Suddenly I'm a Handyman!

[John Rumm]

It seems there is an opportunity here to "manage and tidy up" the bigger projects without getting that closely involved yourself.

Say for example customer wants a complete a new bathroom, you could do the requirements capture at the start and then run the job calling on the services of plumbers, electricians, plasterers, tilers etc. Then be on hand to smooth over all the snagging etc at the end. The trades people may like the idea of being able to get in and do the job without having to worry about making good at the end or even spending too much time working with the customer establishing requirements. Since you are not doing all the work yourself you get a chance to duplicate your time a little since you could probably run more than one job at a time, or run one and carry out smaller handyman ones in parallel.

I guess in reality you would have to analyse your sales records over a period of time to work out where most profit comes from (i.e. repeat business or new prospects), and devote your marketing efforts in an appropriate proportion. It sounds like the sort of area where ones initial assumptions may be way out.

[Dave Liquorice]

Not round here there aren't. Nearest "trade" counters are 20+ miles away... The figures for charges are interesting, I doubt I'd get away with =A340 for the first half hour, might =A330 though. Hum...

I like that idea but the only "local suppliers" here would be all the other local tradesmen...

One thing that hasn't been pointed out particulary well is the cost of transport. Don't just think in terms of the fuel used. My vehicle cost

14p/mile in fuel (diesel, 28mpg) but 38p/mile when you take into account insurance and maintenace but *not* depreciation. That 38p is below the average ATM as it's due a service, after that service bill hits I'd expect the cost to be 45p/mile or higher. So if you drive 20 miles, round trip, to do a job, that costs you =A38.00 just for the transport costs...

[Dave Liquorice]

How do you cope with all those people? 10km by 20km and 2,100 people round here.

[david lang]

In my experience the 'grey market' has a higher spend than most others. Mortgage paid off, pension & benefits coming in - the little old lady has more disposable income that most.

I have been described by an ex Catholic priest as an 'accidental Christian's. I agree you should be kind & fair to people.

As much as they will pay to have it done. An hourly rate can only be fair.

Such a person would not be employing me, they would contact social services and have the washing machine & installation paid for by the local authority. SWIMBO works for social services, it's common practice - and quite right too.

How long will it take to flood a market of 250,000 people?

Positive thought - you can't beat it.

Dave

[david lang]

The concept of 'project management' had occurred to me. Few have the time, knowledge & experience to manage a large project - not sure on what to charge for that though?

Dave

[Mary Fisher]

Height is largely genetic. Nothing was said about girth.

Mary

[Mary Fisher]

WHAT ABOUT THE BIG OLD LADY?

Yes. Alternatively there are very many voluntary groups which would do the fitting at least.

Mary

>

[Mary Fisher]

It did, in the Safe thread: "propogate"

Nobody's perfect ...

Mary

[Steve Walker]

Thanks Mary, but surely that was a grammatically appropriate use? Not sure about the spelling, mind... :o)

[Mark]

But unfortunately he's right in reality you don't stand a hope in hell making a reasonable living as a handyman, the only people that can make this work are those that have retired or are also illegally claming state benefits of some kind. Bitty jobs just don't make a living, no matter who has done the research.

My advice would also be pick a single trade that you would enjoy doing, and then try to get help with a government retraining scheme. For instance even a semi-skilled job like a flat roofing specialist is looking at about £1500 per small job, how many washing machines would need plumbing to come close.

but whatever, I wish you good luck.

-

[DJC]

If you have a sales background and know of other specialist tradesmen perhaps you could start from that and build in the project management and a hands-on approach to fixing all the irritating little problems. If you can manage others as well as sell it may work. And being able to DIY as well as call in the experts mean you would be an effective go-between for people who can't be bothered with all the details of what they want and what is possible. Most tradesmen ar not too good at dealing with customers, and the sort of customers who can afford to pay rather than DIY cant be bothered with technical details. So 'Handyman' may be a way in the a sort of self-employed sales role.

[John Rumm]

I guess I would start by getting some basic information from your trades people - hourly rate, and estimates for the time taken for various types of job.

First you need to break down the project into identifiable tasks and allocate them to either yourself or one of your trades people. Once you have their prices and your plan you can make a stab at estimating the cost (to you) of having them do different phases of the whole job. Add your mark-up to that (say 10% - 25% - they may also agree to give you a discount on their rate for putting work their way). Then work out how many hours of actual hands on work are likely to be required from you. Next guess at how many management hours are likely to be required (I would expect 10% to 20% of the total hours[1]). Finally look at the likely technical, timescale, and financial risks and add an appropriate level of contingency.

[1] it is probably easy to underestimate this, but remember to include time for procurement. I have found it is easy to spend quite a significant number of hours just researching suitable products and suppliers and placing orders.

[John Rumm]

So "round there" is probably not the ideal location to setup as a handyman then!

You could work on the principle of jobs up to a certain distance are included in the call out fee (aka first hour premium), but over that are charged at a flat rate per mile. (might be worth doing a quick search over on uk.tech.digital-tv - I am sure Bill Wright has posted how he costs travel to distant jobs).

[Ophelia]

LOL

[david lang]

Compared to east London where I was brung up it's quiet here! Traffic can be a pain sometimes to be honest and we seem to have more sets of traffic lights than anywhere I've ever known!

Dave

[Mary Fisher]

What it had in common with the first was that they were both verbal solecisms :-)

Mary

[Dave Liquorice]

And may well bring a whole raft of legislation with it starting with Employers Liabilty. Then all the tax stuff, employesr NI contributions etc. Not sure how the "sub-contract" stuff works in this sort of set up.

[Dave Liquorice]

Went to the Metro Centre, Gateshead yesterday. Every time we stopped at lights the kids would moan about the traffic jam and we'd never get there, followed by GO! the moment they went green, despite 20 stationary cars in front. Of course they are used to a "traffic jam" being at most 3 cars in front and a delay of 30 seconds max whilst some one comes up the narrow hill in town. B-)

[Dave Liquorice]

I donno, no one is going to travel in from outside to do a small job are they? Just isn't economic.

Flat rate would have to be 40p or more per mile. If you showed that directly I bet you'd get more than a few raised eye brows, even though it is a realistic figure. Easier to set a "patch" that you work within in and only take jobs outside if the client will stand a higher first and subsequent period rates. Remember they have probably got your details and rates via word of mouth.

[Andy Dingley]

I'm sure she can fix her own bloody taps !