A good handyman is a very valuable commodity in this day and age. Many of us now work very long hours, our free time is limited and valuable and we don't want to spend it wrestling with a leaky tap, cleaning out drains or struggling to assemble a particularly difficult flat-packed wardrobe which definitely didn't come with all the screws and bolts it was supposed to! Many of us just simply don't know how to start going about these DIY jobs and some of us, particularly the elderly or disabled, cannot manage these jobs alone. So, employing a handyman is a wise solution -- but you have to make sure that you employ a good one.

How to find a handyman
One of the best ways to find a handyman in your area is to look on one of the classified ad sites where trades people can advertise the services they provide, their experience and their contact details. You should also ask around friends and family for recommendations for any handyman that they have recently employed and have been pleased with the work carried out.

What do handymen do?
Handymen will generally cover a wide range of small scale jobs including painting, decorating, plumbing, plastering, bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, tiling, flooring, assembling flat pack furniture, gardening, patios and general DIY jobs. If you require a larger job such as an extension or conservatory built then you may need to look for a small builder instead. Some handymen will cover virtually any work that you need done around the house and garden but just don't have the time, or inclination, to do such as washing the car, replacing the washer on a dripping tap, fitting light bulbs, painting a fence, cleaning the patio, putting up shelves or blinds, fitting smoke alarms or general garden weeding and tidying.

Qualifications and experience
Handymen need to be able to cover a wide range of different types of work so, while it is unlikely that they will be fully-qualified in all trades, it is worthwhile asking if they specialise in one particular area. For example, they may have started out as a fully trained and qualified joiner, bricklayer, painter etc, and then gained experience over time of other areas of work. So, you could try to find a handyman that has specialist training in the particular area of work that you require. Do ask to see examples of their work, ask if it is possible to talk to any of their previous clients and be very wary of anyone who does not seem keen to let you do this. Do bear in mind that certain tasks must, by law, be completed by a suitably qualified professional. These include electrical and gas work. Unless your handyman has these qualifications, it is against the law in the UK for him or her to attempt these tasks.

Personal preference
It is worthwhile meeting with a few different potential handymen because, after all, you will have to trust this person to work in your house, perhaps even when you are not there. You thus need to feel comfortable with them and that you can trust them. You will need to spend some time talking to your handyman to give them an idea as to what you want to achieve in your home. Maybe they will be able to make some suggestions for alternative ways to do the work that you may not have thought of by yourself.

Costs
Shortlist a few possible handymen and then ask for a free quote for your job from each so that you can compare prices. Make sure that the quote is detailed and that you know what exactly is covered in terms of labour and materials. Some handymen may charge for the complete job and some may charge per hour, so make sure you know how many hours the job will take. Also, find out if they charge a call-out fee. It may work out cheaper for you if you save up a few small jobs and get the handyman to do them all at once rather than getting them out for one job at a time. Remember that the cheapest quote may not necessarily be the most economical choice for you in the long run if the standard of work and service provided is not good enough.

Contracts
Make sure that both you and your handyman fully agree on all aspects of the job at the outset before any work starts. This includes agreeing the exact extent of the job, what your obligations are and what the handyman's obligations are. For example, who orders, pays for and collects the flat pack furniture that you want assembled and who disposes of all the waste cardboard packaging after the furniture is built? Make sure you both fully understand who will be responsible for covering up the floors and furniture when you are having decorating done. You also need to establish who will be responsible if something in your home gets accidentally damaged or broken while the work is being carried out. Contracts are available for work carried out by handymen so it is worthwhile asking if they routinely provide one and, if not, maybe you could ask for an agreement or contract to be drawn up for your particular job to avoid any misunderstandings.
UK Home / Services / Handymen
To Get Help About This Section, Click Here
free classified ads
Handymen  
Looking for Handymen in your area? Classifieds Local Services - the home of FREE classified ads - is here to help!
Either browse through our Handymen Ads (below) or use the Search & Sort box on the right to filter your results.  Or, alternatively, Post your own Ad for FREE.
    
 
  
      
Classified Ad Results  ( 1 to 5 of 5 ads found )
08 August 2008
Silver Saints London Handyman Service..
Silver saints is the london handyman service. hire a london handyman to take care of all your plumbing. electrics, fitting, fixing, hanging and assembling jobs. all our london handymen are friendly, flexible and experienced. in fact we employ the most experienced handy. .
£40
30 July 2008
Furniture Assembly Specialists! IKEA, MFI, Staples, PC ..
Self-assembly furniture leave you with a headache? you buy it - we build it!!! johnny flatpack furniture assembly, for all your self-assembly needs. all brands assembled. moving house? will break down your existing furniture for removal then reassemble! . .
£15
11 July 2008
Handyman for most jobs..
Hi, i am available as a handyman for most jobs or projects , from woodwork - gardening- to decorating. i think my price is very reasonable, as i would like work, and i am sure you would like value for money. please ring for a free quote aaron on 01803 665322.
TQ3
27 June 2008
FLAT PACK ASSEMBLY SERVICE ..
Flatpack furniture assembly service tel: 0 7 8 8 8 8 2 4 8 6 6 assemble your furniture correctly & professionally we professionally assemble all types of flat pack furniture beds, bedside tables, dressers, wardrobes, storage units, bookcases, dining tables, cof. .
SW12
03 June 2008
local handy man ..
painting and decorating carpentry brick laying plumbing general building maintenance kitchen and bathroom fitting tiling most importantly, our rates are reasonable and the service is personal, we value customer loyalty. if you have a job in mind. .
£20
CR5
More :
FirstLast...
1/
...
Information & Advice on Handymen
Category Ad Tags

"
Ad Tags are keywords Users have added to their Ad to quickly indicate what they’re advertising.
"
There aren’t any Tags associated with this Classification.
Post a FREE Ad
Log In / Register
Help!
About
Share
RSS
Related Classifications
Service (446)
Accountants Architects Artists Bathroom Fitters Blinds & Curtain Makers
Or Buy Online Now..
SUREFIRE Box of 12 SureFire 1
Sf12-Bb 12 (123a) Batteries, boxed Optimized for use in Surefire flas...
SUREFIRE Box of 12 SureFire 1
£21.79 - Global Gizmos
SUREFIRE 2 SureFire 123A Lith
Sf2-Cb 2 (123a) Batteries Optimized for use in Surefire flashlights, ...
SUREFIRE 2 SureFire 123A Lith
£3.89 - Global Gizmos
SUREFIRE FO5 Red Filter
F05 Red Filter for flashlights with 1.0&" diameter bezel The F05 Red ...
SUREFIRE FO5 Red Filter
£7.99 - Global Gizmos
SUREFIRE FO6 Blue Filter
F06 Blue Filter for flashlights with 1.0&" diameter bezel The F06 Blu...
SUREFIRE FO6 Blue Filter
£7.99 - Global Gizmos
Videk 7 Piece Hi-Insulated Sc
The High Quality Screwdriver Set Is Supplied In An 7 Piece Format. Th...
Videk 7 Piece Hi-Insulated Sc
£8.08 - Misco UK
Classifieds.co.uk | Valueclick Europe Ltd - Privacy - Advertiser Terms - User Terms
You must comply with all laws when making any posting on Classifieds.co.uk.
Under no circumstances shall Classifieds.co.uk be held responsible for any items posted by users on this website.