Supplementary income leading to full time role - Handyman

ontheupslope

Hi Folks,
I am looking to start up as a handyman. I have been self employed before so understand the tax and insurance requirements. My plan is to work evenings and weekends alongside my day job until things get to a level where i can afford to go full time as a handyman. I just don't know what demand is going to be like or really how to market myself.

I'm competent in the following:

• Plumbing (wet) and the wet side of heating (radiator fitting and removal , upgrades etc)
• IT support - Building PC's, virus removal basic network installation etc etc
• Basic joinery - fitting of architraves, skirtings , doors
• Basic gardening , cuttings lawns, hedges erecting sheds and greenhouses, fencing, gates
• Flatpack furniture assembly
• Vehicle maintenance , servicing and repairs, campervan fittings & 12v , plumbing
• Exterior and interior decoration
• Setup in-home/office technology Audio/visual equipment

I can also fit light fittings, plug sockets , switches etc but i don't know how i stand with Part P on that issue. Would anyone know ?


Does anyone think any of the above would be of interest to the masses ?

TIA

ACG

There is a bloke who lives near me who advertises as doing odd jobs which covers some of the things you have mentioned and some you have not. I know he has been doing the job since we moved here nearly 2 years ago so I can only assume he is paying the bills.

There will definitely be a demand for some of the things you have mentioned. I am quite happy to turn my hand to a few things in the house, but I have not got the patience or skills to fit a door.

I think it all depends on your skill level. I am quite anal about things being right and if I got someone in who is classed as a jack of all trades but master of none, I would still expect the job to be as good as a professional - ie if you are decorating, I want it straight, lined up and no bubbles.

jobbingmusician

As a start, in your situation I would market myself to local charities and small businesses - assuming that you could go to them quite early in the evening so as not to keep staff hanging around too long. As a charity CEO, I always found it useful to have a reliable handyman in my phone contacts.....

tacpot12

Have you had a look at the "Gosforth Handyman" channel on YouTube? The channel owner has just done a couple of videos on setting up as a Handyman.

Practically Part P really only defines what needs to be notified (to building control) and what does not. Even if you are doing work the householder could do, as a professional (i.e. someone who is being paid to do the work), you can only do work that you are competent to do, and this should include testing the work. The work has to be done to the relevant version of BS7671. I would also check that Public Liability Insurance provider is happy with the level of electrical work you propose to carry out.

PasturesNew

If I were you, working evenings/weekends - and not having the luxury of being around during the day the rest of the week - I'd pick some quick/easy wins.... things that can be achieved without parts/tools/materials being an issue....

A lot of the stuff on your list has the potential to end up as a "disaster" from a client's perspective if things don't go to plan half way through.... and you need "a spare part, another nail, 3 screws and a whatsit" and all the shops are shut ....

By being "niche" you can corner a little market and do it well....

Don't try to be everything to everybody, out of hours, when the shops are shut.

jonnygee2

If I were you I'd stay away from the plumbing and the electrics, especially as I'm guessing you won't have any indemnity insurance.

There are a few apps now, like Taskrabbit and Airtasker. I haven't tried them but I imagine you can start up on them then hand personal business cards out (I found my cleaner through a similar app).

trailingspouse

My cleaner also does gardening and decorating - and she's very busy. She's just bought herself a new van so guessing things are going well. Other things you could do - patio cleaning, carpet cleaning.



Some other thoughts - could you get yourself CRB/DBS checked, that way you would be a 'safe' option for older people living alone, vulnerable adults who need a bit of help and so on?


Possibly the best way to get business is to decide on the precise area you want to work in, and leaflet the area. If you keep to quite a tight area then you won't spend all your time driving across town between one client and the next (which will eat into your time and your profits). You need to be prepared to leaflet regularly - say twice a year. People want reliability, so they probably won't all reach for the phone the first time they get a leaflet, but by the 2nd or 3rd time some will be starting to recognise the name and that's a step in the right direction. Word of mouth is also invaluable - leave business cards with happy clients so it's easy for them to pass your details on to a neighbour etc. And these days everyone expects a website or at the very least a facebook page.



Times when people might need a bit of extra help are just before Christmas (fixing things up before the family arrives), and in the Spring, and then of course in the height of the summer for gardening. If you get your timing right, your leaflet will arrive on the mat at just the moment someone is thinking 'we could do with someone to help with X'.