[Bertram]

Hi, I would like to know from those that live in Fl. how in demand are handyman services. I am thinking Southeast and/or Southwest. With the large influx of baby boomers and elderly, would this not be a service in demand.

Lemme know,

Thanks

[ellie]

I'm in the process of getting quotes from a couple of handymen who were recommended to me by my realtor. It's a much needed service but I'm not sure if you could make enough to live comfortably.

Or maybe you could. Have you done this before?

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by Bertram

Hi, I would like to know from those that live in Fl. how in demand are handyman services. I am thinking Southeast and/or Southwest. With the large influx of baby boomers and elderly, would this not be a service in demand.

Lemme know,

Thanks

well i think it's very much needed especially after we have storms but the problem you might run into is that there are a lot of crooks out there that do crappy jobs or just take the money and run. When we're all down from a bad storm, that's when the thoughtless crooks come out to scam us. You'd have a hard time with trust i think unless you had some kind of city issued certificate that your ok. Don't even know if they do that for handymen. But yes, i think we need more like you down here.

[younglisa7]

If you are going to be a handyman in florida please,please, please show up
when you say you will, return phone calls, and do your job. I think if you
are concientious(?) and relaible you can build a business. So many contractors here either never call back, never show up, or rip people off.
I've seen and heard about this many times.

As f

[younglisa7]

Sorry I hit the wrong button. Anyway as I was saying I don't know if you can
make a living. South florida is very expensive to live. Also check with the
couties to see about licensing. Building codes are pretty strict.

Good luck and do your research. You might want to read some local class-
ifieds and see how many handymen are advertising, what they charge, and
how backed up they are.
Lisa

[vpcats]

Oh Handyman Bertram.

Do you have a contractor's license or some sort of license to be a handyman? Do you have a "specialty" such as tile layer, bathroom remodels, wall texture or are you a jack of all trades?

I'm just asking because I think handymen here are a dime a dozen. Wait, don't take offense. There are many but there are very, very few who are reliable, honest, dedicated, meticulous and timely.
If you do your part and have ONE satisfied customer, word of mouth will keep you pretty busy. When you do get so busy, don't forget who put you there. Yes, always respect customer's time, their needs, their wallets. Keep in touch when you can't deliver what you promised by a certain day or time.
People are so much more accepting of inconveniences when they are informed.
I've remodeled my house about 90% in the last 4 years. My husband is a electrician but one of those who can do it all, and he actually IS pretty good at most things, plus he works out in the field with lots of new construction warehouses, dealerships, etc. so he has access to others for any questions.
I've had to hire many a handymen just because there is no time for us to do it all ourselves. I've had to knock out things after they were supposedly finished because of the horrible workmanship- uneven tiles, crooked columns, crooked kitchen cabinets. Gosh, they can't even paint a room with two colors without my having to come around and touch everything up.
It gets very frustrating and expensive.

I have probably written a lot more than you asked for but my point being....Have something where customers can check you out. Have references we can check (and not just of your friends). Maybe even have a "resume" type of thing. You have to sell yourself and you want returning business.

I would be ecstatic if I ever find someone who will do what I need to have done when I need it done and have to have it done only once. I wouldn't mind paying reasonable going rates for good, reliable and trustworthy service. Unfortunately, handymen here have such a bad rep because they are callous thieves for the most part. (I'm in Miami BTW).

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Bertram

Hi, I would like to know from those that live in Fl. how in demand are handyman services. I am thinking Southeast and/or Southwest. With the large influx of baby boomers and elderly, would this not be a service in demand.

Lemme know,

Thanks

The service business in Florida are great. I did lawn service at one time myself and know people who do different things like pool cleaning, pressure cleaning, roof repair & painting, house painting and so on and they all do well. Old people can't do their own work and a guy working 50 hours a week making good money wants to go play golf not clean his pool or cut his grass. If you are healthy and able, money is pretty easy to make in South Florida if you have some skills working for yourself. You won't get rich but you won't starve either. I had a guy renting from me making $800 to a $1000 a week delivering pizzas in the beach area in the season.

He had a collage degree and made more money delivering pizzas then he made working at the Fort Lauderdale news as an editor, (the job he quit). Fewer hours and no stress like the office world. He would spend his days fishing or hanging at the beach. That's a true story. He is in the landscaping business now and really doing well. He gets like $2000 just to take down a tree. There is money to be made in Florida just like every place else, but you won't find it in the classifieds, you have to be a go-getter.

[Bertram]

Hi, thanks for all the replies, they are all great to read. I do not live in Florida but my parents just closed on a new house in Delray Beach(not permanent- yet). My father is the type to roll up his sleeves and get down to work. After he closed on his house, he went down to start doing work. He did painting, trim work, hung fans, etc(nothing huge, no major construction). As he worked on the house he stated there was a steady stream of other new home owners that would come walking in the house, asking the painter if the owner was home. My dad would say "I am the owner" as they stood there with amazement in there eyes, as an actual owner would be doing all of this work himself. I went down to his development this past August, and it's about 90% complete. Every morning I was there I saw nothing but Service Vans parked in peoples driveways, from brick sealers, to closet organizers, painters, and the list goes on and on. I am just thinking, with the advice already handed out in this thread, with honesty, great customer service and all else that goes along with running an upstanding business, the work may not be to hard obtain. I would need to look into the proper Lisc. Codes, etc(as any contractor would have to)

Thanks again, and keep the replies coming.

P.S. My father stated, and he is not one to exaggerate, that you could be working in someone house and have a person with a clipboard stand by the service truck and do nothing but take appointments

[Bertram]

Originally Posted by ellie

I'm in the process of getting quotes from a couple of handymen who were recommended to me by my realtor. It's a much needed service but I'm not sure if you could make enough to live comfortably.

Or maybe you could. Have you done this before?

Ellie,

If you don't mind me asking, what types of quotes are you getting for what type of work. Are they billing time & material, or writting up a proposal for a complete job.

Thanks,

[jhlcomp]

I can echo what the others have said. We need good, reliable, honest, punctual, professional handmen here.