Things around the house that need fixing but don't require a licensed pro. Real work, by hand, by a neighbor.
What this covers
Not licensed plumbing or electrical — but most other home tasks fall in here. Ask; if it's outside my scope, I'll say so.
TVs, shelves, blinds, mirrors, furniture, racks. Anchored properly so it stays put.
Doors that don't latch, drawers that won't slide, drywall patches, squeaky hinges, loose handles.
Interior touch-ups, single-room paint jobs, trim refresh. Caulking too.
The list that's been sitting on the fridge. I'll knock through it in one visit if I can.
Before You Hire Me
“There has been talk of me running extension cords from one neighbor's outside outlet to another neighbor's house. I want to clarify that this is not standard practice. I want to further clarify that it has happened more than once. Okay maybe that last one was a little too far.”
“If it was made before 1990, I have a fighting chance. If it was made after 2015, I will look up a YouTube video while you watch. Honesty is the policy.”
“I'll fix the thing. I will not pretend to know why it broke. I have theories. I will share them. They will not be accurate.”
“Drywall patches I do are visible to me. They are not visible to anyone who isn't looking for them. So far this has held.”
“If a job calls for a specialty tool I don't own, I will either borrow it from a neighbor or improvise with what's in my truck. I will not tell you which until you ask. Oh, but I did sell my truck.”
Pricing
Below market because we’re neighbors. No above-market rate exists — I don’t take work outside Barcelona Lane. However, if the work hasn’t been done in a while, we could far exceed market prices and go into supermarket prices. And we know how expensive things are now at the grocery store… oops, off track.
Quote-based pricing.
Handyman work spans everything from a 20-minute fix to a half-day project — one rate sheet wouldn't do it justice. I'll quote based on what's on your list when I walk through. Materials billed at cost, with receipts if you want them. Honey-do lists welcome.
Hypothetically Speaking
“The handyman who fixes things can also unfix them. I won't. But I could.”
“My tools are loyal to me. They are less loyal to a non-paying client. Hinges have been known to loosen mysteriously in the night.”
“Cabinets I install for paying clients stay closed. Cabinets I install for non-paying clients have a habit of opening themselves at 3 AM. The cats on Barcelona Lane have been documented witnessing this.”
“Light switches I wire for paying clients work the first time. Light switches I wire for non-paying clients also work the first time. After that, they require negotiation.”
“Don’t give my number out to anyone who still owes you money. The math doesn’t change when it comes to me. If they couldn’t pay you back for the lawn chair they borrowed two years ago, they’re not paying me for the yard. Spare us both.”
Schedule a visit
Send a message with what you need done. I'll respond within a day.
Email me All contact optionsNo online booking widget — this stays between neighbors. A text or call is the booking system.
How to Pay
Four ways. None of them get bonus points. I have customers who use all four.
Tipping is never expected and never refused. Same goes for fresh-baked cookies at the door.
Recent Work
Click any photo to view full size. The work speaks for itself. Mostly.
Three-photo install
Gutter guards installed on a Barcelona Lane home. Leaves: deterred. Pine straw: respectfully redirected.
Five-photo set
Roof work and repair across several Barcelona Lane jobs. The neighbor in photo three said it was the only time she'd ever paid someone for roof work and not regretted it.
Eleven-photo transformation · including the light fixture
A full sunroom makeover. From dated to done. Light fixture install in the final photo — I did that too. Whole thing took a few weeks of off-and-on work, around the day job.
