Is $55/hour "really" the going rate for a handyman?
 

That's what one quoted me recently.

Indeed it is imperative that people ask for an estimate of repair. I had a handyman tell me he couldn't give me. so I hired another and he had the job done in a flash and for pennies.

I have a neighbor whose handyman charges $30/hr. But that may be the "friend" rate. I could get his name & number if you want.

Actually $55 hour IMO is on the cheaper side when you figure in taxes, time, tools, knowledge, liability, transportation to and from, that's he expense. The guy got to eat and support family. I don't mind paying fair price for Good job well done. After all, his reputation is on the line on every dirty/dinky job they do.

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So your saying handyman not business so he don't have to pay taxes, nor is he qualified to do job, he don't have to have tools to do the job he can just use they're, and he has no responsibility during or after the job so you can't take him to small claims court. But, if he charges too much in someone's opinion or he doesn't do job up to Pro level he get crucified on TOTVs. If he quoted $55 dollars hour and they don't like it try to get someone else. If the jobs are so easy why don't they just do them? Let's see Knowledge, ability, no tools would be my first guess.

Most Villages handymen don't do electrical, plumbing, AC, or jobs that require a license. Some may repair small electric or plumbing issues, but I believe the intent is to do things that most handy people do themselves. Hang pictures, small painting jobs, small carpentry work, tile or grout repair, that kind of work. I would think $55 an hour is a bit high, but would depend on several factors. Does that include travel time? What is the scope of the work? Is that a minimum?

Without knowing those things it's difficult to know the answer. Maybe something around $40 is a more reasonable number.

$55.00 an hour seems reasonable to have work done that a homeowner either cant, or won't do themselves.

Probably the most recommended handyman on TOTV was Tim 'the toolman' Miller, although now I understand he is only doing garage floors. When he did several jobs for us in 2011, Tim brought along his own helper because many jobs required two people. Putting in attic steps and flooring, adding additional shelving to the master closet, etc. He also gave a total job price for labor and materials before he started any work. I don't see how an experienced handyman won't know how long a job will take, unless he's not experienced. The only person I had work for me by the hour, was the Hangman who installs curtain rods and hangs pictures and works by the hour.

It was very easy to say that. If a person is calling a handyman, it should be obvious that the homeowner needs work done that requires some level of expertise in some way. Sure, you can ask a neighbor to come over and replace batteries in smoke detectors, replace a toilet seat, or plunge a stopped up drain, etc. But if you are in need of more skilled labor, one should expect to pay for their time and labor.

Well I charge $150 an hr for golf lessons so $55 sounds fair

Where do you work?