A handyman is a person who can be hired to do various minor repairs, small tasks, and other jobs around the house, or in commercial properties. They don’t usually have a license in the same way contractors do, and can’t be hired to do the work of a contractor. However, they do many similar jobs, and when domain-specific knowledge and training isn’t required, a handyman can usually get the job done.
In the same way that you don’t need to have special certifications to work as a handyman, you also don’t have many entry-level requirements. While some states do make it essential for handymen to be certified, in order to do certain kinds of work, such as electrical work. This doesn’t apply to all the kinds of work a handyman can be hired to do.
Often, the roles and responsibilities of a handyman can be decided upon by themselves. A handyman interested in painting jobs can spend more time doing painting, while a handyman who wants to focus on minor repairs, can pursue that. In this way, the interests of a handyman play an important role in determining the kind of work they will ultimately do.
Who is a Handyman?
A handyman is someone who can be hired to do small jobs, such as painting, cleaning, or minor repair work. While some handyman work for an organization in the role of a facility support team, many choose to work for themselves, as independent handymen. They are often hired by households to do work for them, such as minor repairs around the home.
The kind of work a handyman can do, is dependent on the skills that they show an interest in. Most handymen teach themselves the skills that they then go on to use in their career, but some handymen can choose to be certified as well.
How Can You Become a Handyman?
There is no specific course or certification required to be a handyman, and many handymen use the skills they have learnt in their day to day life to later pursue their careers. Some handymen do choose to go to community colleges, so they can complete courses and get diplomas in fields that are relevant to their profession.
Some states do have certification requirements for handymen, although what these exactly are, can vary from state to state. Ideally, it’s a good idea to check what the local regulations are, regarding handymen in your city, to see whether you need to be certified or not. Some states require handymen to be certified to perform certain kinds of jobs, such as electrical jobs. If you aren’t sure whether you need to be certified or not, to be a handyman, always check your state’s local regulations to confirm.
Aside from the skills you develop by yourself, and the certificates you choose to get, there is no entry barrier to being a handyman. Some handymen do choose to get an associate degree in business, so they can better run their business of being a handyman.
What Does a Handyman Do?
A handyman can have several job descriptions, starting from a painter to a carpenter, to a plumber, but they perform all these jobs as a handyman. Instead of hiring a painter to paint a residential property, which could be more expensive, many people choose to hire a handyman instead. This is especially useful when the scope of the work isn’t large, so it’s possible for a handyman to do the job as well.
Handymen can be hired to do all kinds of work around the house. From washing the drive way to doing minor repairs around the house, a handyman can be hired to do a myriad of tasks.
Here are some of the tasks a handyman is often hired to do:
1. Painting
Many handymen can do small painting jobs. If someone needs a room, a piece of furniture, or even the fence painted, then they can consider calling a handyman. Handymen have all the tools necessary to do small paint jobs. They know where to procure materials from, know how to mix paint to get the color needed for the job. They also know how to do a good paint job, and can do the work as well as a painter could.
While a licensed painter is the better option if you need to paint an entire home, or multiple rooms, a handyman can do minor paint jobs. People tend to hire handymen since they cost less to hire than a licensed contractor.
2. Cleaning
A handyman can be hired to do cleaning work as well, such as cleaning windows, or the drive way. They can be hired to pressure wash the driveway and can also get rid of mold from the interior and exterior homes. Handymen are good at all kinds of odd jobs, including cleaning jobs.
From cleaning rooms, to ensuring that every window, frame, door and other areas are dust-free and clear, consider hiring a handyman.
3. Gutter Cleaning and Repair
Doing gutter cleaning can be difficult work, which is why handymen have become adept at doing it. They will bring all the equipment needed to clean the gutter, and they will do all the work needed to clean it. By the time they are done, the gutters will be free from any deposits. If minor repair work needs to be done in the gutter, then a handyman can do that as well.
4. Shelving Installation
People who want shelves or other fixtures installed, can approach a handyman as well. Handymen know how to safely install shelves onto walls or other spaces, and can do it for a fraction of the cost a carpenter would charge.
5. Electrical and Plumbing Work
A handyman can handle minor electrical and plumbing work as well. Some handymen are certified to do electrical work, and it’s a good idea to ensure that they are, before the job begins. This is as working with electricity can be dangerous. For that reason, it’s a good idea to for a handyman to have certification showing they can do electrical work, should they need to.
Handymen can also do minor plumbing work, such as fixing leaky faucets, or unclogging a drain, and more.
Conclusion
Handymen are capable of doing all kinds of minor repairs and odd jobs around the households and commercial properties. There are usually no entry-level barriers to becoming a handyman, and anyone skilled at doing odd jobs, can easily become one. Some states do require handymen to be licensed, especially if they are working with certain kinds of jobs, such as electrical jobs.
As a handyman, there are certain career risks that you can find yourself exposed to. A disgruntled client could sue you if they feel unsatisfied with your work. This could lead to an expensive legal battle, that you would have to pay for yourself. Instead, why not consider insurance for handyman, as a way to protect your interests in the event you do encounter career risks. Handyman general liability insurance, for example, could give you the financial coverage you need to work without worry.
