it was a subsequent, informal roundtable meeting with people who have received treatment at the community-based CCBC that seemed to leave the greatest impression on the 4th District congressman.

Its extraordinarily powerful for me to hear your stories, Kennedy told a group that included three men and two women some of whom had just provided harrowing details of their personal lives, and all of whom praised the Taunton-based non-profit for keeping their lives from completely spinning out of control.

Before Kennedy sat down to listen to those personal stories, he met in a different conference room with CCBC president and CEO Philip Shea and some of Sheas staffers, who provided numbers outlining the impact Medicaid funding has on their various treatment services.

Besides CCBC in Taunton, Kennedy was also scheduled Friday to visit both Horace Mann Educational Associates in Bellingham and Seven Hills Pediatric Center in Hopedale.

The purpose of the visits was to stress Kennedys opposition to the latest version of President Donald Trumps proposed replacement of the Affordable Care Act which Kennedy says would directly slash Medicaid funding by more than $800 billion over 10 years and would collectively reduce all Medicaid-related funding by $1.4 trillion over the same period.

We lost money in 2017 and will probably lose more next year, and Im not absolutely confident well be here in three years doing the same sorts of things the same way, Shea said.

Shea told Kennedy that the federal Medicaid program provides funding for 58 percent of CCBCs programs and services. He said the mental-health and addiction treatment non-profit currently has close to 12,000 clients or patients.

Fall River native Ted Lopes told Kennedy that Community Counseling of Bristol County has been providing him with temporary lodging at one of its houses and is helping him find a new health insurance carrier after he was dropped by the states MassHealth program.

Lopes recounted how he drifted into opioid addiction first oxycodone and then heroin after contracting cement poisoning in a knee from working as a union bricklayer and mason.

I was in Rhode Island Hospital 30 days. They almost cut my leg off, Lopes, 54, said.

He said he blames himself for a stint in jail It was all self-induced and ended up homeless on the streets of Fall River, at one point crashing in an abandoned mill in 2015 that caught fire.

But Lopes, who described himself as Irish Catholic, said his faith in God kept him from becoming just one more statistic: I didnt want to go out (die) as a junkie on the street, he said.

After rehab and detox stints in other towns and cities, he said he landed a solid job driving a truck but blew out two discs in his back by simply opening a door.

I was paralyzed, he said, until receiving injections at Morton Hospitals pain clinic. But by then, Lopes said, he had lost his medical coverage.

We try to help them with insurance, said Ellen Bruder-Moore Abramowitz, vice president of housing and community initiatives at CCBC.

Lopes said during his treatment at Morton a doctor discovered a cancerous spot on his liver, for which he will be operated on at Bostons St. Elizabeths Medical Center.

I take one step at a time, he said. Im scared, but Im doing what I can do.

Demitri Marovelli, 44, told Kennedy he considers CCBC to be a truly angelic network and truly a blessing for their professional counseling services.

With his service dog Opie, a chihuahua mix, at his feet, Marovelli described how the non-profit has helped him deal with long-term anxiety after his release from prison where he served time for drug-related charges.

CCBC, he said, convinced him that recidivism is curable.

After collecting government assistance, Marovelli says he was encouraged to start his own business. He said he now employs six workers and has three trucks as part of his T&K Handyman Services.

A woman named Mary said CCBC kept my son alive until he could be accepted into a psychiatric program at Bradley Hospital.

She said her son, who is now almost 21, was molested as a boy by her cousin in her own house while he was visiting from Minnesota.

He was brazen, she said of the cousin, who eventually was arrested and charged.

But her son, said Mary, 52, developed full-blown obsessive compulsive disorder and was most recently treated at McLean Hospital in Belmont.

She asked Kennedy why the government cant provide funding for a treatment center for children who have been sexually molested by sexual predators and years later suffer the psychological, emotional and behavioral scars of those assaults.

I cant tell you there is (such a childrens services program), but I will tell you that I can try, Kennedy said.

She said at one point she and her second husband sold their home to continue paying for her sons treatments.

Mary also said she knows firsthand how devastating drug addiction is, having lost a brother and two cousins to fatal overdoses.

Its inspiring, the soft-spoken Kennedy told the group. I promise that well keep trying. Im really honored that youve shared your stories with me. hang in there.

Original post:
Kennedy in Taunton to learn firsthand impact of Trumpcare on ... - Taunton Daily Gazette

A handyman, also known as a handyperson[1][2][3] or handyworker,[4][5] is a person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. These tasks include trade skills, repair work, maintenance work, are both interior and exterior, and are sometimes described as "side work", "odd jobs" or "fix-up tasks". Specifically, these jobs could be light plumbing jobs such as fixing a leaky toilet or light electric jobs such as changing a light fixture.

The term handyman increasingly describes a paid worker, but it also includes non-paid homeowners or do-it-yourselfers. Tasks range from minor to major, from unskilled to highly skilled, and include painting, drywall repair, remodeling, minor plumbing work, minor electrical work, household carpentry, sheetrock, crown moulding, and furniture assembly (see more complete list below.) The term handyman is occasionally applied as an adjective to describe politicians or business leaders who make substantial organizational changes, such as overhauling a business structure or administrative division.[6][7]

Many people can do common household repairs. There are resources on the Internet, as well as do-it-yourself guide books,[8] with instructions about how to complete a wide range of projects. Sometimes the fix-it skill is seen as genetic, and people lacking such skills are said to "lack the handy-man gene."[9] One trend is that fewer homeowners are inclined to do fix-up jobs, perhaps because of time constraints, perhaps because of lack of interest; one reporter commented "my family's fix-it gene petered out before it reached my generation."[10] A primary rule for all do-it-yourself repair work is focus entirely on one thing at a time.[11] For example, focus on getting a nail; then focus on hammering the nail; but don't try to do both tasks simultaneously. In this manner, injuries and mistakes are avoided.

Generally the job of paid handyman is low status, a semi-skilled labor job. It's a less prestigious occupation than a specialist such as a plumber, electrician, or carpenter. With the emergence of large national chains, an effort is being made to change that perception, by emphasizing professionalism and the fact that a handyman is actually a technician with multiple skills and a wide range of knowledge. At the same time, unpaid homeowners skilled at repairs are valued for saving money. And handyman tools sometimes become useful in different places: for example, when a proper neurological drill was not available, an Australian doctor used a handyman's drill in 2009 to open a hole in the head of a 13-year-old boy to relieve pressure after a brain injury; the boy's life was saved.[12]

An estimate was that in 2003, the market for home-maintenance and repair spending was up 14% from 2001 to 2003.[13] Another estimate was that the market in the United States was $126 billion and was increasing by about 4% annually.[10] American homes are aging; one estimate was that in 2007, more than half of all homes are older than 25 years.[13] And, as populations worldwide tend to become older, on average, and since increasingly elderly people will be less inclined and able to maintain their homes, it is likely that demand for handyman services will grow.

Many towns have handymen who work part-time, for friends or family or neighbors, who are skilled in a variety of tasks. Sometimes they advertise in newspapers or online. They vary in quality, professionalism, skill level, and price. Contractors often criticize the work of previous contractors, and this practice is not limited to handymen, but to all trades.[14] Handymen have advertised their services through flyers and mailings; in addition, free websites such as Craigslist and SkillSlate help customers and handymen find each other.[15]

In 2009, there were national handyman service firms which handle such nationwide tasks as public relations, marketing, advertising, and signage, but sell specific territories to franchise owners. A franchise contract typically gives a franchise owner the exclusive right to take service calls within a given geographical area. The websites of these firms put possible customers in touch with local owners, which have handymen and trucks. Customers call the local numbers. Typically these firms charge around $100/hour, although fees vary by locality and time of year. In many parts of the world, there are professional handyman firms that do small home or commercial projects which claim possible advantages such as having workers who are insured and licensed. Their branch offices schedule service appointments for full-time and part-time handymen to visit and make repairs, and sometimes coordinate with sub-contractors.

One Lehman Brothers executive, after being let go from the Wall Street firm, bought a Union, New Jersey franchise from a national handyman firm.[16] A franchise was approximately $110,000 with a franchise fee of $14,900, according to a spokesperson for a national handyman franchise.[16]

Some see a benefit of franchising as "entrepreneurship under the safety net of a tried-and-true business umbrella"[16] but forecast a 1.2 percent decrease in franchise businesses during the 2008-2009 recession.[16] In 2005, according to a survey released by the Washington-based International Franchise Association showed 909,000 franchised establishments in the United States employing some 11 million people.[16] Franchises offer training, advertising and information technology support, lower procurement costs and access to a network of established operators.[16]

Franchise handyman firms sometimes pitch clients by asking prospective customers about their unresolved "to-do lists."[17] The firm does odd jobs, carpentry, and repairs.[17] Trends such as a "poverty of time" and a "glut of unhandy husbands" has spurred the business.[17] Technicians do a range of services including tile work, painting, and wallpapering.[17] One firm charges $88 per hour.[17] The firm targets a work category which full-fledged remodelers and contractors find unprofitable.[17] A consumer was quoted by a reporter explaining the decision to hire one firm: "'I couldn't find anyone to come in and help me because the jobs were too small', said Meg Beck of Huntington, who needed some painting and carpentry done. She turned to one franchise firm and said she liked the fact that the service has well-marked trucks and uniformed technicians and that a dispatcher called with the names of the crew before they showed up."[17] There are indications that these businesses are growing.[17] There are different firms operating.[13][18]

Other competitors include online referral services.[10] In addition, some large home centers offer installation services for products such as cabinets and carpet installation.[17] Sometimes homeowners contact a professional service after trying, but failing, to do repair work themselves; in one instance, a Minneapolis homeowner attempted a project but called a technician to finish the project, and the overall cost was substantial.[19]

How well do the franchise chains perform? One Wall Street Journal reporting team did an informal assessment by hiring "handymen all over the country and asked them to fix a wide range of problems, from a relatively routine leaky faucet to a sticky door."[13] The reporter concluded that "with few licensing requirements and standards for the industry, prices are all over the board."[13] One quote was ten times as large as another.[13] Further, the reporter concluded "A big corporate name is no guarantee of quality or speedy service."[13] One corporate firm took three weeks to fix a stuck door.[13] Service varied from spotty to good, with complaints about unreturned phone calls, service people standing on dining room chairs, leaving holes between wood planking, but liked getting multiple jobs done instead of just one.[13] Customers liked handymen wearing hospital booties (to avoid tracking dirt in houses).[13] The reporter chronicled one experience with repairing a water-damaged ceiling. A franchise firm fixed it for $1,530; a second (non-franchise local handyman) fixed a similar ceiling for $125.[13] The reporter preferred the second worker, despite the fact that he "doesn't have a fancy van -- or carry proof of insurance."[13] Tips for selecting a good handyman include: ask questions, get written estimates on company stationery, make sure handymen guarantee their work, pay with credit cards or checks because this provides an additional record of each transaction, check references and licenses,[20] review feedback about the contractors from Internet sites. To find a competent worker, one can seek referrals from local sources such as a school or church or office park, to see if a staff handyman does projects on the side, as well as ask friends for referrals; a general contractor might have workers who do projects on the side as well.[20] Further, one can try out a new handyman with easy projects such as cleaning gutters to see how well they perform.[20]

Generally, in the United States, there are few legal issues if an unpaid homeowner works on a project within their own home, with some exceptions. Some jurisdictions require paid handymen to be licensed and/or insured. New Jersey, for example, requires all handymen who work in for-profit businesses serving residential and commercial customers, to be registered and insured.[21] Often handymen are barred from major plumbing, electrical wiring, or gas-fitting projects for safety reasons, and authorities sometimes require workers to be licensed in particular trades. However, minor plumbing work such as fixing water taps, connecting sinks, fixing leaks, or installing new washing machines, are usually permitted to be done without licensing. Many handymen are insured under a property damage liability policy, so that accidental property damage from negligence or accidents are covered.

The handyman image recurs in popular culture. There have been songs about handymen recorded by Elvis Presley in 1964, Del Shannon in 1964, James Taylor in 1977.[22] There are femme-fatale TV characters who fall for handymen.[23] Handymen have been portrayed in books and films, generally positively, as do-gooder helpful types, but not particularly smart or ambitious. In a book by author Carolyn See called The Handyman, a handyman is really an aspiring but discouraged artist who transforms the lives of people he works for, as well as having sexual encounters with some of his clients, and his experiences improve his artistic output.[24] The book suggests handymen discover "the appalling loneliness of the women who call him for help" whose needs are sometimes "comic," sometimes "heartbreaking," and deep down "sexual."[25] A 1980 movie called The Handyman was about a carpenter-plumber who was "good at what he does" but is "too honest and trusting," and gets taken advantage of by "women who find him handsome and understanding;" the movie earned negative reviews from critic Vincent Canby.[26] Other movies have used a rather tired formula of sexy-handyman meets bored-housewives, such as The Ups and Downs of a Handyman, a 1975 movie in which "Handsome Bob also finds he's a fast favorite with the local housewives, who seem to have more than small repairs on their minds."[27] In Canada, there's a television show called Canada's Worst Handyman which is a reality show in which handyman contestants try their best on jobs in order to not be labeled worst handyman. Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen, which aired 1991 to 1999. On the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Handyman Negri was one of the characters residing in The Neighborhood of Make-Believe, as well as the neighborhood Mister Rogers resides in. Handy Manny is an American/Hispanic preschool television show that airs on Disney Junior and stars a handy man cartoon character named Manny. The Belgian comics and media franchise The Smurfs depicts Handy Smurf with traditional handyman's accoutrements, such as overalls, carpenter's pencil and work hat. Happy Tree Friends also has an orange beaver named Handy who is a handyman.

The list of projects which handymen can do is extensive, and varies from easy-to-learn tasks which take little time such as changing a light bulb, to extensive projects which require multiple steps, such as kitchen remodeling. Here is a partial list:

Note: this is a partial list

Read more:
Handyman - Wikipedia

Filed May 2, 2006

The filing of an assumed name does not provide a user with exclusive rights to that name. The filing is required for consumer protection in order to enable consumers to be able to identify the true owner of a business.

1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Unique Handyman Services.

2. State the address of the principal place of business. A complete street address or rural route and rural route box number is required: 8466

Isleton Court South, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.

3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name or if the business is a corporation, provide the legal corporate name and registered office address of the corporation: Andrea L. Schroetke, 8466 Isleton Court South, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.

4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statutes section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.

Dated this 2nd day of May, 2006.

s/ Andrea L. Schroetke, Owner

Contact Person: Andrea L. Schroetke

(651) 324-7073

(Published in the South Washington County

Bulletin Wednesday, May 10, 2006 and Wednesday, May 17, 2006.)

View original post here:
Certificate of assumed name: Unique Handyman Services - South Washington County Bulletin

Grubhub co-founder Mike Evans launches new on-demand handyman service

On Monday, Grubhub co-founder Mike Evans revealed his next big thing: on-demand handyman service Fixer.com. Evans, speaking to Crains, said the idea for Fixer came after he had difficulty getting someone to install a rain barrel at his home. Like other on-demand handymen services, the platform charges a flat rate of $80/hour for jobs. However, it differs from competitors like Thumbtack in that its professionals are all full-time employees which allows them to respond to work requests in an hours time. Fixer is currently available by invite-only to those in the Chicago area. [Crains]

Two Chicago tech companies crack the top 10 of Crain's 2017 Fast 50

Crains Fast 50 list, which ranks Chicago-area companies with the fastest-growing revenues over a five-year period, was revealed this week and two tech companies made it into the top 10. Signal came in at number four and Outcome Health landed at number seven. Both have posted outstanding revenue growth numbers over the past five years, with Signals revenue growing 11,638.7% and Outcome Healths growth checking in at 2,963.2%.

2016 was a big year for Signal, which posted $29.1 million in revenue while also closing a $30 million Series E funding round. Meanwhile Outcome Health leveraged its strong 2016 to raise an incredible $500 million from investors during its first ever funding round. A total of 16 tech companies made Crains Fast 50 for 2017. [Crain's]

Sittercity's founder launches new app to get people to the polls

Sittercity founder and serial entrepreneur Genevieve Thiers introduced her newest venture Monday, a politically focused app called EveryElection. The iOS app an Android app and web version are in development alerts users to upcoming elections. The app also provides information on candidates and measures on the ballot. Thiers told Built In Chicago that the idea behind the app is to make remembering to vote, and being an informed voter, easier. Well make it easy for you, but you have to take the step of downloading that app and looking at the alerts, she said. [Built In Chicago]

Mark Zuckerberg visits Chicago for the first Facebook Communities Summit

Last week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in Chicago to kick off the companys first ever Communities Summit. The free event spanned two days and was only open to administrators of groups on the social networking site who had registered in advance. It included workshops and feedback sessions with company employees. Both Zuckerberg and Facebook chief product officer Chris Cox spoke at the event, with announcements including new features for admins to better manage groups and tools to weed out bad actors.

CloudRanger launches visual server management platform for AWS users

Photos via featured companies

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Tech roundup: Grubhub co-founder reveals his next big thing, Zuckerberg visits Chicago and more - Built In Chicago

Evanston Now

Recap: Administration and Public Works Committee | Evanston Now Evanston Now Here's a recap of our live coverage of this evening's Evanston City Council Administration and Public Works Committee meeting. The meeting is scheduled to ... and more »

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Recap: Administration and Public Works Committee | Evanston Now - Evanston Now

Just over ten years ago, Mike Evans and Matt Maloney were trying to get their idea for a new startup off the ground to enable you to order food from your computer. That idea was GrubHub which took off with the launch of mobile apps, grew to merge with its largest competitor, and eventually had a $192M IPO.

Here we are a decade later, after some time off to bike across the countryand write science fiction, GrubHub cofounderMike Evans is at it again. This time its the launch ofFixer, a startup looking to make it easier to find and order, not food, but a handyman. As explained on their website:

Fixer is a right nowhandyman service. We are at your door within an hour and charge a flat hourly rate for all services.

Weve all been there, looking for a reliable handyman is not an easy endeavor. You might look to Yelp or ask your friends who they use, or you might even try Taskrabbit all with variable levels of success.Fixer is looking to help change that by creating an army of full-time fixers. Their goal is to hire apprentice level fixers, increase their skills through training and apprenticeship, and then retain them with a fair wage and benefits. This means Fixer will have employees rather than contractors thus helping to create a career path for gig-economy workers.

According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, fixers have completed about 200 jobs so far, including some for repeat customers. Fixer is currently open in Chicago by invite only you can sign up for a beta accountafter a beta launch yesterday.

Read more about startups emerging in Chicago at Tech.Co

Read the rest here:
Grubhub Cofounder Mike Evans Launches Fixer To Find You A Handyman - Tech.Co

Handyman Cost Factors

How much you pay your handyman will depend on several factors:

The larger the job, the more time it will take to complete and the more it will generally cost. More experienced handymen can estimate how long a job will take before they start. Some handymen have certain jobs they charge a flat fee for as well. Discuss your project in detail with your handyman ahead of time to establish the price.

Small jobs

This includes relatively simple things such as replacing light switches and outlets. Replacing a broken garbage disposal is also considered a small job, as is repairing a leaky faucet, replacing a thermostat, or even hanging a picture. As a rule of thumb, if it requires simple hand tools and takes no more than 1 to 2 hours, its a small job.

Example: Fixing a water spout in the bathroom. The parts are there; they just need to be installed.

Medium jobs

These are a little more involved. Medium jobs can take more time and require a little extra expertise. For example, repairing drywall involves spackle, a putty knife and attaching support material if the damage is large enough. Hanging shelves can also be a medium job as shelves must be properly anchored into studs. These jobs can take between 2 and 4 hours to finish.

Example: Replacement installation for a mailbox

Large jobs

These are the most involved of handyman jobs and include wiring for a home theater, installing heating and cooling registers, wall repair or installing a kitchen sink with all of the elements. Generally, if youre wondering if you need a handyman or a contractor for a particular job, its probably considered a large job. These jobs can take from 4 hours to a couple of days to finish depending on the complexity.

Example: Add locks to certain interior doors, install gate on stairway for kids and pets, and turn a cubby into a linen closet all in one visit.

Keep in mind, that if the job is big, requiring $500 a day or more, or includes the use of heavy machinery (bobcats, front-end loaders, etc.) you may want to hire a contractor instead.

The average hourly rate of a handyman is in the $60 to $65 price range. However, there are professional handyman services that may charge higher, sometimes up to $125 an hour. The benefit of these services, while more expensive, is a degree of assurance that the handyman is a competent professional and will provide a certain quality of work. The national average is about $77 an hour.

Experience can be a valuable commodity. The rate will be based on their level of expertise. Experienced handymen may charge a higher rate, but take half the time to do a job than a less experienced pro.

You might think that an experienced handyman could do a job faster than an inexperienced one. However, consider that some jobs dont take that long and most dont involve serious complications. The $60 an hour handyman who just opened his business will probably take about the same time as the $125 an hour handyman who has 30 years in the business, and both will probably have no trouble on a small job like changing cabinetry hardware. However, a more complex job -- hanging entirely new cabinets or replacing kitchen countertops -- may benefit from an experienced handyman.

The more complicated the job, the longer it will probably take and the more you'll pay for labor. A good handyman will be able to tell you from the start if there are aspects of the job they can't handle well. In those cases, you'll need a contractor or licensed specialist.

Simple jobs are often small jobs, but even some larger jobs can be fairly simple. Changing an interior door knob is easy and a small job while sanding and re-hanging an interior door is a medium job, yet neither is particularly complex. Removing and replacing an old toilet, on the other hand, involves heavy lifting, plumbing knowledge and cleanup. If you arent sure about the complexity of the job, ask the handyman you are interviewing about whats involved.

Handymen normally charge by the hour, but can also charge a flat rate by the job. Some may charge for travel time, and some may charge a markup on parts they buy for your job. When gathering estimates, this is something you want to know early on.

A handyman who works independently will usually charge around $60 to $65 an hour on average. Depending on where you live the actual price range can run from $55 to $75 for an independent operator. A handyman who is part of a larger business can charge up to $125 an hour or more. The advantage to this is that he is expected to have a lot more expertise and meet a certain standard.

Whether an independent handyman or part of a business, some jobs are best charged at a flat rate. These are usually larger jobs such as hanging chandeliers, mounting wall TVs, installing a toilet or a ceiling fan, or other such involved work.

The more complex a job is, the more likely it is to have complications. Also, some jobs can take a couple of days if preparation hasnt been done. If you break it down, billing by the job can sometimes mean you are paying higher per hour if a handyman works quickly. However, some jobs take longer and you wind up paying less by the hour. So for example:

In general, an experienced handyman knows how long a job should take and may give you a flat rate based on that. If he knows a particular job will take about an hour, he may present his hourly rate as a flat rate. If he knows it will take two hours, he may give you the rate for two hours as a flat rate. Naturally, this is incentive for the handyman to work quickly, and keeping a happy customer is an incentive to do the job well.

Here are examples of some of the more common services and how long they take:

Some services are quite involved and charging by the hour would make the cost prohibitive. Therefore, many handymen charge more complex jobs by the job. Here are some examples of services and prices that are often billed by the job:

Developing a trusting relationship with a skilled, reliable handyman is like finding that great daycare provider or doctor. Here are some tips about selecting which handyman to hire:

A handyman, contractor and DIYer share a lot of the same skills. However, there are times when you have to decide whether the job is one you can handle, or if you should call for help.

Many small repairs or modifications can easily be handled by anyone with a screwdriver or hammer. DIY, however, is entirely dependent on the individual. What one person considers a simple task could be well beyond the abilities of another person. One way to decide if a project is better as a DIY project is to ask yourself what can go wrong and how badly.

Another consideration to think about is how many people it will take to do the job. A single person can build a house. However, its going to take a very long time and will be very difficult. Installing insulation or drywall can be handled quite easily by one person and requires little in the way of specialized skills. The actual effort of the job should be regarded as well. Installing a cinderblock wall is very labor-intensive. Moving blocks, mortar, and rebar can become tiring very quickly.

Some jobs may seem simple enough -- turning your attic into an office or a spare bedroom, a larger picture window in your living room -- but often require quite a bit more knowledge. If your project is going to cost over $500 a day and take more than a day or two, you might want to hire a contractor. These projects are usually fairly big. They will also be more likely to require permits and inspections, and will often require a crew of workers to accomplish.

If you project requires any of the following, you need a contractor:

This list is by no means exhaustive. Before beginning any project, check with your local regulations to see if your project is required to be done by a licensed contractor. Although its more expensive than hiring a handyman, hiring a contractor is a way to make sure that things are done safely and up to code.

A handyman is the happy medium between DIY or hiring a contractor. As stated above, there are some jobs a handyman isnt allowed to do. This is why some handymen are also licensed contractors. It enables them to spread their nets wider when bidding on jobs.

To determine if you can use a handyman instead of a fully-licensed contractor, ask yourself the following:

Answering yes to these usually means that your project can be done by a handyman. When looking for bids, be sure to give as much detail about the job as possible. An ethical handyman will tell you upfront if the job requires a contractor or if he or she isnt comfortable with certain kinds of work.

A contractor is a specialist in his or her field: electrical contractor, plumbing contractor, construction contractor, etc. They often oversee a team that may consist of subcontractors who handle specialized jobs within the larger project. They are expected to be knowledgeable about permits and other such technicalities.

Handymen specialize in odd jobs. It could be replacing a broken cabinet hinge, stopping a leaky faucet or sanding down a gouge in your wood floor. The handyman is a trained generalist, and it was probably a handyman who coined the phrase, "No job too small."

Handy is defined as convenient or good with hands or tools. A handyman is both. If you have a lot of things to take care of that dont include the repairs your house needs, a handyman can be the most convenient way to get those tasks done and done right. Just remember these final three tips to help the job go well:

More here:
Handyman Services & Pricing Guide - HomeAdvisor.com

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/26/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Timing is flexible

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/25/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Nature of Work: Repairs

Amount of work: A single project

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Within 1 week

Property Owner: Yes

Comment: Need a electrican, have lost power between my house & garage

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/25/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Request Stage: Planning & Budgeting

Desired Completion Date: Timing is flexible

Comment: remove 3 satellite dishes from roof on backside of house (porch roof)

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/25/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Nature of Work: Repairs

Amount of work: A single project

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Today

Property Owner: Yes

Comment: Repair wooden residence fence and gate.

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/25/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Nature of Work: Repairs

Amount of work: A single project

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Today

Property Owner: Yes

Comment: i need the drain pump in my washer replaced.

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/25/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Nature of Work: Repairs, Installation

Amount of work: A variety of projects

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: More than 2 weeks

Property Owner: Yes

Comment: Moving into home on Oct 28. Change out some bathroom fixtures, hang pictures/paintings, make shoe rack, other miscellaneous things

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/24/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Within 1 week

Comment: Need ceiling fan fix, falling from ceiling.

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/24/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Timing is flexible

Comment: I need someone to fix my kitchen sink inlet

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/24/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Request Stage: Ready to Hire

Desired Completion Date: Within 1 week

Project: Hire a Handyman

Date: 09/24/2016

What kind of location is this?: Home/Residence

Is this an emergency?: No

Request Stage: Planning & Budgeting

Desired Completion Date: More than 2 weeks

Excerpt from:
25 Best Handyman Services - Houston TX | HomeAdvisor