[mulligan]

Originally Posted by DaddyD

Stu from NYC: Definitely agree with you, anytime you hire a new handyman, always start them out with a few simple things in order to judge their skills / competency.

To everyone who replied "remember--you get what you pay for", and "anybody who will work for that won't have license, worker's comp., insurance, etc.--I'm not looking for someone to do truly skilled work, i.e., plumbing, roof work, a/c work, electrical work, and other such similar things that take specialized tools and/or knowledge & (ideally) years of training & experience.

I'm looking for a local "jack of all trades, master of none" kind of guy who can do simple things like:

Replace ceiling fans and fluorescent light fixtures
Hang an interior door
Replace window screens
Light pressure washing
Wash cars
Change oil and sharpen or replace blades in lawn mowers
Mow a lawn and do yard work like weeding, re-planting, trim shrubs, etc..
Clean and repaint exterior wooden decks
Install shelving in garage

I've got a large piece of property with several building on it, and can often give someone a full days work once every two weeks or so, so I'm looking for someone who I can create an ongoing relationship with, likely someone who has a full time job but who would like to earn some side-money.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I don't think any of the jobs above are so difficult or complicated that would necessitate hiring someone who is licensed and insured. Maybe $20-$25/hour is too low in this area, but $40-$50+ for this type of (relatively) unskilled labor seems crazy to me.

Keep in mind that there is NO license that covers all the tasks you want to have completed. If you do find someone to work at the low rate you are looking for, he will most likely not be insured. follow him around with a pillow, because if he falls and gets hurt, he could wind up owning your home.