Handyman for DIY projects

[Eieio]

I saw and ad once that posted for DIY's. A Service provider would come over and instruct them how to do projects and give a hand if the projects needed it for a reduced handyman rate.

Do you think this would be a helpful add on to a handyman business. Kind of like a project manager for DIY'ers?

[Mike(VA)]

I don't think you could ever get enough money to consult for an HO.

[Eieio]

Have you ever heard of Ubuildit

www.ubuildit.com

The do consultation for HO projects.

[Mike(VA)]

Isn't that all they do? I think it would be harder if one does handyman work as well as consult. Interesting occupation, though. How does an HO save if they pay a consultant? Maybe they just want to do it themselves even if the cost is the same as a contractor.

[ModernStyle]

MZ Handyman will teach you how to be a DIY'er according to his "website", shall I go get him ?

[Eieio]

It would be an honor if he came to our forum

[Blue]

MZ Handyman will teach you how to be a DIY'er according to his "website", shall I go get him ?


That's Rory's buddy your talkin bout

[SLS-Construction]

How would it be harder?

Lets take a hypothetical 10K kitchen remodel (K of it is materials) - the HO can't afford it but can handle the bulk of the work with some guidance. Well say a consult runs a 100 & hourly rate of 50.

First consult is beginning design & a few pointers, they then spend quite a few hours working on the design. They call you back out to review the design, make sure cabinets line up with windows, blah, blah, blah & you give them scheduling & demo advice. They then proceed with the demo & maybe have an issue with the plumbing shutoffs. After this everything is completed up to cabinet install. You come back out for maybe a day or two to help install the cabinets, tops & plumbing.

So out of a job out of the HO's reach - you have now made $1100 bucks for 2 days of work & the HO saved 3900 & got the kitchen they wanted.

[SLS-Construction]

MZ Handyman will teach you how to be a DIY'er according to his "website", shall I go get him ?

Just when I was starting to respect a painter...

[ModernStyle]

I cant help it, since I watched his fisihing videos I have become a fan

[Winchester]

I think it's a cool idea and have been considering something like that. A guy who helps DiY'ers similar to the show Disaster DIY (http://www.hgtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=104159)

[Allrounder]

I actually had a guy call once and ask if I could teach him how to do things properly. I was more than happy to do it, but he was not willing to pay for it.....

[JasonW]

Interesting concept, but I don't think I have the patience for it. Nor do I think most DIY'ers would be willing to pay the price for my time. Who knows.

[uecker]

Great idea, but the market is small.

Try to imagine who would still pay for a contractor and still do the work themselves. Most DIY's are trying to save as much as possible because they could not afford the remodel in the first place and are willing to exceptions to quality.

The only customer would be the one who likes to work with there hands and considers this fee as education expense and to expand their own building skills under supervision, possibly due to lack of confidence.The good DIY'ers could learn by themselves by going to the library and getting a free education.

But would not be bad filler work

[Eieio]

What kind of fee would a DIY'er have to pay you to consider this as an option?

What would a minimum fee or hours would they have to payout to make it worth while?

2 hours-4 hours?

Or a flat fee starting point? $450 and up?

[Silvertree]

I had a webpage this year that posted a Consulting fee to help HO's.

$250 minimum

I would consult and help with material and product selections.
Work side by side.
Manage their crew, I would not do the actual work (liability)
Different pricing like
Manage the project for 20% of gross (and how do you determine that)?
$125 an hour to be there. Min 2 hours.
and so on, no one bit on that.

[RCP]

Teaching a HO
I tried that last year, got one call, once they realized how much work "just painting" really was, they hired us!;)

Ubuildit
Had a guy contact me a while ago, wanted some prices. Seemed like they were a cross between direct buy and a paper GC.
He said my prices were too high.:rolleyes:

[Mike(VA)]

uecker? BOB? Is that you? The wheelbarrow pushing gnome? Oh, wrong Bob. :o

[uecker]

Haven't seen a wheelbarrow in years and not very good at pushing one.

I'm the Bob that watches from the top of the bleachers and only comments when I go down the concessions for a beer.

[Mike(VA)]

Welcome Bob. I know you're not that gnome guy. :D

[tinner666]

I've been offering the service for years. Been slow lately though.
$250. to start. You have to see if there's going to be a fit between you and the H.O. first. Like SLS said. It's good filler work.
http://www.rentaroofer.com/