Do you have - literally - a handyman? (house, neighborhood)

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Voebe

Well, perhaps you wouldn't get out of bed, but for many people, they're not figuring on getting rich, they enjoy the work, and they mostly work right in their own neighborhood. You're right that real estate people often know guys, but they're more in the $40-$50 range.

* * * * * *

Well, given the meager response here, it seems that the classic handyman may have died out in the Phoenix metro area.

The older we all get, the easier it is to get locked in a pricing time warp. In 2019, $15 an hour with a skill is grossly underpaid. My key won't fit in the ignition for $15. More like $100.

Here you go. From https://www.angieslist.com/articles/...man-prices.htm "Angie’s List members who had similar handyman jobs done in 2014 reported paying an average of $83 per hour with a general range of $50 to $100, not including discounts many service providers offer to Angie’s List members. "

Or https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/handyman/ "

"Small Jobs
1-2 hours, $77-$154 average
Medium Jobs
2-4 hours, $154-$308 average
Large Jobs
4+ hours, $308 on up."


If you want someone for $15 an hour, expect a troubled person knocking on your door. The labor rates in AZ are cheaper. I usually pay $40-50 an hour.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

It's an inconvenience to be sure, but it turns out everybody likes to be paid for their work.

Apart from the fact that people do pay handymen (and, in my opinion, over-paying at $50/hour for minor work), I've often run into people who, for a good client, will sometimes waive any charge. In fact, I've done it myself. Maybe not everyone is as money-oriented as you.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Voebe

Apart from the fact that people do pay handymen (and, in my opinion, over-paying at $50/hour for minor work), I've often run into people who, for a good client, will sometimes waive any charge. In fact, I've done it myself. Maybe not everyone is as money-oriented as you.

Realize that someone doesn't actually make "$50 an hour" when they charge $50 an hour.

Any contractor including a handyman will be working for free or going backwards when:

* They bid on 3 jobs and they get one.
* The buy tools and fix their tools, etc.
* Go to industry shows to get smarter (or buy magazines and read about their craft).
* Returning and making phone calls.
* Make bids and bill out clients.
* Go to the bank to deposit checks (copy checks, and the accounting work that goes with it).
* All kinds of paperwork measured in dozens and dozens in hours working for free. Like taxes (sales tax, Visa and Mastercard processing, annual income tax including miles driven etc).
* Time management for rearranging days of work to keep busy.

I can go on and on. My point being if someone has an actual talent and can fix things for 1/2 the rate of a plumber or electrician and is also creative, do you really think they should drive out to your house for 4 total hours to fix a bunch of things for anything less than $200? Let's not forget they have to split the profits with their silent business partner (the government). That includes paying double social security.

Next up, that $50 an hour also pays for their medical insurance and life insurance expense. Also, who pays for their vacation time? Don't you get time off at work? What about their retirement? The self employed get all the time they want off... Without pay!

My point is, $50 an hour isn't free and clear. Rather, it includes many hours working for free. I suspect you forgot the overhead that is a net loss, and the need to buy insurance and healthcare. So yea, they better be money oriented when they come out to your house to bid on a job. because you will think $200 for 4 hours is ridiculous overpriced. If they do and bid a measly $200, they just lost an hour of their valuable time because you weren't able to put yourself in their shoes. For the record, I'm not a contractor but I can figure out why $50 an hour isn't really all that much because if what I just typed. Or putting it another way, look at their taxes. They aren't living large.

It's clear why you cannot find a handyman. You want to steal someones time. Don't be a cheapskate.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

The older we all get, the easier it is to get locked in a pricing time warp. In 2019, $15 an hour with a skill is grossly underpaid. My key won't fit in the ignition for $15. More like $100.

Here you go. From https://www.angieslist.com/articles/...man-prices.htm "Angie’s List members who had similar handyman jobs done in 2014 reported paying an average of $83 per hour with a general range of $50 to $100, not including discounts many service providers offer to Angie’s List members. "

If you want someone for $15 an hour, expect a troubled person knocking on your door. The labor rates in AZ are cheaper. I usually pay $40-50 an hour.

Excuse me, but the point of a handyman is that one uses them for low-skill small jobs. I think if you stop people randomly on the street and ask if they consider $100/hour as a reasonable price for a handyman, they'd look at you as if you'd lost your mind. For $100/hour, most people would be getting a licensed plumber to do complex work, not to spend ten minutes fixing a drippy faucet.

That's nice if you feel like wildly overpaying, but it seems unreasonable to denigrate someone like me who's more realistic. And, sure, if you go to sites like Home Advisor, you'll get wildly inflated prices.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Voebe

Excuse me, but the point of a handyman is that one uses them for low-skill small jobs. I think if you stop people randomly on the street and ask if they consider $100/hour as a reasonable price for a handyman, they'd look at you as if you'd lost your mind. For $100/hour, most people would be getting a licensed plumber to do complex work, not to spend ten minutes fixing a drippy faucet.

That's nice if you feel like wildly overpaying, but it seems unreasonable to denigrate someone like me who's more realistic. And, sure, if you go to sites like Home Advisor, you'll get wildly inflated prices.

Why are you discussing $100/hour? You are attempting to move the goal post to prove your point. You said you were looking for a great guy for $15 an hour. You quoted contractors making $50 an hour. Where did $100 come from? Read your own words below.

Originally Posted by Voebe

...Not an unlicensed contractor who's mainly interested in big re-modeling jobs and changes $50+ an hour. I'm curious because when I've asked neighbors if they know someone for something small, like fixing a dripping faucet, then all sigh, and say, no, not anymore. I've known great guys who charged around $15 or less, maybe moonlighting while working at a hardware store, or maybe older retired guys who liked to keep busy and enjoyed the socializing. But not these days.

Then I explained that are in a time warp. No one with a skill works for $15 an hour. Furthermore, no contractor bills out at $50 an hour (it's higher). I explained overheard and why people charge more so that their real hourly is actually much less. Meaning you cannot compare 9-5 wages with an hourly contractor rate. Did you skip over that part?

Next, you returned to the $50/hour range again.

Originally Posted by Voebe

Well, perhaps you wouldn't get out of bed, but for many people, they're not figuring on getting rich, they enjoy the work, and they mostly work right in their own neighborhood. You're right that real estate people often know guys, but they're more in the $40-$50 range.

Let's break down your last post.

Originally Posted by Voebe

Excuse me, but the point of a handyman is that one uses them for low-skill small jobs.

Low skill? No wonder why you cannot find anyone. You don't respect their craft and you think they are going to come over to your house, fix you faucet, assembly a fan, replace a GFI. If it takes him 2 hours, you are going to fork over a whopping $30 bucks? You are a cheapskate! You cannot figure it out yet you want to pay a fraction of what the market makes.

If it's not a skill, why can't you fix a leaky faucet that other people call plumbers for? What's next, painting isn't a skill? My handyman can do knockdown texturing, re-paint my air conditioner, do basic electrical, hang whatever I want him to, put in my out door lighting, etc. Sorry, but that's a skill. I cannot do it and I don't want to learn. I do what I do and I get paid well for it. Giving someone $400 a day for knocking down my 30 item "honey-do list" is cheap. everyone one of the 30 items takes a skill.

[Solere]

I think a competent, reliable drug free, multi-skilled handyman in Metro Phoenix would be successful if he prices his labor at $30 an hour and then accepts small jobs close to where he resides, or if he needs to travel across town, then he should have a 4 hour minimum.

[thinkalot]

Originally Posted by Happs

I think a competent, reliable drug free, multi-skilled handyman in Metro Phoenix would be successful if he prices his labor at $30 an hour and then accepts small jobs close to where he resides, or if he needs to travel across town, then he should have a 4 hour minimum.

Labor costs are determined by demand. A skilled licensed handyman, which means they can do jobs over $1000 in labor and materials, are like gold. The last 2 I paid $70 and $75 an hour and I had to wait get on their schedule. They should make much more than some dime a dozen IT guy.

[wase4711]

the labor rates in Phoenix, for minor or major work is ALOT lower than many major cities; In Illinois, not only is there the union issue/trip charges/ premium for living near Chicago, but all the other associated costs of doing business as well.

that being said, I am MORE THAN HAPPY to pay someone out here a fair and decent amount for good work being done, and, frankly, if I really like how they work, I give them a 20 dollar or more tip as well, just because it makes me feel good about doing it, plus I know if I REALLY need them to come back and help me out in a pinch, they will be there for me..

yesterday, I had an electrician that does really nice work, come and install 2 ceiling fans for me; the going rate out here is about 150 per fan; he changed me 75 for TWO OF THEM, and, when I tried to give him a 25 dollar tip, since I felt guilty about how cheap it was, he refused..he knows, that I have "taken care" of him several times before, so he is happy to give me a deal, since he knows he will be "taken care of"

if you re looking for a one and done type of handyman, be prepared to pay higher prices; I wouldn't expect someone to sweep my floors for 15 bucks an hour now a days, let alone actually fix something in my house that I care so much about..

[Sno0909]

Yep, I have a great one that charges about $20 an hour.

[john3232]

It's doubtful you'll find anyone good for $15 an hour. $40 and you can get someone skilled who will do the job right.

Question then becomes finding such a person.

I'd recommend using the Nextdoor web site for recommendations.

You want someone in the same area or at least a city close to where you live.