When things break down around the house, the obvious thing to do is call a contractor. Especially when you can't do it yourself because of time or experience. The problem is that sometimes the repair needed isn't worth a contractors time... Why you ask? Well, it's because like most businesses, they're in it to profit while providing the service they do. While that might be "ok" with you... there's generally a minimum charge that has to be charged to cover the cost of doing business. Things like labor and overhead business expenses. Most service businesses charge by the job, and not by the hour, including myself. The larger the company, the more business expense they incur, and so the more they have to charge.
That's when a "handyperson" might be a better fit. Today's handyman & women are skilled individuals who have gained a lot of their experience by working in the trade industry for contractors. Some might also be licensed in one or more of the trades, like electrical, plumbing or HVAC... but not necessarily.
I've been doing residential maintenance & repairs as an unlicensed contractor since 2010, and the work I do can be broken down into 3 basic categories with emphasizes on the word "lite"... Lite Electrical, Lite Plumbing and Lite Construction. For electrical this can be a ceiling fan, a light fixture to a switch or receptacle. Plumbing is the same, from faucets to toilets, and sprinkler heads to hose bibs, and so on. A handyman is more versatile than a contractor who specializes on one or two things only. A huge difference between a contractor and a handyman is that if a handyman makes a hole in the wall to access a problem, he will also repair the wall when finished. No need to call a drywall contractor or painter.
Larger repairs like installing a water heater or running a new circuit, recommend calling a licensed contractor. They'll need to pull a permit and have the work inspected.
Both types of contractors have their advantages and disadvantages. As for hanging pictures or changing light bulbs... yeah, we still do that. Check with your local handyman to see what their minimum charge is for a "punch-list". Because most of us don't have a huge back log, we can get to you pretty quick.
El Handyman
Irving, TX 75061
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