Property maintenance and repairs – The 6 types of handymen professionals


The image of traditional handymen, ingrained in the minds of many, is that of the jack of all trades but a master of none, but truth is, that can be a bit misleading at first A handyman can be a person that is capable of completing a wide variety of small, non-specialised, fixes and repairs all the way up to a specialised professional. However, the home maintenance and handyman sector encompasses a wide variety of skill-sets and highly specialised professionals. Due to the variety of choice it can be difficult to know where to start when looking to hire a professional handyman for your specific need.

The goal of this article is to introduce you to the 6 most common types of tradesmen types of approaching handymen services along with both their downsides and strengths. As you read and decide which type of handyman to hire keep the following points in mind:

  • There is a handyman for every odd job;
  • Each job is different and will require different tools and skill-set;
  • Don’t look down on your handyman, becoming a skilful electrician, plumber or carpenter takes dedication and hard work;
  • Be specific in your requests and requirements, ‘general home maintenance/repairs’ can mean anything to a professional.

The 6 most common types of handymen

1. The Jack of all Trades

As mentioned earlier, this is the type of handyman most of us are familiar with. These tradesmen are usually locals and are just as happy installing a wall bracket for your new TV as they are fixing that leaking tap you have been ignoring for the last 6 months. Their experience, knowledge and, often but not always, friendly attitude all help this type of handyman retain regular customers. Just keep in mind that you should really look for specialised professionals for larger, more complicated tasks (such as re-wiring or large scale renovations) that may also require specific permits.

2. The To-Do List Handyman

The to-do list handyman will only accept long-term projects which include several home maintenance tasks, this allows them to set prices for each individual task, and the time involved, as opposed to an overall price.

“This approach is gaining popularity among customers due to the flexibility afforded, tasks can be completed over a period of time as opposed to everything being completed on the same day.” – Bob Rees, tradesmen at Bob’s Handyman Services..

3. Niche-specialised Handymen

The specialised handymen are the professionals you call for tasks which require the attention of highly trained, focused individuals. This ranges from carpentry and woodworking to tasks involving electricity and gas. While their services may be more expensive than a regular handyman, you are paying for their expertise, the dedication to their craft as well as the peace of mind that the tasks are completed by professionals. A great example are the fantastic handymen, plumbers, painters and electricians, all tightly specialising in their own niche

4. The Job Collector / Cherry-picker

This approach to handyman services is at a decline as those who follow this approach, accept or decline jobs, whether they will find the task enjoyable or whether they feel it will be worth their time (or not).

“It is uncommon for a general handyman to have this attitude since there are plenty of others that are willing and able, it is more common among the highly specialised professionals.” – John Barnes, the tradesman behind Handyman Tips.

5. Weekend/Emergency Handymen

As most handymen do not work at the weekend or late into the night there will inevitably be those who aim to fill this gap. This type of handyman only works during the weekend or at unsociable times for emergency situations, the fee’s charged are a lot higher than normal due to their not being many alternatives during these times.

6. Handymen Franchises

The success and popularity of such franchises is thanks, in part, to the reliability and accountability which comes with a branded company or franchise. Such companies will often provide high quality training, perform criminal background checks, and ensure that their employee’s have public liability insurance coverage. A great example is the Fantastic handyman franchise.

All of this helps to reassure customers that they will receive a high quality service, they will not be victims of a scam and that if something untoward does happen it can be easily reported.

Final remarks:

So there we have it, the 6 most common types of approach tradesmen take on handymen services. If you ever need a helping hand with home maintenance or repairs it is always best to know what’s out there!