Landlords, What do you look for in a good Handyman? Pricing??

[Matt W.]

Hi BP,

I am a new investor and just started my own one-man handyman service last week.  I just got my $1 million insurance policy and am ready to get started!

I am looking for tips and advice from seasoned landlords about how they found a good handyman, problems they have with bad ones in the past so I can avoid repeating those mistakes, and how I can be a valuable member of someone's team.

So far I have only given out flyers at this month's REIA meeting, which was poorly attended due to COVID 19. Sometimes when I search the local GIS and discover a certain investor owns many properties in an area, I will look them up. Is it appropriate or creepy to contact them and say "Hi, I wanted to let you know I am a new handyman in your area. I admire your portfolio and would love to help you manage it."....?

I have never hired a handyman for my own properties, so I don't even know how pricing works.  Are you charged a flat fee just for them to show up and assess the problem? Is it an extra fee if it is the proverbial toilet overflowing at 2 am?  

While I enjoy fixing and building things, more importantly I consider this a way to build a network of like minded investors and provide them with value so in the future I can focus more on investing and less on swinging a hammer and plunging a toilet. 

Thanks!