Handyman services: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering handyman services

You take on many kinds of small home repairs in one visit, from door adjustments and hardware to patching drywall and mounting fixtures. Customers value a pro who finishes the list, leaves the home clean and tells them honestly what needs a licensed trade.

What customers ask

  • Can you fix this list of small things in one visit?
  • Can you hang a TV or heavy shelves on drywall?
  • Can you do the electrical, or do I need an electrician?
  • Will you patch and paint the holes you make?
  • How long will the whole list take?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask the customer to walk you through the list by room, with photos of each item, then sort the jobs into yours and the ones for a licensed trade.
  • Bring the anchors, fasteners, patch compound, touch-up paint and common hardware for the jobs on the list.
  • Check each wall for studs and wiring before you drill, and say so to the customer.
  • Write the list out in the quote with each job named, its materials and any job you are referring out.
  • Walk the customer through each finished job before you bill, and fix anything they flag on the spot.
  • Leave a short written note of what you did, the anchors used and anything that needs a follow-up.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of finished small jobs such as door adjustments, mounted TVs and patched walls
  • A list of the trades you handle and the ones you refer out
  • Your insurance coverage for work in customers' homes, if you carry it

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer to return for the trade-referred jobs once the licensed trade is booked
  • Suggest a check of the anchors on heavy mounts after the first month
  • Remind the customer which small fixes they can do themselves next time

Licenses and permits

Handyman work on general repairs is often not licensed, but some states and localities require a contractor or business registration, and electrical, plumbing and gas work often must go to licensed trades. Check with your state or local licensing agency before taking this work.

Questions

Do I need a contractor license to do handyman work?

It depends on the state and the type of work. Many handyman jobs fall below the thresholds in some areas, but rules vary. Check with your state or local licensing agency before you accept the work.

How do I get leads on infinibell?

Pros join free and pay only for the leads they accept. You can decline any lead for free. We review profiles before they go live, and the Insured badge shows once we have checked your current insurance.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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