"Handyman", my ass!

[Carbo]

I'm torqued off, man. Three times in two days three different "handymen" have scheduled an appointment to show up at my house for some repairs/estimates. Need I tell you not a one of these dirtbags showed or called to cancel or reschedule. Just ranting, I guess.....

 

[BillGates]

Why can't you do the work yourself??

 

[Rallispec]

what broke?

 

[Geekbabe]

You have my total empathy, I think I could get an audience with the Pope a lot quicker than I can get an electrician in here !

 

[Slacker]

We can fix it, get some duct tape

 

[Ornery]

Just goes to show, even though we're in a slowdown, these guys either still have plenty of work or they've already made enough money this year!

That's the kind of work my brother does for a living. He says people are SO GREATFUL if you merely show up. Guess it's the same way across the country, eh?

My suggestion would be to find a "handyman" you can trust and stick with him. Then don't call for a quote, just call him, tell him what needs doing and to get on it ASAP. If you're worried he'll sock you with an outrageous bill, you need a different guy.

What kind of job is it? Maybe you can just do it yourself!

 

[yakko]

That is why it pays to know a job that will always get business no matter what the economy is like.

 

[Carbo]

Guys and gals, if I could do it myself I would. But, I can't so I shan't. One repair is a tear off and replacement of a flat roof over a patio. The other is replacing a zone valve and a gate valve on a sprinkler system.

 

[Kenny0829]

Piece "o" cake.
A little roofing and some Plumbing.
What part of the country are you in ?

Sorry Baffled, you'r to far away from me, I love doing Electrical work, good money, SOMETIMES easy, Sometimes in an older home, Your WORST NIGHTMARE.

 

[MichaelD]

<< Guys and gals, if I could do it myself I would. But, I can't so I shan't. One repair is a tear off and replacement of a flat roof over a patio. The other is replacing a zone valve and a gate valve on a sprinkler system. >>



Just adding my $.02. You 'd be surprised how many tutorials with lots of pictures are out on the web, about most home repairs. Neither one of the projects you describe is all that difficult.

Now, I realize that if you've never done it before, it sure as heck is "difficult", but you might surprise yourself w/how capable you really are.

For example, your sprinkler system is constructed out of 3/4 or 1" PVC pipe. Very easy to work with! You chop it to size with a hacksaw, put some goo over the ends and just stick the pieces together. No pipe threading. No welding.

You can do it! You may need $100 in materials for your lawn project.

If you do it.
$100 materials
$12 beer
$12 food
$124+ tax total

If you pay someone to do it.
$100 materials
$50 markup on materials
$100 labor
$25 to clean your carpet after he tracks mud in on the way to the bathroom
$275 total

See the diff?

 

[kgraeme]

<<
If you do it.
$100 materials
$12 beer
$12 food
$124+ tax total

If you pay someone to do it.
$100 materials
$50 markup on materials
$100 labor
$25 to clean your carpet after he tracks mud in on the way to the bathroom
$275 total
>>



You left the beer out of the second one. That's probably why people have such a hard time getting good help.

 

[Carbo]

<< What part of the country are you in ? >>

Florida. God forsaken, mosquito taken Florida........

 

[Brutuskend]

POOF

Your wish is my command.

Your ass has been Handy Manned........

 

[Ornery]

"...replacement of a flat roof over a patio..."

I'm not sure that's even a job for a "handyman". More like a hot roof job, no? Sprinkler sounds a lot easier. Perhaps the hardware store will have suggestions of who to get in touch with. Hell, stick around the contractor's counter a while and one will probably come along in a few minutes!