Your Dallas Handyman

Hmmm…it depends. The short answer – in Dallas, and most everywhere else, the cost range can be dramatic…and confusing. The quality of a handyman service can vary greatly based on the size of the handyman company (many are sole proprietors or small LLCs and just about as many are franchise owners). If you were to call 5 different handymen, you would likely get 5 different prices for the same job. That didn’t help much, did it?

Let’s try a little insight on the industry and maybe shed some light on who’s out there bidding for your work, and hopefully you can go from there. Talk to your handyman about the job you need done to see how experienced he is in that area. You can be sure, the price you get from a particular pro may in no way reflect his ability to perform the job. Overhead plays a pretty big role as well, insurance costs, his certifications and so forth all affect pricing. I know a guy who charges $25 an hour to house flippers (real estate investors) and maybe upwards of $75 per hour to stain a fence. He happens to be very fast and very good at staining fences but will work a job site doing odd jobs for a smaller wage. At any rate, it’s the same guy, but a different approach on how he prices out a job. The main thing in that example is that the fence staining is actually a standard price per linear foot, which works out to a very good hourly wage for him.

Most handymen charge flat rates for a job. Some even advertise their basic rates. For the most part, handymen charge anywhere from $25 to $65 per hour and calculate how long they think it will take to accomplish the job. Some very experienced handymen charge somewhere in the range of $65 to $75 for the first half hour, then $35 to $45 for every hour after that. I think that’s a pretty fair approach so the cost and time involved in driving to the job site is covered. My approach is similar at about $45 per hour if I estimate the job under a half day and around $30 to $40 an hour for longer jobs. Personally, I almost always give a price up front and write out the scope of work involved beforehand so there are no questions later when the job is completed.

Let’s compare pros: A Plumber may come into your home and replace a drain, and it takes him an hour and a half to get everything done, then he charges you $175 for the repair. Then let’s say a handyman comes in and does the exact same job. Is he worth $175? More than likely, he will charge less. Say, $120 for the same job. Remember, $75 for the first 1/2 hour, then $45 per hour after that. While he’s there, you may as well have him look at that long over due porch repair as well. You can’t ask the plumber to do that! To be fair, a plumber can also run new water service to the free-standing garage you built in the backyard, but you might not want the handyman to handle that one. There are code issues and job specific licensing involved. You can check out my article on who you should hire for your job if you’re unsure about who to call.

So, in an attempt to answer the question in a straightforward way, I’d say a good, professional handyman will run you anywhere from $25 to $65 per hour. Not a great answer, but without more specific information about what job it is we’re talking about, it’s really impossible to say with any more accuracy. Remember to ask questions. Compare prices. And remember, you usually get what you pay for, but don’t overlook the small entrepreneur working his butt off making it happen!

I own a small home improvement business in northeast Dallas called Thousand Hills Properties.

Should you hire a contractor, or a handyman?

Often a contractor’s fees to handle small projects can be cost prohibitive.
A handyman typically handles small jobs around the house and yard for both businesses and homeowners alike, and can provide a practical and cost effective solution. A good handyman may be hard to find, so in this article I will cover what jobs should go to your own Dallas handyman and which ones to give a contractor. If you’re ready to hire someone now, (namely, me…:) you can go to Thousand Hills Properties and fill out a contact form or call me. Either way, I’ve put together some general thoughts and ideas on how to decide which pro to hire.

Generally, If your project requires a specialized license, permits and/or inspections, or may last several days to a week or more, you should probably use a general contractor. If you really don’t know who to call, there are places youcan go on the web to find pros who are pre-screened and registered with marketing and placement companies. Service Magic is a great example. Professionals are registered with them and when you fill out a form describing your project, they locate and notify a pro in your area. They have a thorough pre-screening process and a customer rating system so you can see some feedback from other customers.

Smaller projects or ones that require less specialization may go to a professional handyman. Developing a relationship with a reliable and trustworthy handyman over the long term is a good idea for any homeowner. It’s always nice to address those home improvement projects a house needs from time to time easily and quickly. Before going out and hiring a general contractor to repair a hole in drywall or to paint a room, you can hire a handyman. A contractor’s fees to handle small projects can be discouraging.

There are a few good rules of thumb when considering a handyman. With a little investment in time compiling your projects and listing them out with a budget in mind, you can save both money and energy over the long haul. Here is a list of jobs that you can have one good handyman take care of for you:

• Minor plumbing like leaky faucets, a new sink or fixtures
• Minor electrical work like a new ceiling fan, an added plug or switch
• Fixing a leaky roof or correcting drainage problems
• Miscellaneous carpentry around the house
• Painting a room or garage area
• Siding repair
• Building shelves
• Tile repair or installation

This list could go on and on, but you get the idea. If you’re going to re-side or re-roof your home, get a reliable contractor. But if you just need to put in a new sink or faucet, or want to install a ceiling fan or a new mirror in the bath, most handyman services can handle it.

Both handyman services and general contractors should provide you with a free no obligation estimate before tackling any project. A homeowner should never hire anyone without knowing the cost of the project. A good handyman can offer time estimates and work either by the hour or by the job like a major contractor would.

If you want to work alongside your hired help, that shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. Some handymen prefer to work alone, but most will work with you if you just want some help getting something done. You’ll likely get an hourly rate if you go this route.

Tips:

• Have a list of all your projects handy before you call someone. Once your pro is on site, have him price each project separately, then together as a whole. Depending on the work involved, you may be able to save money having him tackle at least a few things all at once.
• Ask for references and don’t be afraid to call one or two of them. Handyman are a special breed. Good ones should be very open while the ones you don’t want around hold things close to the chest. It’s difficult at first to know which are which.
• Until you develop a primary handyman relationship that you are very comfortable with, don’t be afraid to get multiple bids. If you get bids, let your handyman know you are getting other bids. It’s not only polite but remember that trust is built two ways.
• Ask your handyman what he specializes in. Engage him in conversation. A good handyman should know a lot about many different things, but you can be sure he is an expert at only a few. Spending a little time up front with him can go a long way. He likely knows other handymen who can take up his slack where he needs it.

Contracting brokers are another option for you. They are like salesmen who work for a lot of different companies. When you call a good contracting broker, he will assess your need and find the right company for the job you need done. He gets paid a commission  from the contracting company as though he were on their sales force, after the job is complete. Some brokers simply point at the right company for you. Others work more like a consultant and service provider. Those really are the best kind. They know it’s in their best interest to make sure you are happy with both the level of service and the finished project and work with you in every aspect of the job. Using a broker should not cost you any extra money and can alleviate much of the task load.

I am a sole proprietor doing business as Thousand Hills Properties in the Dallas area. My expertise is in paint and light carpentry but I have a great working knowledge of plumbing and light electrical. I grew up a carpenter’s son and have worked in practically every area of home improvement. I have brokered a lot of jobs locally and work with some excellent and reasonably priced companies.