Have you heard the old joke about the definition of homeowners? They’re people who sleep in their own bed at night but live at the hardware store. Every house needs care. Older houses need repairs to essential systems, from leaky sinks to broken light switches. New homes need to have curtains and shades hung and minor landscaping; some homeowners need help in assembling gas grills or putting bicycles together. Houses in between new and old need all sorts of touch-ups, refurbishments, and installations. Even the handiest of homeowners may not have time to work around the house—or may just need help from time to time. Examples of jobs include changing smoke detectors, caulking windows and bathtubs, touch-up painting or staining, changing locks, replacing light fixtures, installing garage door openers, driveway sealing, repairing screens, and installing weather stripping.
You’ll need a basic set of tools in the way to run the business of handyperson. Complex and/or expensive tools can often be rented for particular jobs. A good collection of home repair books and access to the Internet will be of great value. Up-front expenses also include advertising and promotion. Bill for jobs on an hourly basis; add charges for any hardware or supplies you must purchase, plus the cost of any rented equipment. If you will be on call for a number of jobs, it is a kind of good business practice to ask for an advance payment equal to several days’ worth of work; your actual hours will be subtracted from this retainer.