What Does a Professional Handyman Do?

People often need home repairs they are not competent enough to do themselves. Professional handymen/handywomen can assist in repair and replacement using technical trade skills that the average homeowner does not have. Drywall projects, painting, plumbing and small electrical projects are all skills the average handyman will assist with. Due to the wide array of tasks a handyman may be asked to perform, there are differing requirements and responsibilities.

Fast Facts:

  • No specific formal educational requirements.
  • Insurance and licenses vary by state.
  • Median Salary: $30,000. US Government Statistics.

Job Description

Professional Handymen use their technical skills and problem-solving abilities to resolve general household maintenance problems. Handymen complete tasks that are not complex enough to require highly skilled and licensed professionals, such as professional electricians, while not basic enough to do without any technical skill or relevant knowledge. Handymen may need to call on these same highly skilled professionals when the job becomes overly complex and there are complications beyond their level of competency.

Duties

Handymen may be required to perform different tasks as per the client’s request. Usually, the handyman meets with the client to assess a job and discuss the way he or she will resolve it. A Handyman may then provide the client with an estimation of costs for labor and materials.

Home maintenance is a large part of a handyman’s job. These tasks may require some degree of discomfort and small risk as the projects may require the handyman to work in small, dirty, unpleasant spaces or in bad weather. Other projects may require the use of special tools and or unorthodox and creative methods.

Requirements

Professional handymen rarely need specialized training or education to learn their practice. Complex tasks may need to be executed with special tools and perhaps an apprentice. Some technical schools and community colleges offer continuing education learning programs to hone these basic technical skills. These programs may focus on a single topic or skill such as basic plumbing, electrical, drywall, etc. Some states require a Handyman to be licensed. While not universally required, licensing can afford a handyman additional clout and credibility. Licensing varies from state to state and may involve testing of technical skills.

Depending on state and local requirements, handymen may need to be bonded and/or insured. This insurance covers any potential on-the-job injuries.

Licensing

A license is not always required to be a handyman. However, it is imperative to check with your state as per their rules and regulations and any legal responsibilities of your chosen profession. No formal education is usually required here but technical skills are always a plus and can influence your pay scale. Some states may require a test of rudimentary technical skills, this is for the safety and security of the handyman and client. The best approach is to research this profession online to keep current of all regulations and any recent changes within the industry.

### Handyman Jokes ###

Did you hear about the surgeon who accidentally swapped his tools with the hospital handyman’s?
–His last surgery was gut-wrenching.

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