Nearby Handymen in Los Angeles

Hiring a handyman costs around $400 per project, but the total could range from $65 to $1,500 or more, depending on the type of project and how long it takes. Most handypeople charge on a per-hour basis, usually around $90 per hour. Less experienced handypeople could charge as low as $40 per hour, while experts or highly experienced handypeople may charge up to $140 per hour. Here are some additional factors that affect your pricing:

• Amount of time the job takes

• Difficulty level of the work

• Material costs

• Accessibility of the work area

The appeal of hiring a handyperson is two-fold: first, they usually cost less than hiring certified experts, and second, they complete a massive variety of projects, ranging from installing light fixtures and fixing plumbing leaks to refinishing wood floors and replacing doors in your home. Provided the job doesn’t require a specific license to complete—like a plumber’s license or electrician’s license—a handyperson will likely be able to tackle the work. Handypeople have a broad range of home improvement experience, so professionals can usually handle any project in your home that doesn’t need to be done by a licensed tradesperson.

Handypeople usually don’t hold trade licenses, so they typically aren’t qualified to tackle projects involving installing or making alterations to plumbing or electrical lines. Below are some jobs that a handyperson usually won’t be able to complete:

• Installing plumbing for a new kitchen or bathroom

• Replacing plumbing pipes

• Installing or repairing septic systems

• Running new electrical wiring

• Installing a subpanel

It’s not necessary to tip a handyperson, nor do most professionals expect it, but it’s a good idea in certain situations. For example, if your handyperson carries out particularly unpleasant work, like debris removal or working in a cramped crawl space, or if your handyperson goes above and beyond to keep your home clean throughout their work. A 10% to 20% tip is a good way to show your appreciation for their work, and you might want to consider double that or more if they come out on a weekend or holiday to address an emergency issue.

You can find a reliable handyperson by looking at professionals in your area and ruling out companies with poor reviews online. Next, check each handyperson on the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a history of complaints and rule out those that do. Finally, you can contact each handyperson to ask the following qualifying questions:

• What is your hourly rate?

• Are there any jobs you can’t tackle?

• Are you fully insured?

• How many years of experience do you have?

• Do you have references I can contact?