Handyman by the hour: hang shelves and a TV, fix doors and more
What a handyman is for
Every home has a list of small jobs that get put off for months: hanging shelves and a TV, putting up a curtain rod, replacing handles or a socket, adjusting a door that will not close, fixing a skirting board. Calling a specialist for each job is poor value, because the call-out costs nearly as much as the work. A handyman does all of this in a single visit.
On BlaBlaPrice you make a list and post a request, and handymen reply in the chat with a price or an hourly rate and a date. They see where their offer stands, so terms often improve. It is free for buyers, and nobody sees your phone number until you choose.
How long will it take
The biggest mistake is underestimating the work. Putting up one shelf takes fifteen minutes, but mounting a TV on a bracket on a concrete wall, running the cable and levelling everything takes an hour. So list each job as a separate item and add the approximate number. Handymen will estimate the total time and tell you how many hours to plan for.
If you have many jobs, it is cheaper to combine them in one visit. There is usually a minimum booking of a few hours, so short tasks are best grouped together.
What to include in your request
- What to do — a list of jobs: hang 3 shelves and a TV, replace handles, adjust a door.
- Scope and time — the number of tasks or approximate hours.
- Area — city and neighbourhood.
- When — for example, tomorrow after 6 pm.
- Wall type — concrete, brick, gypsum board, wood: fixings and tools depend on it.
- Materials — whether the fixings and parts are yours or the handyman buys them.
- Budget — if you want to name one.
Example: “Kowloon: tomorrow after 6 pm for 2 hours. Hang 3 shelves and a TV on a bracket, the walls are concrete. I have the fixings, the handyman brings the drill. Budget up to HK$140.”
How to compare offers
Look at three things: the hourly rate, the minimum visit time and any call-out charge. Ask whether the handyman arrives with his own tools, including a hammer drill, because work in concrete is impossible without one. Find out who buys the small materials: anchors, wall plugs, screws.
Reviews next to the offer show whether the handyman is neat, cleans up after himself and does not damage wall finishes. For small jobs that often matters more than a small difference in the rate.
What a handyman cannot do
Complex electrical work, gas work, major plumbing or a full renovation need a separate specialist. A handyman will not rewire the whole flat or assemble a kitchen. For large furniture, look for a furniture assembly professional. And if you need to get rid of old things after the work, see rubbish removal.
One more tip: before the visit, prepare the space, clear the area near the wall and make sure you know where the cables and pipes run. Other home services are in “Household services”.
