How to hire a handyman
A handyman handles the pile of small jobs that are each too minor for a specialist trade — mounting, patching, assembling, adjusting and fixing the things that have been annoying you for months.
What the job usually involves
- Mounting: TVs, shelves, blinds, mirrors, curtain rails, grab rails.
- Repairs: doors that stick, drawers that fall out, cabinet hinges, drywall holes.
- Assembly: flat-pack furniture, gym equipment, playsets.
- Small replacements: taps, toilet seats, light fixtures, weatherstripping.
- Punch lists: the twenty small things before a house goes on the market.
What to ask before you agree to anything
- Do you charge by the hour or by the job, and is there a minimum call-out?
- Can I batch several small jobs into one visit at a better rate?
- Do you pick up materials, and is that time billed?
- Which of these jobs actually needs a licensed electrician or plumber instead?
- Do you carry liability insurance?
Warning signs
- Willingness to take on electrical panel or gas work that legally needs a licensed trade.
- No minimum stated, then a surprise minimum on the invoice.
- Cash only with no invoice on a multi-hour job.
Common questions
What can a handyman legally do?
Minor repairs, assembly, mounting and cosmetic work are almost always fine. Electrical panel work, gas lines and most plumbing alterations generally require a licensed trade, and rules vary by state and county. A good handyman tells you when a job is not theirs to take.
Is it cheaper to batch small jobs together?
Usually, because most of the cost of a short visit is getting there. If you have five small things, list all five when you ask for a quote rather than booking them one at a time.
Should I pay a handyman up front?
A deposit covering materials on a large job is normal. Paying in full before any work happens is not. For ordinary jobs, payment on completion is standard, and you should get an invoice showing what was done and what it cost.
How does Region Beacon work for handymen?
You describe the job once. The first nearby business that takes it gets your details and contacts you; nobody else does. You deal with whoever you pick directly, and you pay them directly — Region Beacon never handles the money and takes no commission, so nothing is added to your price for using it.
How do I know if a handyman's quote is fair?
Get more than one. A single quote tells you what one business charges; three tell you what the job is worth where you live. Ask each for the same scope in writing, and treat a quote far below the others as probably missing something rather than a bargain.
Get quotes from handymen near you
Describe the job once and the first nearby business to take it contacts you. Only that one gets your details, no commission is added, and your details are not sold on to anyone.