Where to find a great full time Handyman for my business?

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Where to find a great full time Handyman for my business?

Tony Deal
Flipper/Rehabber · Lebanon, OH · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes

Hello All,

Hopefully this is the right location for this.   I have been on the hunt for a full time Handyman and have come up empty with sources like craigslist, Indeed and monster.  I consistently get the guy who says yep I'm your guy, I can do it all.  

Great! 

1- Give me all the codes you need to follow to install a gas or electric water heater.

2- Codes for hand rail heights and where they are need.

3- Standard breaker size and wire for specific appliances?

4- how to find or fix the problem with a dead outlet, reverse neutral, missing ground?

along with 10 other basic questions.

Heck if they could just know 1/2 of them I would be happy. For the right guy that wants to move up in the world I could start teaching them to become better and eventually turn them into a QC guy on top of a great handyman and then go find another Handyman.

So my question is where do I find this guy? Is there some specific job websites, Job boards, methods or database that people are using? I could really use some help in this area.

Much appreciated

Tony

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Eric M.
Flipper/Rehabber · Louisville, KY · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
9y

Not sure why a handyman would know building codes.  He isn't going to be pulling permits for many of his jobs.

This is stuff a GC deals with, not a handyman.

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  • Kathy Henley
    Rental Property Investor · St. Louis, MO · Member since 2014 · 741 posts · 424 votes
    9y

    @Tony Deal  You snag a worker from someone else.

    Ask other investors, real estate agents for referrals.  We hired a worker from contractor crew. He has the skills that come into play everyday, HVAC and electrical repairs.  We hire out the pluming, it is so specialized.

    0Reply
  • Eric M.
    Flipper/Rehabber · Louisville, KY · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    Not sure why a handyman would know building codes.  He isn't going to be pulling permits for many of his jobs.

    This is stuff a GC deals with, not a handyman.

    1Reply
  • Adam Abdel-Hafez
    Contractor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 236 posts · 91 votes
    9y
    I agree with Eric Michaels , no reason for a handyman to know the building codes. It sounds like you're looking for more like a contractor, not a handyman. Things like the electrical repairs you just mentioned, most handymen wouldn't know how to do. There are people you can find to do it all, but you will have to pay more than what you were probably intending on paying for this.
    0Reply
  • Manolo D.
    Contractor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y
    Tony Deal You are looking for a handyman that has been in the trade, in multiple trades to be exact, are you willing to pay their rate? To me that's at least a 30/hr worker. You are looking for a job foreman, not a handyman. You can get them easily at contractor staffing agency too. But, I guess if you're looking at craigslist, then you're probably too cheap to hire that caliber of a worker. If you want, get someone cheap then send to home inspection school, don't expect after a few months they'll stick with you though.
    0Reply
  • Brian Pulaski
    Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    When I hear handyman, I think of a guy who can do a bit of everything, but is not "skilled" in any one area. He can build and install things, but I couldn't imagine that job description entailing knowledge of every aspect of construction/codes.

    It sounds like you are looking for too much. My thinking is you are getting "handymen" applying for your job, when you want someone who is skilled in multiple aspects of construction.

    I agree with Manolo but would actually assume your looking at a $35-50/hr guy, if he needs to not only know these codes, but also be able to perform any/all repairs.

    0Reply
  • Manolo D.
    Contractor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y
    Brian Pulaski I have one on-call service that knows code both commercial/industrial and residential, someone like the OP is looking for, he doesn't work for less than 55/hr, he is fast and real bully when my workers work slow. A price worth paying. But it's all I can offer him, on-call, price tag issue.
    0Reply
  • Tony Deal
    OP
    Flipper/Rehabber · Lebanon, OH · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes
    9y

    Thanks everyone for the input.  I guess I may be expecting to much. In my eyes it is far from Rocket Science to know how to do things properly.  Maybe I will have to re-think my expectations.

    So either way. Where are you all finding these people. Thanks

    0Reply
  • Manolo D.
    Contractor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y
    Tony Deal It is nowhere near rocket science, nor it is nowhere near like a walk in the park. Codes are written --in black and white--, why don't you learn them, hire someone, and teach then; let's see how you go. As for where to find them, sometimes I look in the mirror, sometimes search thebluebook.com pick up the phone and start calling.
    0Reply
  • Robert S.
    Contractor · Milltown, NJ · Member since 2016 · 297 posts · 213 votes
    9y
    If you are a multi-family investor or higher up the food chain in apartment buildings and commercial space, you want licensed electrical contractors performing electric work. You want licensed plumbers performing plumbing work. You want licensed professionals because along with our license comes a very important word in our game, insurance. If you hire Mr. $30/hour jack of all trades and something goes wrong, it's on you, not the handyman. Here's why, if your building burns down because of the "handyman's" work, sure you can sue him. Sue for what, you pay him $30/hour and he has no insurance, he has no assets to go after. Now it comes back to you, does your landlord insurance policy cover negligence and therefore all of your renters' property, or even worse, a renter gets hurt or loses their life? Google - Avalon apartment fire in Edgewater, NJ The short version... Maintenance workers doing unlicensed plumbing work set the insulation on fire and it spread through the complex.
    0Reply
  • Richard Feeley
    Hobbs, NM · Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Eric M.:

    Not sure why a handyman would know building codes.  He isn't going to be pulling permits for many of his jobs.

    This is stuff a GC deals with, not a handyman.

    I agree that handyman wont know all codes.  Especially since Code is short for Federal and State codes; and Municipal Codes, which are specific to every city.  Experienced contractors or handymen will know generalized answers that apply to most jurisdictions and how to get codes for that specific jurisdiction.

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