Other Cost Factors to Consider

When hiring a handyman, there is more to consider than the job itself. Other factors to think about include the size of the job, the experience of the handyman, the licenses he or she possesses and the distance they will need to travel.

 

Job Size

How big is the job? This might mean literally the size of what’s being worked on. Job size can also refer to the complexity of the job. Whether it’s the physical size of the job or the level of complexity, this is one of the biggest factors that could influence the final cost. Be sure to inquire about these details when collecting bids.

 

Experience

An experienced handyman often works quicker than an inexperienced handyman simply because he knows beforehand what’s involved and what complications might transpire. He knows what trouble spots to look out for and can avoid many mistakes that a less experienced handyman might make. However, this doesn’t mean that you will pay less by the hour. In fact, you might see a higher hourly rate.

​

An experienced handyman can charge more by the hour because he or she can get the job done with a greater amount of skill. Of course, a higher rate doesn’t necessarily guarantee a more experienced handyman — only a more expensive one. Verify the length of time a handyman has been in the business before going with a higher-priced one. Someone with 30 years in the trade is considered very experienced and can command a higher rate than someone with two years of experience. Ask about how long they’ve worked in the trade professionally.

​

Licenses

The licensing requirements for handymen are quite varied and depend primarily on where you live. Some states may not require any licensing while others insist that handymen be licensed and bonded the same as a contractor. However, even in states with no requirements, that could change when you get down to city level.

Hiring a licensed handyman provides you with a reasonable assurance that your job is being done by someone who has proven that he or she knows how to do the job. Hiring an unlicensed handyman requires you to take the worker's word for it that he or she has the skills and knowledge required for the task. A licensed handyman may charge more than an unlicensed one, but you can rest assured that you have hired a professional!

Travel

​

Many handymen advertise that they don’t charge for travel. Even if they don’t put anything in fine print, assume that they mean “locally” and “if I have to run out and get a part”. If you live in a rural or isolated area, you can expect to pay for travel. Some handymen simply include any travel in their hourly rate while others may offer free travel within a certain area, such as the first 10 miles. If mileage is charged, the standard practice is to charge according to the distance from the handyman’s place of business. Be sure to ask about this up front.

The IRS Federal Mileage Rate for 2015 is $0.575 per mile. While this is not a limit on how much a handyman (or anyone) can charge, it’s the amount they can declare. Most don’t charge much more than this.

​

Keeping Your Costs Down

Regardless of the job, you should never pay more than necessary for the handyman to complete the work. Some additional charges are unavoidable but make the effort to eliminate as many of those expenses as possible. When hiring a handyman, remember these tips to help keep your costs down:

• Clear furniture and other obstacles. This makes his job easier and, if you’re paying hourly, reduces the amount of time spent at the job. This is especially true for larger jobs. Unplugging and removing your toaster to get at the outlet may take only a second or two, but clearing out a room to replace carpeting can take all day in and of itself! If large fixtures need to be brought in, such as a washer, dryer or kitchen sink, make sure the paths to their destinations are clear of obstacles as well.

• Combine multiple small jobs if you can. If you have a lot of small jobs on your to-do list, such as replacing a medicine cabinet, changing a doorknob on an interior door and fixing a dripping faucet, you could save more money by hiring a handyman to take care of them all in one day instead of paying for three separate visits.

• Shop around. Three quotes are usually sufficient to get a good deal, but if the price still sounds high, continue shopping and try to haggle. Let the handyman know if you’re on a tight budget and they might be willing to work a deal out with you.

• Give the new guy a chance. Of course, you want to get the best service you can, so you might want to go with the handyman who’s been in business awhile. If you’re on a budget, however, someone who hasn’t been in business long might charge significantly less than would an old hand. The new guys are usually hungry for business and want to establish their reputations. They are also more willing to negotiate.

• Some agencies offer discounts for seniors, veterans or the disabled. They usually list this in their ads as it can be a major selling point for their services.

​

Get Guarantees in Writing

Did your handyman promise you a special hourly rate as a first-time customer? Were you promised that the work would be done by a specific date? Were the materials guaranteed of a certain quality? Any promises or guarantees that your handyman offers you must be presented in writing, or you'll have no recourse should the project go awry.

If you understand the process and ask the right questions, even when you're dealing with little jobs, your relationship with your handyman could be off to a great start.

​

Common Jobs for a Handyman

Your to-do list might be a mile long, but different factors can affect what you tackle first. When trying to decide what to do and when, consider both seasonality and urgency.

• Seasonal - Servicing your heater before the winter, fixing your sprinkler system before spring, installing a window air-conditioner before temperatures climb

• Urgent -  Leaky roof, broken pipes, sagging front step, loose stair railings, warm or humming electric outlets, loose lighting fixtures, toilet leaking at the base

  • These will result in more expensive repairs as your home incurs more damage over time.

  • By dealing with urgent jobs first, regardless of if the handyman charges at an hourly or flat rate, you will save money — and a lot more — in the long run.

Use these two factors to prioritize your projects. Prioritizing your projects can help you control the cost.

​

Jobs for a Contractor

Certain home improvement projects may require a service professional with special certifications. Research this ahead of time so you can hire the appropriate professional. If you are just replacing a sink, your local handyman should be able to accomplish the task with no trouble. However, if it’s the actual plumbing that needs replacing, you may be required to hire a licensed plumber for that job to keep your pipes and other infrastructure up to code. A handyman service can replace a ceiling lamp, but a certified electrical contractor should be the one to replace the junction box and the wiring within the ceiling or walls.

Here are some examples of jobs that need a permit and are best done by certified professionals:

• Adding a stairway

• Installing a new roof (not just individual tile replacement but the whole roof)

• Installing a fireplace or wood stove

• Building a raised deck

• Installing or replacing certain plumbing fixtures such as water heaters

• Major remodeling

• Putting in new doors or windows

• Building a retaining wall (not simply a decorative wall but one that is meant to hold back water and soil erosion, especially if it’s built adjacent to a public right-of-way such as a sidewalk)

• Any work requiring the repair or modification of the existing electrical, plumbing, or gas systems

​

If you aren’t sure if your job needs a permit or certification, check with your local building authority.

​

​

Total Cost of the Job

In some states -- like California -- a handyman is not permitted to take on jobs that cost more than $500 a day (including materials and labor). If your job is going to cost more than $500 a day, you should probably hire a contractor. Some unethical handymen will break a job down into hourly charges to sidestep such regulations. Be aware of this. It’s not only illegal, but it hints at shady business practices!

​

Independent vs. Corporate Handyman Services

The popular image of a handyman is the person with a pickup or van loaded with tools who’s ready to tackle any job, large or small. They could be your brother or sister, your cousin or your neighbor. There are also handymen who work for larger agencies. You may not know these handymen personally, but they probably have access to higher-end tools and might possess licenses to work on jobs that require them.

Whichever way you go, there are pros and cons to each:

Independent Pros

• With a personal reputation to establish and uphold, they are more likely to go “above and beyond” to help any word-of-mouth recommendations.

• They can be more flexible in their pricing for services since the contract is between you and the handyperson, not you and the company.

• The person you negotiated the price with is the person who will be doing the job. You know who’s going to show up for the job, and you have a chance to develop a good relationship with them. They will learn the specifics of your house and be intimately familiar with what repairs were done when and how.

Cons

• You will have to check his or her qualifications and reputation yourself.

• You won’t have any solid idea of the quality of work to expect until the work is done unless you have personally investigated the results of his or her prior work.

• Any complaints or grievances will be sent to the person you have a complaint or grievance against.

Corporate Pros

• The handyman’s background and qualifications have most likely already been checked by the company and are kept up-to-date.

• A company maintains the correct licenses and insurance, giving you peace of mind knowing that the job is done properly, and any accidents are covered.

• Companies have reputations, too. While you might not know the company handyman personally, he or she will likely show up in a uniform. Many companies guarantee a time they will show up, the quality of the work, and include clean-up as a standard service. Any complaints or grievances are filed with the company, not necessarily with the individual, and can be expected to be handled in a professional manner.

Cons

• Company handymen have their prices set by the company and are not as flexible in their pricing, if at all.

• You might not get the same handyman each time. If your house has something unique about it, such as an outlet that is not on the circuit it normally would be, the handyman will either have to check notes from whoever worked on it previously or will have to learn about it anew.

• Company policy may prevent the corporate handyman from “going above and beyond”. For example, if your toilet backs up while the independent handyman is fixing a light switch in your kitchen, he may just go out to his truck, grab an auger, and clear the blockage in a matter of minutes for little to no extra charge. A company handyman might be required by the company to put in a new work order and charge the going rate for the service.