Tasks that a handyman can perform range from simple to complex. While many homeowners like the idea of DIY, the fact is that most people don’t have the time or the tools to do home maintenance or simple repairs.
This is where handyman services come into play. Generally speaking, you can hire a handyman for less money than a proper tradie and receive quicker service than bugging your other half with those “honey-do’s.” (Honey, can you do this? Honey, can you fix that over the weekend? You know how it goes!)
Handyman services are still very much in demand, although we don’t hear about them as much as we used to. What kind of work can you expect a handyman to do? You might be surprised by the answer!
What is a Handyman?
In short, a handyman is what we call a “jack of all trades.” Many are semi-retired tradespersons who enjoy doing small jobs in their spare time while earning some extra cash.
A handyman (or woman as the case may be) is someone who knows how to do a little bit of everything or someone who has a great deal of experience in a particular area. Most do not have a trades license which limits what they can do.
What Can a Handyman Do?
Before you start, check Licensed Trades to see if the work you need to be done requires a licence. You might still be able to find a handyman who has a licence, but you should know in advance if they will need one.
What exactly should you expect a handyman to be able to do? The following list is not all-inclusive, but it will give you an idea as to what jobs a handyman should be able to perform.
Home Maintenance
- Clearing rain gutters, pressure washing decks or a home exterior, cleaning ceiling fans or any other type of maintenance chore you want done.
- Garden care. Tree trimming, tree planting and staking, trimming bushes and cleaning up after storm damage are jobs you can expect your handyman to do for you.
- General odd-jobs around the home, including changing air conditioning filters, replacing light bulbs in fixtures that are very difficult to reach, fix sticking doors or even wash and stain a patio deck.
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Fireplace and chimney cleaning
- Barbie or fireplace pit cleaning
- Septic system repair
Home Improvements
- Concrete/cement work such as walkways and driveways
- Replace kitchen and bathroom countertops
- Install crown moldings
- Install new doors
- Dryer vent installation
- Curtain rod hanging or replacement
- Pool or spa cleaning
- Remodeling bathrooms
- Replacing toilets, tubs, or sinks
- Hooking up dishwashers or Jacuzzis
- Stonework, such as housing facades, fireplaces or walkways
- Installing water softeners or water purification systems
- Cabinet refacing or replacement
Home Repairs
- Plastering or other types of wall repairs, including patching, drywall and wallpaper repair.
- Furniture assembly or furniture repair. If you’ve ever dreaded putting together furniture from Ikea or other types of flatpack furniture, a handyman will put it together for you! Some of them might also be able to refinish or repair broken furniture.
- Repairing, replacing or even building custom flyscreens
- Fence repairs, including gates, latches, painting, and/or installing new planks or chain link when repairs are not possible.
- Repairing or replacing door and window locks
- Installing or repairing garage doors and garage door openers
- Ceramic tile repair or replacement.
- Replace, repair or install insulation
- Floor repair, including tile and timber flooring
- Repairing windows, replacing complete windows or glass replacement
- Drain cleaning or unclogging
Odd Jobs
- Plumbing leaks, replacing faucets, replacing toilet seals
- Yard work, including mowing, trimming, edging, removal of leaves and branches or planting
- Landscaping, such as sprinkler repair or installation, creating a space for a garden, tilling, weeding, and brush removal
- Installing shelves, towel racks, robe hooks, skylights, setting up a wall mounted television and solar panels.
- Build a dog house or a child’s playhouse. While this probably isn’t a common request, if you want a customized dog house or a playhouse for your children, a handyman should be able to do whatever project you have in mind.
- Repairing lamps, replacing or repairing fans, replacing electrical sockets, and installing other electrical items, such as security systems
- Boxing and moving services.
- Repairing a fountain
- Paint removal, such as scraping, sanding, or chemical stripping of decks, furniture or other painted surfaces
- Installing senior or handicapped living modifications including handrails, wheelchair ramps and widening doorways
There are probably a lot more than 42 things a handyman can do, so if you don’t see what you want done on this list, all you need to do is ask your handyman about what you have in mind.
Things to Keep in Mind
The cost of a handyman will depend on a number of things, so unless time is of the essence, you might want to shop around for prices. Some handymen charge by the hour, others by the job. Since most handymen charge a travel fee, it would be less expensive to have several small jobs performed in one visit, rather than have the jobs performed over several visits.
When getting a quote, be sure that everything is included in the price, such as travel time or extra charges for working weekends, so you don’t get a nasty surprise on your bill.
Most people are surprised at not only the number of things handymen can do but the skill with which jobs are performed. Handymen got their name because they are exactly that…handy! Handyman services save you time, money and free you from worrying about how you will get a job completed. Whether you need repairs, maintenance or just a helping hand, you can’t go wrong when you use your local handyman.
Here are some more home improvement blogs (that your local handyman can even help with!):
- Must-do home improvements before you sell
- 5 Home renos for under $1000
- Spring cleaning checklist for any time of the year
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