Affordable Handyman for the Round Rock area? (Austin: apartment, appliances)

[10scoachrick]

Well done! Glad it worked out for you. Always good to know a handy neighbor

[Gorfml]

Sounds like u could have easily done that yourself... *shrug*

[mark311]

Originally Posted by Gorfml

Sounds like u could have easily done that yourself... *shrug*

She said that it was too big and heavy for her to handle on her own. I'm glad to hear that a neighbor was able to help her out as I agree that it's tough to find a good dependable handyman at a reasonable rate.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Gorfml

Sounds like u could have easily done that yourself... *shrug*

Caught very early on, this 'fix' is manageable; but a proper garage/home entry door is pretty stout and any variance from perfect hinge alignment would result in improper door operation. Doors can be pretty frustrating until one gains a bit of experience and picks up a few 'tricks' of the project.(Hint: A Wonder bar and a few paint stir-sticks or thick carpet can replace a helper-person on door projects).

[Gorfml]

Yeah I know...just installed two French doors...without help...

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by mickey65

I'd be willing to pay $50 and a six-pack of beer to get it done the right way.

Seriously, how to you expect anyone to make a living at those rates?

Even "Chuck-in-a-truck" could not afford to drive across town for $50 if he is trying to run a successful business.

[mickey65]

It's done...

/end of thread.

[treyk1]

no doubt...sorry to hurt your feelings but, you are cheap.
"be warned"...no one wants to work for you.

What do you pay a plumber, electrician, mechanic, air conditioning repair, designer?

When you do find a handyman service charging $50 per job, then he most likely has some trade skills but doesn't know how to manage his business, expenses and income. He won't be doing that for very long. He sure isn't paying $1800/yr for liability insurance in case he puts a screw through the electrical wire or plumbing pipe in your wall. If you are lucky you won't have any catastrophes or warranty issues when he "can't be found anymore". You might find a migrant worker handyman to do that, with it's own risks. It's no wonder handymen/contractors get a bad wrap.

My overhead is ~$30/hr. (Truck/Insurance/Equip/TAXES). Driving to your house to listen to you talk for 45 minutes about how everyone is overcharging you, negotiate a price, and do the repair, and insure and warranty the work frankly isn't worth $20, and as a business owner it will probably end up costing me money in the long run. My time is much better spent taking good care of good-paying customers.

There is nothing wrong with finding a neighbor or friend to help with things like this but don't slam people as overcharging you that are trying to run a business and earn a meager, responsible living, and charge a "reasonable" rate.

You think I'm wrong?...call 10 listed handyman companies and ask them about their hourly rates and service call charges.

[mickey65]

Originally Posted by treyk1

My overhead is ~$30/hr. (Truck/Insurance/Equip/TAXES). Driving to your house to listen to you talk for 45 minutes about how everyone is overcharging you, negotiate a price, and do the repair, and insure and warranty the work frankly isn't worth $20, and as a business owner it will probably end up costing me money in the long run. My time is much better spent taking good care of good-paying customers.

You think I'm wrong?...call 10 listed handyman companies and ask them about their hourly rates and service call charges.

Actually NONE of the handyman I called would come out or call me back because just re-hanging a door was not enough work for them. If I had a big list for stuff for them to do, they would have all come knocking at my door and blowing up my phone. It had nothing to do with me saying to them I only wanted to pay $50 to get it done! (which I never did - BTW)

Maybe if one of them would have come out and got it done for me, that would have meant more business for them in the future, since unlike other snarky folks on this thread, I'm not very strong (at least not strong enough to hold up a 100 lb door to drill screws in the hinges for at the same time), or have carpentry and electricity skills.

I had figured something that only took about 15 minutes of my neighbor's time to do, would be a $50 job for a handyman to do also. I even supplied the parts!

Sorry, I'm not "cheap", but frugal and on my own paying all my own bills and just trying not to get ripped off.

The door is holding up fine by the way!

[Gorfml]

Aren't cheap and frugal the same thing?...