what do you pay your handyman?

what do you pay your handyman?

Investor · Pueblo West, CO · Member since 2014 · 310 posts · 213 votes

I have two rentals. One in Fort Collins, CO and the other in Fort Myers, FL. My handyman in Fort Collins is awesome. He is on time, reliable and does good work. His work is better than mine.

He recently replaced a kitchen sink for $200. This includes making some new cuts on my counter top because the new sink was 2 inches bigger. He picked up the sink at Home Depot. I think this equates to about $50/hour.

It seems like the going rate is $50/hour in Fort Myers, FL. However, I haven't found any handymen that are actually worth that rate. I recently called a handyman service to replace a screen door. They want $40 to show up, another $180 for the install and a $40 mark-up on the door. This is a total of $260 for a screen door install. I called Lowes and they do it for $127 + tax.

I make $60/hour at my day job. However, if a repair is easy, I would rather do it myself and pay myself $50/hour. I have extra time to do repairs.

When I listen to the biggerpockets podcasts, it seems like they make fun of landlords that do their own repairs. They often say, "just pay someone else $15/hour to do that" If there is a 4 hour job, I can't pay someone $60 to show up and fix something. It's more like $200.

What hourly rate do you pay your handyman? What factors are involved when you make the decision to do it yourself or pay someone else to do it?  

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Flipper · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2017 · 24 posts · 37 votes
9y

I pay my top guys $25.00/hr, then I have work comp, benefits.  That generally adds 50.00/day or an additional 6.25/hr.  Now we are at 31.25/hr.  We also have fully stocked work trucks.  Insurance, Fuel, Maintenance.  Lets say we are at 35.00/hr.  Then we have shop overhead, general liability insurance, electricity, gas, water. Thats an additional 600.00 Day / 10 guys = 60.00/Day or 7.50/hr.  Now we are at 42.50/hr  and we are just keeping a guy employed and keeping the lights on.  No profit, no room for a down day, no room for a **** up/mistake (i.e. warranty, slow time/winter)  

There's alot more to "hourly" charges than just what the guy doing your work is taking home to his family.   It's one of the reasons we don't do the little "honey do" jobs.  When Frank/Manny in a van have nothing but their mortgage and some vistaprint free cards we can't compete.  But he can't compete with us on quality/warranty/service or he would be making alot more than 25.00/hr.

I get it in the industry it's important to crunch and save, but as I do in my contracting I do in my real estate.  I have no desire to compete with bottom feeders or lowest dollar.   Bit of a rant, I apologize.

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  • Residential Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2013 · 803 posts · 689 votes
    9y

    My market is different than yours but I pay between $15-25/Hr depending on what type of work they are doing. I do most of my own repairs that are not major as I no longer have a day job and have time. The hourly rate also depends on how much work you provide to the handyman. If you only have 1-3 hrs of work a week you likely won't get a great rate. But if you have constant work every week (10-30 hrs) you might get a better rate. Also, finding a good reliable handyman will save you time from having to get quotes on a small job like replacing a door. You will spend as much time finding someone to do it cheaper than making one call or going to do it yourself. 

  • Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9y

    longer jobs like a lot of cleaning and painting is about 30/hr.

    smaller jobs costs more since you have to make it worth it to go out there - I pay up to 45/hr

  • Wholesaler · Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, FL · Member since 2009 · 185 posts · 33 votes
    9y

    I have a property service business in the area as well as hire out for smaller jobs. $15-$25/hr in Fort Myers is typical, but it does depend on job size and what needs to be done.

  • Investor · Pueblo West, CO · Member since 2014 · 310 posts · 213 votes
    9y

    @Jerry R.

    If someone was to do something like replace the screen on a small screened in porch (5-6 hour job), how much would they charge?

    Are you telling me that would drive to the house, take inventory of what they need to do, come back with the material and only charge $150 or less?

    Is your property service business repairs or property management. I don't need any property management. However, if you do repairs at $15-$25/hour, I would like your contact information.

  • Contractor · Escondido, CA · Member since 2017 · 14 posts · 5 votes
    9y

    For existing customers in our area, I charge $40 an hour, which starts when I leave the shop and ends when I get back, the jobs are usually within a 15 to 20 minute drive. But they often have to wait a little to fit into our schedule, unless it is an emergency of some kind. Also our main work is contracting, the "handyman" type of work is a small part of our time. 

  • Investor · PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 602 votes
    9y

    Between 10 and 33.33 an hour for 6-8 hours

  • Investor · Morgantown, WV · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 17 votes
    9y

    If I can get a college kid (usually on that is already renting from me) to do very very basic work, I pay about $10.

    For anything that takes skill, even for something as easy as patching a hole in a wall...I have trouble finding anyone reasonable.  I understand the handyman's POV - I would approach it the same way.  

    Me as a handyman wouldn't bother with a job that realistically will take 3-4 hours of my time (gathering materials, travel, time in labor) for $50, me as a landlord thinks that $50 for a drywall patch is a rip-off.  Unless I can bundle several 'repairs' in the same visit for a handyman, I typically just do the work myself.

  • Medford, OR · Member since 2016 · 114 posts · 70 votes
    9y

    Adam,

    I see responses from all over the country. Keep in mind you can buy a rental in the rectangular states for $50,000. Not going to happen in Kauai.

    I would take the time to source 3 or 4 handymen and get them to bid the job. You shouldn't be paying for them to look at the job. 

    This will give you a good idea of what they charge and if you will like working with them.

    Handymen will charge what the area will bear.

  • Medford, OR · Member since 2016 · 114 posts · 70 votes
    9y

    Adam,

    I forgot to add in and answer your question. I pay my handyman $25.00 per hr.

    For that I get good reliable results.

  • Mike ReynoldsPro Member
    construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Adam Christopher Zaleski:

    @Jerry R.

    If someone was to do something like replace the screen on a small screened in porch (5-6 hour job), how much would they charge?

    Are you telling me that would drive to the house, take inventory of what they need to do, come back with the material and only charge $150 or less?

    Is your property service business repairs or property management. I don't need any property management. However, if you do repairs at $15-$25/hour, I would like your contact information.

     5-6 hours is a bit much for replacing a screen door. I can do a glass one in an hour and a half if the lumberyard is close. It might be better for you to use Lowe's for that stuff if its cheaper. And they are insured and bonded. 

    Around here the average is 25 hour. 

  • Investor · Pueblo West, CO · Member since 2014 · 310 posts · 213 votes
    9y

    @Mike Reynolds I was talking about replacing all of the screen on a screened-in porch (lanai), not just the door. I recently had a it done by someone. It's a legit 5-6 hour job. However, they charge $50/hour.

    I'm trying to find someone that would work in the $30-40/hour range for jobs that are 4-8 hours.

  • Mike ReynoldsPro Member
    construction · Nacogdoches, TX · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Adam Christopher Zaleski Ah, I see. sorry misunderstood that. Here's what I would do. If you have networked with several property managers ask them who they use. They usually have a guy they bounce back and forth because one PM doesn't give them enough work full time so in order to keep him busy they will "loan" him out to other PM's in their network. Its a win/win for all. They trust this guy and he usually does good work.

    Its been my experience that the higher priced guys usually do "honey do's" that are fewer and far between so they have to charge more and usually more upscale houses too. You will get excellent work from them but pay a premium too.

    In between are the Lowe's installers. I have done that myself when my business went niche and my contracts were seasonal. I used Lowes to keep my guys busy offseason. I quit because they wanted me full time after a two years or so and it wasn't enough to keep me interested and I had less seasonable contracts then. They have to be insured, bonded and licensed if that is required in your state.

    There are the only three options I know of but someone else may chime in with a better idea. Best of luck.

  • Wholesaler · Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, FL · Member since 2009 · 185 posts · 33 votes
    9y

    @Adam Christopher

    Everything is job specific.  On a job like you mentioned, I would try to schedule seeing it on my way to/from another job or estimate. Screen jobs around here are typically charged by the screen/location and size (top screens, side screens, etc.).  However we just figure out how long it will take and charge by the amount of time needed. 

  • New York City, NY · Member since 2015 · 125 posts · 48 votes
    9y

    I have a guy that I just pay per job, rather than per hour.  I buy all the materials, he does all the work.

    Right now I'm getting a house fixed up, which includes ripping up carpet in 3 bedrooms and replacing it with laminate, removing the flooring from a kitchen and hallway and replacing it with ceramic tile, ripping out old cabinets in a kitchen and putting in new ones, installing a new vanity, toilet, and bathtub in a bathroom, putting in a garage door opener, replacing the flooring in another bathroom with ceramic tile and also replacing most of the sheetrock in that bathroom, installing a couple new doors, putting in a new gas oven, and few other little tasks.  He's charging $4,000 flat for all of that work.  This is in Long Island, NY.

  • Flipper · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2017 · 24 posts · 37 votes
    9y

    I pay my top guys $25.00/hr, then I have work comp, benefits.  That generally adds 50.00/day or an additional 6.25/hr.  Now we are at 31.25/hr.  We also have fully stocked work trucks.  Insurance, Fuel, Maintenance.  Lets say we are at 35.00/hr.  Then we have shop overhead, general liability insurance, electricity, gas, water. Thats an additional 600.00 Day / 10 guys = 60.00/Day or 7.50/hr.  Now we are at 42.50/hr  and we are just keeping a guy employed and keeping the lights on.  No profit, no room for a down day, no room for a **** up/mistake (i.e. warranty, slow time/winter)  

    There's alot more to "hourly" charges than just what the guy doing your work is taking home to his family.   It's one of the reasons we don't do the little "honey do" jobs.  When Frank/Manny in a van have nothing but their mortgage and some vistaprint free cards we can't compete.  But he can't compete with us on quality/warranty/service or he would be making alot more than 25.00/hr.

    I get it in the industry it's important to crunch and save, but as I do in my contracting I do in my real estate.  I have no desire to compete with bottom feeders or lowest dollar.   Bit of a rant, I apologize.

  • Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    8y

    I flip houses for a living and the handyman service I use charges $60 an hour. Is this too much? Seems like a legitimate company 

    www.ifix-ithandyman.com

    How can I find out if this company is licensed in Michigan?

  • Rental Property Investor · Greater Lansing Area, MI · Member since 2014 · 196 posts · 55 votes
    8y

    https://www.michigan.gov/lara - you can look up licenses through them

  • Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    8y

    There's a dude with two buckets of joint compound and a ladder siting on a piece of sheathing in the back of a new, lifted F-250 long box diesel working across the street right now. I don't know what that guy's making, but I'm sure it's enough to piss a lot away on his truck in order to impress the finer ladies of the Paris of Appalachia with what a catch he is.

  • Investor · Newport Beach, CA · Member since 2010 · 86 posts · 24 votes
    8y

    We typically see around $20 for general work, for more specialized work, it has gotten quite a bit higher.

    Everyone has different strategies for doing their own repairs vs hiring, but on our end, I would rather spend the extra hour working on deals or financing that doing any work on a property!

    That said I know many landlords that do many of their own repairs using only Youtube and Google.

  • Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    8y

    We are a young company and charge a flat rate of $55/hr. Keep in mind that Austin Texas is a prime market for this type of service. It actually seems like we are one of the lowest prices in town.  I see a few companies asking $133 for an hour of service.

  • Member since 2019 · 1 post · 0 votes
    7y

    Moved to the city like several years ago. That was a total nightmare actually with alot of coinsedens along the way, I was pretty ambitious to get to Jersey, all of my previous life.... won't be actually describing all of my adventures over here, just real pitty I wasn't getting this fantastic article way before...In the meanwhile I should say, that moving services can come up really handy, the one I manage to get in York was called something like Handykith. Ofcource I get right to them in the very end but still they get really fantastic job out there! 

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