Odd jobs for a living!!

TomP89

Sounds like a great idea. I used to do some gardening as a bit of extra cash on the side. Got £7.50-£15/hour depending on what I did. Sometimes a bulk sum for doing a major job. Nice and easy to do. In the summer I really enjoy being outdoors so getting paid to do so really appeals to me!

nickh300

Odd job man is the way forward! you can soon make some money in a day by fitting in a few smaller jobs that other people can't be bothered with. If you can get a nice gardening round and some other jobs here and there you should be laughing

Should_be_out_gardening

lessonlearned wrote: »

Shouldbeout

Where do you live - I'm desperate to find a "Handyperson". :rotfl::rotfl:

My OH is disabled - and I'm no spring chicken with a dodgy back.

There must be loads of people like us who need someone who charges a reasonable rate and is happy to tackle some of the smaller jobs.

I've lost track of the times that I've tried to get tradespeople to do stuff. They just turn their noses up, that's when they can even be bothered to come out and quote in the first place.

I've worked in construction and am happy to pay the proper rates, I don't expect something for nothing. It's just they don't want small jobs, like guttering, the odd fence panel etc.

Well done you, you've found a real niche there. You should find that you get plenty of work.

I agree word of mouth is the best way to build up your business.

Good luck to you.

I would like to help but I'm not going to contact anyone from here as I want to remain anonymous. As you can see on this thread already people are talking about declaring earnings etc.

The best you can do is to look in the local shop for someone locally advertising. If the live by you then they'll want to build a good reputation and be recommended to your friends.

Should_be_out_gardening

smk77 wrote: »

offcuts from what? Don't you have to be careful with burning wood as it may have been treated?

Not treated or tanalised wood - NEVER NEVER NEVER burn GREEN wood like what is used for decking and out door stuff. It burns and contains Arsenic!! the ash will kill plants etc!

No I was on about soft planed woods used indoors like you buy from B&Q , , I do skip dive for all wood but only untreated is for kindling. New roofs are the thing to look out for - the laths they used years ago are OK and there are loads of them . First in the skip are the tiles - ask the blokes and get some unbroken ones as they always are useful if someone has a broken tile , the more different ones the better. The laths and felt are last off so are on top. I take a saw and sweeping brush - I saw upo this longer bits or break them to get in the car and sweep up after around the skip which always goes down well.

Should_be_out_gardening

TomP89 wrote: »

Sounds like a great idea. I used to do some gardening as a bit of extra cash on the side. Got £7.50-£15/hour depending on what I did. Sometimes a bulk sum for doing a major job. Nice and easy to do. In the summer I really enjoy being outdoors so getting paid to do so really appeals to me!

You need loads of arrows in your bow to do this - lots of different small skills so when there is no gardening you can do something else. Few builders will turn out to put 10 bricks back on a wall that the old guy has run into backing out. Or point up that bit under a window, or plaster that tiny bit where the old water pipe was taken out but I will.

You need to get to police auctions and other sales places to get cheap tools and always be on the look out for stuff. Garage clearing is good - 30 years of crap they want gone so they can put the car away , often there is loads you can recylce sell or mend. You have to be able to use your garden to store stuff - I have a big garden by chance and can grow veg as well as store all the stuff I might need.

Down the back by us some an old Victorian age pub fell derelict and the house next to it. It's been like it for years and a fire or two by louts has made it an eyesore waiting to be demolished. I can get to it round our back down an alley. I had a bloke who wanted a garden woth bricks laid like a pation and path . , I wasn't sure whaer to get the stuff cheap - so I took to going down to this old oplace , 5:30 am wehn I take the dog out , and taking the bricks off the collapsed back wall , wheel barrowning them home then dressing and stacking them . After a week or so I had loads of good old bricks just perfect.

Ypu have to be on the look out all the time - a recent high wind blew down a massive branch nearby and when I was out in the early morning I clocked it - ran back to the house got the car , saw and axe and within half an hour I had it all away. I get up at 5:30 most days! you never know!

Should_be_out_gardening

nickh300 wrote: »

Odd job man is the way forward! you can soon make some money in a day by fitting in a few smaller jobs that other people can't be bothered with. If you can get a nice gardening round and some other jobs here and there you should be laughing

You must be really flexible, thats the key. gardening here, clearing there, a fence put up, a bit of tiling, a roof slate replaced, an oil change on a car or a plug change. Collect any aluminium cans you find and crush them and put them away safe till you have a couple of massive bagfuls then when you go to a job and pass the can place dob them in for cash. Same with scrap metal.

never take the vehicle unless you really need to or the fuel eats in to anything you make.

Look out for pallets - the thin ones are all chucked but can have useful wood and the good ones they pay a fiver for!

fluffpot

£10 an hours sounds very good value esp if you are providing your own tools etc - although it will depend a bit of where you are. It sounds like you are a pretty hard and conscientious worker, I hope you get the odd tip! I would have thought that you could put your price up a little maybe £12 per hour?

smk77

Should_be_out_gardening wrote: »

Not treated or tanalised wood - NEVER NEVER NEVER burn GREEN wood like what is used for decking and out door stuff. It burns and contains Arsenic!! the ash will kill plants etc!

That's ok. you scared me for a minute!

Adamthegreat984

awesome thread!, the thought of getting away from the very tough labour market is very appealing !

Should_be_out_gardening

fluffpot wrote: »

£10 an hours sounds very good value esp if you are providing your own tools etc - although it will depend a bit of where you are. It sounds like you are a pretty hard and conscientious worker, I hope you get the odd tip! I would have thought that you could put your price up a little maybe £12 per hour?

It's not always £10, I ask what I think they can afford so adjust accordingly. You make on one and onbly break even on another. The thing is I've done several thing like tidy up yards for businesses by goping in and asking the owner or manager if they'd like me to clean up for a tenner, now a tenner isn't much but £20 is. Often they'll have their own bods but sometimes they haven't and after a stormy day or in spring when the weeds start they are greatful.

Then I can ask if I could have that pallet, or if I see something that might need doing I might ask if it needs doing , I got some big 5 gallon tub things that had adhesive in one time and cleaned they were great, I got an tarpaulin which was OK.

You've got to be brazen and a bit cheeky , but always look smart and not rough as people are worried about people knocking on doors. I never cold call in the streets, only businesses.

If I see the council bods trimming the trees or cutting down an old tree I ask if I can have a pile of logs etc. They don't care and I get free logs that I can sell. I keep and eye out when building work is going on and ask If I can have the sand left over or the cement etc, often they are glad to be rid of it rather than them storing it.

It's very quiet at the moment, and mild too so I haven't sold as much wood. But i have some tree trimming later and when I pop into town I will look into any of the skips I see and look out for new ones, but I have to be quick as there are plenty of skip divers round here!