Hiring a handyman is not easy, and most people have bad experiences with these workers. There are a lot of negatives about them, like they don’t show up, don’t call back, and agree to do the job only to disappoint their employers.
On the other hand, there are many people who are happy to hire these guys who do the little jobs around the house. So when it comes to miscommunication, is it the fault of the maintenance staff or the owner? Most likely it’s a bit of both. It is better to research the relationship between the two parties to find a way to remedy the situation.
First of all, it is important to know what a handyman really is or what he is not.
Definition of handyman
It is not so easy to define maintenance personnel as a profession. It may be correct to say that a handyman is a person who is paid for their repair services, but this may not be very helpful. However, if an operator’s job is defined by the specific skills they should have, this will be even more confusing.
This is because every skill added to the list of requirements, such as electrical repairs, locksmithing, plumbing, and tile, among others, would eliminate a multitude of handymen. So if the job a handyman would accept was more specific like painting a house, painting a wall, or painting the Sistine Chapel, this would eliminate more handymen with each additional job.
Perhaps it would be better to let the workers define the meaning of handyman, although this will not work either. Some people think of themselves as maintenance workers and small job professionals, however the truth is that they are tradesmen looking for big jobs but could also take small jobs when they are looking for little. This may or may not be honest, but anyone is free to work to survive. However, are they handyman in the true sense of the word?
Work of a handyman
Certainly, the skills of a handyman do not define who he is.
Handymen are not multi-skilled workers, they come from different walks of life, with all kinds of interesting practices. Some of them have business experience with carpentry or construction skills. Others are plumbers and electricians, but only some of them, as licensed and unionized professionals tend to make more money. Still others are appliance repairers, roofers, or shingle installers who, as mentioned above, accept craft work from references or customers present during lean times.
However, not all operators are professional or skilled in crafts. Some of them are honest, hard-working people who are content to be paid for a day’s work. They will do anything for a dollar, like raking leaves or cleaning a basement. Some may have only a few skills, but want to learn how to become independent learners. They receive on-the-job training and simply charge considerably low fees for the opportunity to learn more while working in a home.
Skills of a handyman
In truth, the skills of a handyman are defined by the specific work that they can perform. In reality, this worker does not have a standard profile, so each one has their own skill and ability. A roofer, for example, can efficiently clean gutters or replace a door lock, but cannot dispose of trash and clean toilets. A carpenter will do very well in renovating a small basement, but he will not be able to repair a broken bicycle or garage door opener.