Tom's Handyman Service

Introduction: What I do: * Fix stuff around houses * Handyman projects * Repair holes in walls * Install molding, rugs, floors, walls, ceilings and tiles * Repair porches * Paint * Upgrade plumbing fixtures * Carpentry * Sheetrock * Sink repairs * Hang cabinets * Refinish floors * Build mailboxes and stuff like that What I don't do: (1) work up high (2) garage door opener systems (3) use chemical paint strippers My insurer won't permit me to do these things, sorry. For extensive plumbing or electrical work, I suggest hiring a plumber or electrician. Where I work: I work on houses and not businesses. I offer handyman services for towns in northern New Jersey, within a 45-minute drive of Summit, New Jersey. Payment: I work on a tip basis only. Customers decide how much they wish to pay me for my labor. I ask to be reimbursed for any parts or materials I have to purchase at cost; for example, if I have to buy a board at Home Depot that costs $2, I'll charge the customer $2 and show the receipt. I ask to be paid at the end of each day. When taking on assignments, I give preference to clients who've paid me in the past, and greater preference to clients who've paid me well in the past. I accept cash and check. Why do I work on a tip-only basis? A while back, as a customer, when I hired a plumber, I was charged $350 for an hour's work. The problem was solved, but the bill was steep. I didn't like the feeling of not knowing what the bill was going to be, and even less when I found out. Now, as a worker, I've found estimating jobs to be difficult -- a seemingly simple job may turn out to require many more steps, particularly if new problems are discovered, or if I estimate too highly and it turns out to be easy, then it's not fair to the customer. If I charge by the hour, then I feel pressured to work quickly which can work against safety as well as undermine job quality. I've found that Jerseyans are fair and reasonable, and they value quality work. They'll pay me fairly since they'll (hopefully) want me back for a future project. I have expenses including insurance, travel, tools and parts. Some clients pick an hourly rate and pay me on that basis. If so, please realize that a service call begins not when I arrive at your house but when I leave and return to my house (including gas and maintenance expenses for my minivan). So, I encourage clients to pay me fairly and generously. Still, this arrangement is beneficial because it puts the customer in control of the bill. The customer is spared from worrying about the price, and I don't feel pressured to work fast or guess. It works well all around. Seeing Long Term: I encourage my clients to see the benefit of building a long-term relationship with a handyman who they can trust to do the job right, works hard, is fair, takes proper precautions, respects your house, solves the problem, and who is honest, thrifty, professional and courteous. Then, whenever there is a problem, it can be solved with an email or phone call. I'm fully insured. When I work: I like to start early in the day, and I usually finish by around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.