Starting New Handyman and Home Renovation Business

[Marc Kenyon]

Good afternoon BP community! After about a year of dipping my toes into real estate investing (purchased one duplex, renovated one half and listing it for MTR while LTR the other unit), I'm strongly contemplating starting up my own Handyman and Home Renovation Business serving Central Wisconsin. 

Our niche will primarily be serving real estate investors and agents and their clients by doing handyman jobs for fixing up rentals, getting a property ready for sale, addressing inspection findings either before or after a sale, and renovating kitchens, baths or whatever for anyone that wants some quality work done.

A little about me: I've 25+ years of experience with home construction - not as a contractor, but as an 'old-timey' kind of guy who knows how to fix things. In addition to helping my handyman grandfather when I was younger, my wife and I have completed four live-in flips over the years. I spent a couple years while in the military on a team to renovate the building my unit was using (25,000 sq.ft. building with offices, restrooms, etc.). I've helped numerous friends with their home renovation projects, from concrete to decks, to windows, siding, roofing; the list goes on. And unlike work (which IS a four-letter word) at my W-2 job, I genuinely enjoy building and fixing things. I also like helping people. 

Just posting today to get my name out there and see if the BP community has any advice on servicing this niche. 

Do you think it's a tenable idea? 

How would I build a clientele? 

What are potential pitfalls? 

How to market quality over quantity?

How would you start up a business like this?

Anyway, thanks for reading and offering any advice. I'm interested to see where this conversation goes.

Cheers

[Marcus Auerbach]

Quote from @Marc Kenyon:

Good afternoon BP community! After about a year of dipping my toes into real estate investing (purchased one duplex, renovated one half and listing it for MTR while LTR the other unit), I'm strongly contemplating starting up my own Handyman and Home Renovation Business serving Central Wisconsin. 

Our niche will primarily be serving real estate investors and agents and their clients by doing handyman jobs for fixing up rentals, getting a property ready for sale, addressing inspection findings either before or after a sale, and renovating kitchens, baths or whatever for anyone that wants some quality work done.

A little about me: I've 25+ years of experience with home construction - not as a contractor, but as an 'old-timey' kind of guy who knows how to fix things. In addition to helping my handyman grandfather when I was younger, my wife and I have completed four live-in flips over the years. I spent a couple years while in the military on a team to renovate the building my unit was using (25,000 sq.ft. building with offices, restrooms, etc.). I've helped numerous friends with their home renovation projects, from concrete to decks, to windows, siding, roofing; the list goes on. And unlike work (which IS a four-letter word) at my W-2 job, I genuinely enjoy building and fixing things. I also like helping people. 

Just posting today to get my name out there and see if the BP community has any advice on servicing this niche. 

Do you think it's a tenable idea? 

How would I build a clientele? 

What are potential pitfalls? 

How to market quality over quantity?

How would you start up a business like this?

Anyway, thanks for reading and offering any advice. I'm interested to see where this conversation goes.

Cheers

Great idea! The market needs more contractors, does not matter if handyman or licensed. I would keep it simple, start a FB business page, post pictures of ever job or task completed along with how to contact you. Also post on FB groups for contractors, landlords and investors. This will get you calls from both investors and also homeowners. Keep your rates reasonable, always follow through, communicate well, treat everyone fair. Word of mouth will spread if you work hard and deliver what you promise. Many contractors do not, many slack at the last 10% or leave the job a mess. Your reputation is EVERYTHING (just like it is for us agents)! You'll do great!