Knowing how to get hold of a handyman or woman when you need one is useful.
Often around your house, you may find small, fiddly jobs that you don’t have time, or the tools, to fix yourself.
That’s when being able to hire a handyman or woman is the perfect solution. You can call out them to come and put shelves up, hang pictures, assemble flat-packed furniture and more.
In this guide, we’ll tell you how much you can expect to pay for a handyman or women’s services. We’ll show you what affects their costs and how you can save money when it comes to hiring a handyman or woman.
At the end of the guide, we’ll advise you on how to find and hire a handyperson. Plus, we’ll give you some suggestions for questions you should ask when they come to give you a quote. Finally, we’ll answer some common frequently asked questions.
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What Does a Handyman or Woman Charge?
The table below breaks down estimated costs for hiring a handyman or woman to take on common household jobs.
| Job | Estimated Cost | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Handyperson services | £20 to £30 per hour | |
| Assemble flat pack furniture | £50 to £100 | 2 to 4 hours |
| Hang pictures or mirrors | £30 to £60 | 1 to 2 hours |
| Install a curtain rail | £30 to £60 | 1 to 2 hours |
| Install 8 alcove shelves | £200 | 4 to 8 hours |
| Paint woodwork | £60 to £140 | 2 to 5 hours |
As you can see from the table a handyman or woman charges between £20 and £30 an hour. It’s also common, however, for professional handymen or women to prefer to give you a fixed price for a job.
Hourly rates tend to be used for small jobs that take less than a full day, but the hourly rate will often equate to more than a quoted daily rate.
This is because if the professional does five hours of work for you, it is unlikely he will be able to take on any other jobs that day. Whereas bigger jobs that take two or three days can be charged at a day rate and still be profitable.
If you’re hoping to find a handyman or woman for jobs around the house, use HouseholdQuotes! All you need to do is fill in the online form and give a brief description of your needs and we’ll find handymen or women to give you no-obligation quotes.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of Hiring a Handyman or Woman?
There are several factors that could impact the final cost of hiring a handyman or woman. We take a look at these factors below so you know what to consider when creating your budget.
Ease of Access
If the job you want doing means clambering up to an awkward loft space, then this could increase the final cost. It will take longer for a tradesperson to do the job in an awkward or hard to access location.
Location
If you live somewhere central you can expect to pay less than a customer who lives in a remote location. All contractors add travelling time and costs to their quotations.
Travelling further means charging more money. You will also find that prices in London and the South East are generally higher than elsewhere across the UK.
Complexity of the Work
A straightforward job will be cheaper than something that’s more complex and requires greater skill. For example, you could pay around £60 to have curtain rails installed, but the estimated cost for installing a set of alcove shelves, in comparison, is £200 because this job involves more skill.
When you need to find a handyman or woman, HouseholdQuotes can help! Fill in the quick and easy online form and we’ll find you tradespeople in your area to give you no-obligation quotes for handy work.
Click To Get QuotesWhat’s Involved in Installing Floating Alcove Shelves?
First of all, your contractor will measure the walls in the alcove using a spirit level.
They will then mark where the shelves will go. Once the shelves are marked, they will drill out the holes and put in wall plugs.
They will then install narrow battens of wood for the frame. When the frame is installed, the shelf is put on top of each frame and screwed into the frame
The contractor will then place plyboard underneath each shelf and screw it into place.
The wood for the edge of the shelves will be glued on and then screwed in.
Any screws will be covered, and the shelves will be lightly sanded and cleaned. The shelves are then finished off with caulk filler around the edges.
The shelves can be used 24 hours after installation
How Does a Handyman or Woman Put Up a Curtain Rail?
The first job is to take the appropriate measurements of the window the curtain rail is going over.
If the window is large or the curtains are heavy your handyman or woman might install a central bracket for extra support. A spirit level will be used to make sure everything is level.
Before drilling anything, a detector should be used to make sure there are no pipes or wires across the top of the window.
The centre bracket will be screwed in and then measurements for the left and right-hand brackets will be taken. Room will be left for the curtain gather (the extra fabric that forms when the curtains are open).
When the brackets are in place, the finials (the decorative end piece) will be placed onto each pole and the grub screw tightened to hold it in place.
The curtains will then be fed onto the pole, and the pole placed onto the brackets.
If you also have wall tiebacks, they will need to be screwed into the wall.
How Can I Save Money When Hiring a Handyman or Woman?
There are several different tips and tricks you can use to save money when hiring a handyman or woman for jobs in your home.
Use a sole trader rather than a company. Companies that sub-contract handymen or women are likely to charge between £50 and £60 an hour against a sole trader’s £20 or £30 an hour.
If possible, pay a day rate. If you have several jobs that could take one or two days, you could ask the tradesperson to charge their day rate. You might make a saving if the job ends up taking longer than expected.
Supplying your own materials is a great way to save on costs. For example, if you want some painting to be done, then buy your own paint and choose a more affordable brand.
If you have your eye on a specific type of paint (a higher quality or particular brand), you may need to bite the bullet and spend the money instead of finding ways to save.
For example, in a DIY store you can buy:
- Own brand paint – cost between £4 and £5.50 per litre
- Dulux – costs between £6 and £9 per litre
- Farrow & Ball – costs between £19 and £21 per litre
If you are good at DIY then you can consider doing most handy jobs yourself, if you have the time and the tools. This will save you money on labour costs.
How Do I Find and Hire a Handyman or Woman?
Ask friends, family, and work colleagues if they’ve had any work done lately, or they know of a handyman or woman working in your area. You’ll feel able to trust their recommendations!
If you prefer to use the internet HouseholdQuotes can help you fast. Simply fill in our online form and tell us briefly what you need.
We’ll then find tradespeople to give you no-obligation quotes for any handy work you need to get done!
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Before a handyman or woman comes to give you a quote, make a list. Write down all the jobs you’d like them to do and the questions you want to ask the tradesperson so that you won’t forget them.
Another tip is to make sure each of your quotes contains the same jobs because otherwise, they won’t be easy to compare.
Always get quotations in writing. When a quote is in writing your handyman or woman can’t add on extras without your consent. If the scope of the work changes, get the extra work written down as well.
Below are some good questions to ask to make sure the professional is the right fit for you:
- Have you done a lot of this type of work? If you want someone with plenty of experience this question will help you to make up your mind. Or you might decide to give someone who is just starting out the opportunity to gain more experience.
- Have you got customer feedback and photographs of any work you’ve done in the past? The tradesperson may have a portfolio to show you, or they may direct you to their website. Websites often have case studies, photographs, and customer testimonials.
- Do you have insurance? Is your public liability insurance up to date? Public liability insurance is vital for all tradespeople. It protects them and you from any injury or damage claims should there be an accident caused by the work.
- Do you dispose of any waste, or do I need to do that?
- Is there a minimum call-out charge? – There may be a minimum call-out charge. This might be as much as £35 to £55. If this is the case it will be better to hire them for a few jobs rather than just one.
It is likely a tradesperson will add a minimum charge to a job that takes less than half a day. For example, if you have a job that takes a tradesperson 3 hours to complete, plus travelling time, they will likely charge you for half a day.
As we have mentioned previously, having a handyman or woman to help with small jobs around the house is invaluable. Jobs like putting up shelves and hanging pictures often get left because people don’t have the time to get them done.
A handyman or woman will save you from having bits and pieces hanging around waiting to be installed. They’ll get your small jobs done so your home looks and feels exactly how you want it.
When you want to find a handyman or woman use HouseholdQuotes. Fill in our online form and tell us briefly what you need to get done. We’ll then send you handymen and women in your area to give you no-obligation quotes!
Click To Get QuotesFinal Checklist
Use the checklist below and make sure you’ve got everything in order when it comes to hiring a handyman or woman:
- Make a list of all the things in your home that need the services of a handyman or woman (this will save you multiple call-out charges)
- Make sure they can do the jobs you need doing
- Buy your materials or prepare the working space if you want to save money
- Get multiple quotes! You can use HouseholdQuotes online search function to find a handyman or woman.
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Can a Handyman or Woman Do Any Plumbing or Electrical Work?
They will be able to do most minor jobs around the house. You will need specialists though if the job is more complex or involves gas.
Should I Find a Handyman or a Specialist Tradesperson for My Job?
If the job is technical or involves a boiler or gas appliance you will always need to hire a specialist like a registered Gas Safe Engineer.
Should a Handyman or Woman Have Qualifications?
Most handymen and women will understand basic construction and building. They should be able to do the following:
- Hang pictures and mirrors
- Install curtain rails
- Install alcove shelves
- Paint woodwork
- Clean and maintain a garden
- Hang doors
- Fix taps and leaking toilets
- Put in light switches and plugs
- Painting and decorating
- Laying wood or tiled floors without complex patterns
- Lay a carpet
- Move heavy items of furniture
- Build a small shed
A common job for a handyman or woman to do is clearing gutters. After the winter it is important to clear the leaves and debris from your gutters.
If they aren’t clear the water can’t drain and will end up seeping into your walls and causing damp.
This type of job is something you could do yourself, but it isn’t recommended as you would need to climb a ladder and work at height, which is dangerous. For these types of jobs, it’s useful to be able to know how to get in contact with a handyman or woman who can take it on for you!
Are There Any Jobs a Handyman or Woman Will Do That Needs Planning Permission or Building Regulation Approval?
Some jobs, such as a hanging door with glazing, or work on a fire door or if you have created an opening to fit in double doors, may require planning permission.
In this case, it’s best, before you start work, to contact your local planning office. Tell them what you want to do, and they will advise you about any building regulations.