THE DEFINITIVE HANDYMAN GUIDE Everything you wanted to know about handyman services in Australia and how to choose the right handyman! How much does a handyman charge? That depends on many factors. The type of job, location, the skill level required to do the job, the type of equipment required, availability, and of course any parts or materials. Some jobs are priced as a complete project including materials. Others are priced at an hourly rate. What is the hourly rate for a handyman? This can vary, but typically a good guide is somewhere between $80- $180/hr. Like many trades, sometimes a callout fee may also apply. Rates will vary enormously across the country depending on region, skill and job complexity. Isn’t a handyman just a glorified unskilled labourer? Sometimes this can be true, but the fact is that many people who run a handyman business are actually highly skilled tradespeople. They could be carpenters, mechanics, electricians, builders, plumbers, landscapers or any combination. Others may just do yard cleanups, rubbish removal, mowing, weeding, etc. It’s important that you get the right person with the right skillset for the job. Shouldn’t I just get a qualified tradesperson to do the job? Sometimes…definitely! If you need plumbing, electrical, waterproofing or structural building work, contact the required specialist. But herein lies the problem. There are hundreds, if not thousands of little jobs that tradespeople and businesses do not do and do not want to do. This is because it’s not profitable or they can’t. Where does that leave you? Many jobs are not related to any particular trade or industry. You have a problems requiring a solution, so who do you call? This is where a solution orientated and skilled handyman can provide an invaluable service. How do I choose the right type of handyman? Ask questions. Most will give you an idea of what they can or can’t do. The good ones will be direct and explain why or why not. No games. Ask people. Also check out their reviews. Things to consider…are they a real business, do they have an ABN, are they insured, how long have they been doing this, do they respond, do they turn up? What types of jobs can a handyman do? This is a huge area and exactly why handyman services are in such demand. It will really depend on the individual’s skillset. Obviously one person cannot do all of this but here are some typical jobs that some handymen may do…Carpentry, door replacement or repair, door lock replacement, wall repairs, brick or masonry repairs, plasterboard repairs, tiling, lawnmowing, landscaping, paving, concreting, constructing partitions or walls, shed erection, minor plumbing not requiring a license, flat pack assembly, kitchen or cabinet construction or assembly, painting, window repairs, furniture assembly, gutter cleaning, gutter repairs, property maintenance, curtain or blind installation, flyscreen repairs, pressure washing, caulking and sealing, fence repairs or construction, deck repairs, furniture repair, shelf installation, TV installation, data cable installation, rubbish removal, cleaning and much more! What types of jobs may get quoted as a complete job with labour and materials? This is usually the case for most trades or where they specialize in one industry and the work is usually new. For example, painters, brick layers, tilers, carpenters, rubbish removal, joiners, landscapers and so on. They do the same type of work every day and have experience in quoting their specialty. A handyman might cover dozens of trades and may not do the same job all year or ever! What types of jobs are priced per hour? Generally, this applies to smaller jobs which can be done in a day or less than a day. Also with some jobs, there are many “unknowns” and it would be impossible to gauge what will happen until the process begins. Repair and rectification work is another area where charging by the hour may work better. Because you have to deconstruct, and in many cases work backwards to carry out a repair, time is an unknown factor. You will not know what obstacles or problems you may uncover until you begin. That’s why “knock down rebuilds” are many times cheaper than a reno. Another example is if a client has embarked on a DIY project and has done the work incorrectly or in the wrong sequence, then you have to allow time to rectify all the errors and to get back on track. I’m on a budget and want a handyman who is cheap. Is that possible? Yes and no. In life you tend to get what you pay for. We all like to get value. Some people just look at the hourly rate and that’s how they make an assessment. This can be very expensive or even disastrous. Cheap is cheap for a reason. Is the cheap person actually running a business? Do they have an ABN? Do they have insurance. Do they have the right skillset and experience to get the job done? Do they have the right tools, equipment and knowledge? Will the repair last? If the task is low skill, such as weeding, moving rubbish, etc then focusing on rate might work, but for most things it’s a false economy. If I get charged by the hour, does that mean I could be getting ripped off? This is a myth. In actual fact, an hourly rate can benefit both parties. When someone quotes, as a complete job, they have to prepare for every eventuality and every disaster and that is reflected in the price. That’s one reason for some seemingly outrageous quotes. An hourly rate can be much more economical for the client. This line of thought comes from an employee mindset where people are standing around doing nothing or leaning on shovels. A good handyman is busy and will want to complete the job as soon as possible. They have other clients and jobs to move on to. Is a phone quote realistic? Generally, I would say no. If someone does exactly the same job multiple times, then perhaps that’s valid. In reality, it’s impossible to make an accurate assessment and quote on something invisible. This is just common sense. Personally, I look at every job. Then there are no misunderstandings. How soon should a tradesperson or handyman respond to my enquiry? This is a big issue across many industries. People do not respond. This is unprofessional. In an office or corporate environment, this is unforgivable. We need to remember most tradies are not sitting in an office with people answering phones for them, Usually, they’re a one-man operation. They are either on a job or in a job (literally and sometimes in a dangerous position). They may not be able to respond for quite a while. They should respond within 24 hours, ideally within a few hours on the same day. Sometimes that may not be possible but at other times, you might get lucky and get a reply right away. Leave a message, txt them or email them. The good ones will always respond. What skills should a good handyman have? Apart from technical skills, they should have good communication skills, good problem solving skills, a knowledge of the building process and building sequence, an understanding of structure, an understanding of all the trades involved in a home and sometimes Xray vision! Does a handyman require a license? Depends. Generally no, but the laws will vary from state to state. In NSW a license is required if the work carried out is in excess of $5000 and of course a license is required if carrying out plumbing, gas fitting or electrical work. Does a handyman do commercial work? A handyman will generally work within their expertise and skillset. Some will do commercial work, looking after, maintaining and repairing businesses and commercial premises. They may also do work on behalf of strata, commercial real estate, management and maintenance companies. Others will only do domestic work. Some will do a combination. Who is the highest rated handyman in the Southern Highlands? Highlands Fixit provides a local and trustworthy handyman service in the Southern Highlands. They consistently get positive feedback and five star reviews on Google and specialize in small jobs. Top 10 questions to ask when looking for a handyman. • Firstly, work out what you need help with and make a list • Ascertain their skillset. This is easily done by asking the simple question “is this something that you could do?” • Are you local? Sounds too simple but many are not. They just place ads and could be in another city or state. • Do you have an ABN? You want to know if they are a real business. • Are you insured? Again, simple but this is for your protection. • Ask about their experience. Some are very skilled and experienced. Others are not. Some will have a trade or a multiple trade background. • Are you the person who will be doing the work? Some will have employees. Others will contract the work out. It’s important to know who you’re dealing with. • What is your availability like? If he’s booked out for weeks or months, it may not work for your situation. • When would you like to come and have a look? This is not always a requirement but for some jobs it’s very important. • How do you charge? It’s not always about how much, but there needs to be clarity about the process. Are they quoting is for the whole job, or will it be priced on an hourly rate. Are there any extra expenses or potential costs? Also, enquire about payment methods. What to expect • A timely response. As you’re dealing with someone who is on the job and not in a call center, the response may not be immediate. A reasonable expectation is a response within 24 hours. Preferably same day or within a few hours. Sometimes you may get lucky and they may be able to reply between jobs. • Consistent communication. This applies to the tradie and the client. It’s important that both parties keep in touch and reply to each other with the required information in a timely manner wherever possible. • Neat and tidy. Are they clean and organized? Do they clean up regularly and especially on completion. • Do they explain the process, what is involved and what to expect? • Are they punctual? They should show up on the set date and on time. • Are they reliable? Do they complete as agreed • Are they honest? Do you get good advice? Their focus should be on helping you achieve a result. It’s not about money. They should be a trusted advisor for you and be able to make recommendations that are helpful to you. A good handyman can be an invaluable asset to any home or business owner, real estate agent, strata management company or maintenance company dealing in commercial property. They are often the “go to” person for a variety of small or urgent repairs. Having access to a reliable handyman is no different to having a trusted, accountant, lawyer, appliance repair person, plumber or doctor. When you need help, they are there to assist. Go here to read the complete article on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/definitive- handyman-guide-everything-you-wanted-know- services-joe-bz0hc If you need advice , have a small project or need help with anything, feel free to get in touch.