How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Handyman?

The average cost to hire a handyman ranges from $30 to $125 per hour. 

The cost to hire a handyman depends on whether he works as an independent or as part of a professional handyman service. 

For an independent: Hourly fee averages $30 - $50, according to where you live. 

Handyman companies: $60 to $125 an hour, often with a minimum fee, mileage, and/or additional charges for trips to purchase materials.

What Services Can You Expect a Handyman to Provide?

Handymen typically handle a wide variety of tasks, such as:

● Household repairs (such as fence repair or drywall patching)

● Maintenance like gutter cleaning, lawn mowing, trash removal, and snow shoveling

● Small decorating jobs (such as paint touch ups, curtain hanging, etc.)

● Simple carpentry work (such as hanging cabinets or assembling flat-pack furniture)

Can a Handyman Perform Plumbing, Electrical or General Contractor Work?

In most regions, a contractor requires professional licensing while a handyman does not. For this reason, your jurisdiction, board, or homeowners insurance company may authorize a handyman to work on projects such as major electrical, plumbing, remodeling work, or certain emergency repairs only if they are carried out under the supervision of a licensed contractor. Handymen in some states are prohibited by law from performing plumbing tasks other than minor jobs, such as installing a new faucet fixture, so you might want to hire a licensed plumber for bigger tasks. For electrical work, you might need a master electrician to do major wiring jobs, but for small electrical repairs, you can hire a handyman as long as he has an electrical license.

How Can I Find the Best Handyman?

There are several resources to turn to when you need a handyman. Phone books and online listings usually provide ample starting points, but it’s often better to start specifically with a review service to winnow out people with bad records or those who aren’t established yet. You can read unbiased online reviews and verified accounts of homeowner experiences to learn more about what to expect from a good handyman. You can also turn to friends to see who they use and like, or consider asking a property management company or real estate agency about which handymen they prefer, as they have a lot of experience with hiring people for home renovation and maintenance projects.

What Certifications/Licensing Should I Look for When Hiring a Handyman?

If you want to find out more about your area’s licensing policies for handymen, enter the name of your state and an appropriate term, such as “handyman license requirements,” into an internet search engine. Doing so should bring up the website of your state government’s licensing board (the site address will end in .gov).