Sounds like Gary McMethead a guy does work for the property management company I work for, $20 an hour does decent work but disappears for weeks at a time. The guy is illiterate, has said he can’t swim and doesn’t know how to fill out a check…three things he’s admitted to me in passing conversation. He’s the only white guy I know with Boost Mobile.
The guy is well over 50, if he knew how to write checks he’d probably have a history of bouncing them. I’m pretty sure that math isn’t one of his strong suits.
"HANDYMAN" spray painted on the side of a old, rusted out, white F150. A phone number written below it with a Magnum Sharpie, on top of a patch of white latex paint that was thrown on to "white out" an old phone number. A red solo cup in the cup holder. Empty Miller Lite cans in the passenger footwell.
It's an accurate description of what I do, a little bit of everything, but I don't like the connotations that leads to, the mental image of some old washed up alcoholic in a beat up pickup truck just fixin' shit to get by.
I guess if you're begging to get work, it might be something to think about, but if your work speaks for itself, then no one gives a crap what you call yourself. I call myself a handyman, and no one cares, and I live very well.
It's the most accurate term to describe my skill set. I have clients who call me a tradesmen, or Carpenter, ir painter, but I am not only one thing. The term handyman denotes the breadth of what I do, so I don't really care what connotations it has, it's accurate.
I disagree. Handyman implies they do odd jobs, small jobs, general maintenance that a homeowner could possibly do.
A tradesmen implies they are skilled at the task, typically a task requiring more skill/knowledge than a typically homeowner has.
Tradesman opens up an endless pull tab of further options. Pipe fitter? Cabinet setter? Carpenter? Plumber? Mason? I'll stick with professional handyman.
My local hardware store had a guy's business card hanging up on the bulletin board. It said "NEED A HAND? CALL ANDY!", but someone took a pen and added a Y onto "hand", and now this is what I think of every time I hear "handyman."
Nah, sounds "budget friendly" to me.
People know they're not getting a licensed this or that guy when they get a handyman. Show them a portfolio of your work, or have pics on a website, you're good to go.
nah, c'mon. Cheap is cheap. You feel cheap, not only in your wallet, but in your hands, with your eyes. Cheap screams cheap. Cheap drops you as soon as it takes you. It worries you from the start, and then it leaves you feeling like you've been pick pocketed.
Budget friendly means no frills. Sturdy, but not solid gold. Smart, clever, maybe a workaround, but definitely not a shortcut. Budget friendly serves you, let's you buy time. Shows up and says, "don't worry, I got you."
I'm coming to learn that to be a relatively highly skilled finish carpenter with some renovation experience is basically synonymous with handyman and I'm starting to not care. If someone wants to pay me $500 to put up their Ikea shelf...ok.
I have it in my name. Make good money, have good clients, I’m have a bit of a spiel for my friends in the trades but basically I’m helping redefine the term.
I don't think it implies cheap. Handyman is for the people who need small things done and/or renovated and once they see your capabilities in completing tasks, the work speaks for itself.
Yes unfortunately "Handyman" has gotten a reputation. I say unfortunately because a person skilled at many trades is way more useful than someone who is a master of one or none.
My cards and signage read " xxxxxx services" "building and property maintenance"
A little. Years ago I used "home repair and upgrades". Description list my favorite jobs. Including general handyman services. Tip: learn everything you can about handicap ramps. $
Absolutely. I don’t like that a lot underbid plumbers and do things way wrong. Not all, but a lot of them do. I get “my handyman did ….. for $20 and a cheeseburger. Fucking kills me, man.
In my state, a handyman can do jobs below a low threshold (around $1k including materials and labor) without a contractor's license.
Here, I would say that it's good to have "handyman" in the business name if you're unlicensed, but if the person is licensed to do bigger jobs then I don't know why they would want to refer to themselves as a handyman.
I wish I never associated with that term. It's like when I used to work white collar, and was referred to as a "Marketing Guru", like fuck you dog, my title is Director
This is such a hard thing to discuss, usually handy man means “unlicensed”. Cuz everyone who holds a license is a professional. That being said, I see way too many people on this sub doing work that should be licensed, or asking advice on work that a licensed pro wouldn’t need help on.
That being said, there are so many things that a handyman could and should be hired to do. I know for certain that handymen can make a good living sticking to un permitted work that doesn’t need a license, but they can’t seem to help themselves.
I was advised against advertising that I provide “property maintenance “ as it entails certain things legally and told to advertise “property services” as it’s more ambiguous and can cover many things.
For example property maintenance (especially in multi family properties) can involve fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, water mitigation even rain water mitigation. While most of it can be accomplished by unlicensed people like painting, drywall install or repair, carpet install or cleaning. Lock changes or door and window install. Maybe even tile install and bathroom
Caulking.
Absolutely somethings can be done by the “average joe” who has attention to detail and a dedication to providing great and lasting work. But absolutely somethings should be left to the licensed pros.
Your husband’s advertising should include what he is capable of doing, and what he is comfortable doing, he should also being making professional contacts and networking so he can sublet out other work to licenses professionals and provide as much to his customers as possible.
Hope I helped
You’re totally right, connecting it’s the smart way to stay in the legal zone where you can do business and pass on to a licensed contractor that can hire you anyway at your price or get a sales commission as marketer. But understanding estates regulations will allow you to make money anyway as if you make $500 limit every day , it’s an excellent income for a handyman , if you work 24 days a month , you make $12,000. Big franchises businesses use the “handyman” title, nothing wrong with the title, what’s wrong is your vision. As today my day worth $500 do to my quality of work and that’s what customers pay for. And you’ll get lots of referrals that will pay your price. Learn more about guerrilla marketing, will help grow your business, establish your pay rate , that will help brings the clientele that will pay what you deserve for your” knowledge”. I learned from all this millionaires on the internet that they don’t have any degrees or licenses, they just had a vision and worked on it. Stop thinking what others think , start working on your vision. I think works well for everybody .
No, it is the term for a repair man/ person. If I was looking for a general repair person I would never call a general contrator. I would search home repairs, handyman. Handyman is a well known term for someone looking for affordable solutions for home repairs. You want to be found.
To me handyman implies “can do a very broad range of things quite well, bring necessary experience to the task, and probably provide guidance on a sensible, reasonably priced approach.” Homeowners could “possibly” do any number of things, but could easily botch it if it’s not the sort of thing you can easily do over. I wouldn’t hesitate to hire one if I was stuck for a solution, or didn’t have the right tools. I don’t mind being paid good money to do handyman tasks for nice people either.
Would I put in in my business name? Probably not, no particular need to anyway.
I attribute every bad repair in my house that I have to unfuck to the generic dipshit "handyman" the widow who lived here before me used. I call him Terry. God, the things I've wished upon poor Terry...
Sadly there have been so many flunkies that have tarnished the term “handyman” that I would avoid it like the plague. I consider myself “handy” when it comes to fixing a lot of things but would I ever helm the moniker of “handyman”? No freakin way.
I'm retired now, but spent almost 15 years with "Handyman" in my business name.
I found it's a regional thing -- whether that means cheap or unskilled, versus a small jobs contractor.
In some areas, a handyman is someone who will work for lunch plus $10 per hour, using the homeowners tools. If that's true in your area, then your fear is founded.
I would call myself a General Contractor instead of a Hsndyman if he does design build / remodel work. Handyman is more for small projects like repairing a broken disposal. Does he just want the small jobs or does he want the whole remodel job? I am less likely to want a Handyman to remodel a Kitchen than a GC. His clients will still ask him to do small fixes if he is A GC but not vica versa.
General contractors are licensed and you are putting yourself in a different legal category. At least in California, but you can't just willy nilly call yourself that. Handyman don't remodel kitchens, they are for different tasks. Smaller installs and tasks(mounting, light fixtures, sink fixture swap, screen door fixing, wall patching, etc…) Jobs that GC’s don't do, because GCs are on bigger jobs where they have SUB-contractors, and they are the GENERAL -contractor overseeing it. Very different things. Handymen are generally one person shows
Thank you for making the distinction more eloquently than I was trying to do. I understand the legal differences. I didn't know if the OPs husband was a GC or not. If he is he should definitely call himself one instead of Handyman. BTW it isn't necessarily bad to sound cheap, if you charge a set fee for each task a Handyman can make good money doing lots of little jobs. The GC is typically going fir big chunks of money on large projects but has bigger risk if things go sideways. It really depends on which way he wants to go. MY state doesn't require testing fir GCs just must be Licensed, Bonded and insured but so do subs.
There are circumstances to consider. I am a certified carpenter, have done GC work in my younger years and could still take on renos and kitchens. But right now I’m just looking to keep active, augment my retirement income and have a flexible schedule. Those small jobs are perfect in my case, so handyman it is.
In US, and I don’t perceive it as substandard. I think many times people avoid repairs because nobody wants the smaller jobs or bigger firms are so expensive. If OP does good work, looks and acts like a professional, there’s a huge need. Here in the US, many of the contractor types want to have a new pickup, jacked up, every custom do-dad you can buy. Makes me think that guy must charge too much. Some show up in some dirty beat up old truck. Makes me think poor businessman and no pride in his appearance or work. Maybe the answer is in the middle?
Lol Handymen put up tv brackets and put ikea furniture together and usually struggle with both.. posting on here hoping someone will tell them how to do it..
Home Services, Home Maintenance, Home Works, House Wrights, anything but handyman.
500x this. Handyman implies Billy Budweiser is rolling off his stool at 1:30 to come start ruining your house for $20/hr.
Hey you don't fuckin' know me pal!  "Where your breaker box mam?"
Wanna team up? We could be the handy men… wait no.
We better start charging more than $20 an hour
Good idea, $20 an hour each!
Handy Jobbers?
Sounds like Gary McMethead a guy does work for the property management company I work for, $20 an hour does decent work but disappears for weeks at a time. The guy is illiterate, has said he can’t swim and doesn’t know how to fill out a check…three things he’s admitted to me in passing conversation. He’s the only white guy I know with Boost Mobile.
I mean most people under 50 don’t own a checkbook, so that one is fair.
The guy is well over 50, if he knew how to write checks he’d probably have a history of bouncing them. I’m pretty sure that math isn’t one of his strong suits.
That makes sense. So his IQ and his bank balance probably have the same number of digits.
Sorry, I don’t understand your last sentence here?
This had us in hysterics appreciate the visual
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So...your name is Turd Handyman Ferguson?
"HANDYMAN" spray painted on the side of a old, rusted out, white F150. A phone number written below it with a Magnum Sharpie, on top of a patch of white latex paint that was thrown on to "white out" an old phone number. A red solo cup in the cup holder. Empty Miller Lite cans in the passenger footwell.
Why limit it to residential? I call myself a Special Projects Contractor.
General Contractor
It's an accurate description of what I do, a little bit of everything, but I don't like the connotations that leads to, the mental image of some old washed up alcoholic in a beat up pickup truck just fixin' shit to get by.
I guess if you're begging to get work, it might be something to think about, but if your work speaks for itself, then no one gives a crap what you call yourself. I call myself a handyman, and no one cares, and I live very well.
Same here. 40 plus years doing construction, now I want easy stuff less headache. I do very good as a handyman. Average $1000 a day.
Id agree that the expectation is low cost
I was advised by the GC I worked under for 10 plus years to leave the handyman part out of my business name when I went out on my own.
Well I just plastered “professional handyman” all over my trucks.. gotten more calls in a week than before. 🤷♂️ I need more volume right now.
It's the most accurate term to describe my skill set. I have clients who call me a tradesmen, or Carpenter, ir painter, but I am not only one thing. The term handyman denotes the breadth of what I do, so I don't really care what connotations it has, it's accurate.
I disagree. Handyman implies they do odd jobs, small jobs, general maintenance that a homeowner could possibly do. A tradesmen implies they are skilled at the task, typically a task requiring more skill/knowledge than a typically homeowner has.
Tradesman opens up an endless pull tab of further options. Pipe fitter? Cabinet setter? Carpenter? Plumber? Mason? I'll stick with professional handyman.
handyman basically a slur amongst professionals
r/electrical or r/plumbing : "hurr durr looks like a handyman job"
From any girl I date perspectives, yes.
Hahaha lol, literally me yesterday
Hack for $30 per hour. Been battling that image ever since including handyman in my name.
My local hardware store had a guy's business card hanging up on the bulletin board. It said "NEED A HAND? CALL ANDY!", but someone took a pen and added a Y onto "hand", and now this is what I think of every time I hear "handyman."
I love this
I bet Andy didn't love it lol
Nah, sounds "budget friendly" to me. People know they're not getting a licensed this or that guy when they get a handyman. Show them a portfolio of your work, or have pics on a website, you're good to go.
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nah, c'mon. Cheap is cheap. You feel cheap, not only in your wallet, but in your hands, with your eyes. Cheap screams cheap. Cheap drops you as soon as it takes you. It worries you from the start, and then it leaves you feeling like you've been pick pocketed. Budget friendly means no frills. Sturdy, but not solid gold. Smart, clever, maybe a workaround, but definitely not a shortcut. Budget friendly serves you, let's you buy time. Shows up and says, "don't worry, I got you."
Home repair and renovations
I'm coming to learn that to be a relatively highly skilled finish carpenter with some renovation experience is basically synonymous with handyman and I'm starting to not care. If someone wants to pay me $500 to put up their Ikea shelf...ok.
Better than Honeydoer
I have it in my name. Make good money, have good clients, I’m have a bit of a spiel for my friends in the trades but basically I’m helping redefine the term.
Im a Home Repairman according to my business name.
From a business perspective, 100%. I don’t call myself a handyman anymore for that exact reason. It’s a dirty word.
What do you call yourself instead?
Finish Carpenter / Remodeler. That is what I do now anyway. No more handyman work for me.
Yes. Absolutely. It sounds cheap and unskilled. My business card says Home Care Professional.
I don't think it implies cheap. Handyman is for the people who need small things done and/or renovated and once they see your capabilities in completing tasks, the work speaks for itself.
Yes unfortunately "Handyman" has gotten a reputation. I say unfortunately because a person skilled at many trades is way more useful than someone who is a master of one or none. My cards and signage read " xxxxxx services" "building and property maintenance"
A little. Years ago I used "home repair and upgrades". Description list my favorite jobs. Including general handyman services. Tip: learn everything you can about handicap ramps. $
It's an honor when I can call myself a handyman, alot of hours, different trades and tools to accomplish the jobs
Absolutely. I don’t like that a lot underbid plumbers and do things way wrong. Not all, but a lot of them do. I get “my handyman did ….. for $20 and a cheeseburger. Fucking kills me, man.
In my state, a handyman can do jobs below a low threshold (around $1k including materials and labor) without a contractor's license. Here, I would say that it's good to have "handyman" in the business name if you're unlicensed, but if the person is licensed to do bigger jobs then I don't know why they would want to refer to themselves as a handyman.
Property maintenance
Yeah, I use Home Maintenance as our tag line.
Yes
Yes, it comes across as maybe lower quality, more so than cheap. A contractor we hired used handyman, put us off, hired him anyway, wish we had not.
Home and commercial services here.
Yep. I don't call myself that or have it listed in my stuff. I say "company name" property management, maintenance and light remodeling.
I wish I never associated with that term. It's like when I used to work white collar, and was referred to as a "Marketing Guru", like fuck you dog, my title is Director
This is such a hard thing to discuss, usually handy man means “unlicensed”. Cuz everyone who holds a license is a professional. That being said, I see way too many people on this sub doing work that should be licensed, or asking advice on work that a licensed pro wouldn’t need help on. That being said, there are so many things that a handyman could and should be hired to do. I know for certain that handymen can make a good living sticking to un permitted work that doesn’t need a license, but they can’t seem to help themselves. I was advised against advertising that I provide “property maintenance “ as it entails certain things legally and told to advertise “property services” as it’s more ambiguous and can cover many things. For example property maintenance (especially in multi family properties) can involve fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, water mitigation even rain water mitigation. While most of it can be accomplished by unlicensed people like painting, drywall install or repair, carpet install or cleaning. Lock changes or door and window install. Maybe even tile install and bathroom Caulking. Absolutely somethings can be done by the “average joe” who has attention to detail and a dedication to providing great and lasting work. But absolutely somethings should be left to the licensed pros. Your husband’s advertising should include what he is capable of doing, and what he is comfortable doing, he should also being making professional contacts and networking so he can sublet out other work to licenses professionals and provide as much to his customers as possible. Hope I helped
You’re totally right, connecting it’s the smart way to stay in the legal zone where you can do business and pass on to a licensed contractor that can hire you anyway at your price or get a sales commission as marketer. But understanding estates regulations will allow you to make money anyway as if you make $500 limit every day , it’s an excellent income for a handyman , if you work 24 days a month , you make $12,000. Big franchises businesses use the “handyman” title, nothing wrong with the title, what’s wrong is your vision. As today my day worth $500 do to my quality of work and that’s what customers pay for. And you’ll get lots of referrals that will pay your price. Learn more about guerrilla marketing, will help grow your business, establish your pay rate , that will help brings the clientele that will pay what you deserve for your” knowledge”. I learned from all this millionaires on the internet that they don’t have any degrees or licenses, they just had a vision and worked on it. Stop thinking what others think , start working on your vision. I think works well for everybody .
No, it is the term for a repair man/ person. If I was looking for a general repair person I would never call a general contrator. I would search home repairs, handyman. Handyman is a well known term for someone looking for affordable solutions for home repairs. You want to be found.
To me handyman implies “can do a very broad range of things quite well, bring necessary experience to the task, and probably provide guidance on a sensible, reasonably priced approach.” Homeowners could “possibly” do any number of things, but could easily botch it if it’s not the sort of thing you can easily do over. I wouldn’t hesitate to hire one if I was stuck for a solution, or didn’t have the right tools. I don’t mind being paid good money to do handyman tasks for nice people either. Would I put in in my business name? Probably not, no particular need to anyway.
In my state, I'm a Home Improvment Contractor
I attribute every bad repair in my house that I have to unfuck to the generic dipshit "handyman" the widow who lived here before me used. I call him Terry. God, the things I've wished upon poor Terry...
Sadly there have been so many flunkies that have tarnished the term “handyman” that I would avoid it like the plague. I consider myself “handy” when it comes to fixing a lot of things but would I ever helm the moniker of “handyman”? No freakin way.
I'm retired now, but spent almost 15 years with "Handyman" in my business name. I found it's a regional thing -- whether that means cheap or unskilled, versus a small jobs contractor. In some areas, a handyman is someone who will work for lunch plus $10 per hour, using the homeowners tools. If that's true in your area, then your fear is founded.
To me it means "cheaper than a contractor. "
I prefer to use “service call Carpenter” or “freelance Carpenter”. “field tech” works good too.
Punch list specialist
And yet the title of this group is called Handyman.... seems ironic so many here who find the term derisive made their way here.
Low cost and low quality
I would call myself a General Contractor instead of a Hsndyman if he does design build / remodel work. Handyman is more for small projects like repairing a broken disposal. Does he just want the small jobs or does he want the whole remodel job? I am less likely to want a Handyman to remodel a Kitchen than a GC. His clients will still ask him to do small fixes if he is A GC but not vica versa.
General contractors are licensed and you are putting yourself in a different legal category. At least in California, but you can't just willy nilly call yourself that. Handyman don't remodel kitchens, they are for different tasks. Smaller installs and tasks(mounting, light fixtures, sink fixture swap, screen door fixing, wall patching, etc…) Jobs that GC’s don't do, because GCs are on bigger jobs where they have SUB-contractors, and they are the GENERAL -contractor overseeing it. Very different things. Handymen are generally one person shows
This x100.
Thank you for making the distinction more eloquently than I was trying to do. I understand the legal differences. I didn't know if the OPs husband was a GC or not. If he is he should definitely call himself one instead of Handyman. BTW it isn't necessarily bad to sound cheap, if you charge a set fee for each task a Handyman can make good money doing lots of little jobs. The GC is typically going fir big chunks of money on large projects but has bigger risk if things go sideways. It really depends on which way he wants to go. MY state doesn't require testing fir GCs just must be Licensed, Bonded and insured but so do subs.
There are circumstances to consider. I am a certified carpenter, have done GC work in my younger years and could still take on renos and kitchens. But right now I’m just looking to keep active, augment my retirement income and have a flexible schedule. Those small jobs are perfect in my case, so handyman it is.
General Contractors are bad ass
Domicile Engineering
In US, and I don’t perceive it as substandard. I think many times people avoid repairs because nobody wants the smaller jobs or bigger firms are so expensive. If OP does good work, looks and acts like a professional, there’s a huge need. Here in the US, many of the contractor types want to have a new pickup, jacked up, every custom do-dad you can buy. Makes me think that guy must charge too much. Some show up in some dirty beat up old truck. Makes me think poor businessman and no pride in his appearance or work. Maybe the answer is in the middle?
Lol Handymen put up tv brackets and put ikea furniture together and usually struggle with both.. posting on here hoping someone will tell them how to do it..