John P
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 08:50 PM |
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Any suggestions how to get more "Handyman" work.
As some of you may know, having been made redundent several times I eventually gave up on Engineering and set up as a self-employed handyman. Until
Christmas I was managing to get enough work but have had virtually nothing for around 4-weeks now.
I have a web site with a listing on Google Maps and also have cards in most of the local shops. I have also dropped flyers into lots of local houses
but am still desperately short of work.
Don't have much money to spend on advertising so does anyone have any advice on what works?
By the way I live in a semi-rural village so delivering flyers takes a long time as the houses are fairly spread out and often on roads where
it's dangerous to park so doing a big leaflet drop would be difficult.
John.
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StevieB
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:06 PM |
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How about getting some graphics on your car, all of them if there's more than one in the household. That way you're advertised wherever
you drive.
I'd also consider putting a landline as well as mobile contact and email too - people are put off by only having a mobile to ring, where a fixed
land line gives a better impressions. Same for email address too - get a domain name registered as it gives a better impression than having @aol.com
or something.
Have a look at business link - I've been to a couple of work shops on business start up and they're very good, as well as being free.
Well worth going to - full of advice in answer to your question and many more.
I'll try and think of a few more advertising idea's...
ETA - one I heard of recently for a similar kind of service being advertised. Have a few cheao fridge magnets made up and guve them out. People
don't keep flyers to hand or business cards generally as they just either end up in the bin or the 'man drawer' never to be seen
again. However, a fridge magnet will be right there in the kitchen forever more holding up the shopping list, and right in the line of sight when a
handy man is needed. It is an expense, but definately worth checking out the costs.
[Edited on 10/1/11 by StevieB]
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:08 PM |
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I would try the local friday ad etc etc. I expect not cheap, but worth a go.
However, probably alot to do with the time of year.
As another idea, have you tried a landlords association? They are always looking for a reliable chappie who can do odds and ends at changeover.
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BigFaceDave
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:09 PM |
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My Dad did the same, Got fed up of being made redundant and decided to go on his own and was a handyman for about 11 years (until retirement). He was
very lucky as my mum had a chance meeting with a elderly lady who needed some work done just as he was starting out and that was it! He ended up doing
pretty much her whole house, new kitchen new bathroom decorated pretty much every room and then told all her friends about how good he was and it just
went on from there. He was very lucky as he never advertised as he was always booked up about 6 - 9 months in advance, He did a good job at a fair
price and was friendly so they didnt mind him being in the house as some of the old ladies would have been intimidated by someone pushy etc. Also the
reccession doesnt affect some of them to much as they have pentions and arent restricted like those of us who are still trying to hold onto jobs. Good
luck and hope things pick up for you soon.
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PSpirine
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:12 PM |
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Get some good flyers printed, and get a good website.
In a lot of villages you can post on notice boards, at post offices and local shops. A nice professional flyer won't cost much and will stand
out from the hand-scribbled adverts.
If you need any help with simple designs/layouts or a design of a simple website, I can probably help (although the timeframe will depend hugely on
how busy I am at work) - at the locost price of zilch.
After that, for things like handyman and builders etc. word of mouth is invaluable. If you can get to know local plumbers, chimney sweeps, glazers
etc. then that's extremely beneficial as you can recommend them and they can recommend you.
Keep in mind just after Xmas is a quiet period for any sort of purchasing - people's wallets are still recovering. I've put off getting
the chimney sweep in until I get paid at the end of the month!
Good luck!
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tegwin
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:18 PM |
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When I was looking for a builder type person I went on http://www.mybuilder.com/ and found a few on there.... worth a looksee?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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martyn_16v
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:24 PM |
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It's worth having a nose around small businesses as well as domestic stuff. I had a mate who made a fairly good fist of this kind of work, he
started out doing the odd favour for the landlord of the pub we spent all of our time in, that lead to him more officially doing maintenance for the
pub, and then others. After that he started getting quite a bit of work from a bookies that spread to other branches in the same chain.
Another one that's worth trying to chat up is letting agents, they're always organising odd jobs on behalf of landlords on their books.
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graememk
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:39 PM |
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have a drive around and look for work, a fence that needs repair, a hedge that needs cutting ect ect then knock on the door and explain your local and
not a pikey looking for work and that you are willing to do it cheap as you have nothing on at the moment.
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LBMEFM
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:44 PM |
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I set myself up doing property maintenance eight years ago I have never stopped and I am currently fully booked right up to the end of March. Prior to
that I was in catering and had, apart from DIY at home which I enjoyed, little experience of. building. I took on any jobs I could get, even big
projects. We are lucky around here as we have lots of Londoners who have the money to spend on their weekend cottages. I got to know electricians,
plumbers, plasterers etc etc and I now survey and estimate the jobs, do as much as I can myself and have the trades carry out their work then invoice
the client with a bit extra added for yourself. 75% of my work is repeat work from regular customers and the rest from recommendation. So in answer to
your question I have found personal contact is the best method, be a bit cheeky knock on doors if you see something that needs doing, chat to people
in the pub and tell them what you are doing, pool your resources with other trades. Don't refuse any job, bluff your way through but don't
take risks with work you are not qualified to do such as gas and electrics. If you do a good job at a reasonable price customers will not only give
you more work but also recommend you to others. To summarise I would suggest that it is personal contact that brings in the work so go out and meet
people. I hope your are succesful and stay positive this time of year work can be slow but come Easter the work will come in, external decorating,
fence repairs, decking or maybe get yourself a pressure washer and offer a patio, path and drive cleaning service. Finally get signage on you vehicle,
magnetic if you prefer, prospective clients will get used to see you around. Good luck for the new year. Barry
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daniel mason
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:44 PM |
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i would go and talk to a few builders, tradesmen in the area and see if they have any spare work for you or if they need a hand with certain things.
probably labouring for a while but if you stick at it youll end up doing a bit more once they know you are capable!
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mookaloid
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:54 PM |
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Go round all the letting agents in your area - they need handymen - they usually have hundreds of properties to look after 
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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nick205
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 09:59 PM |
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We have a couple of local publications come throught door once a quarter full of plumbers, fencers etc. Anything like that in your area - maybe a
parish magazine or similar.
Vehicle graphics are definitely worth a try, there's people on here who do them so you might get a Locost deal on them if you're lucky.
Funny as it sounds, it might be worth contacting any local housing charities or the like. They might make use of a trusted local person to do odd
jobs on proprties they look after.
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trikerneil
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| posted on 10/1/11 at 10:13 PM |
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Bit cynical this, but I'd start going to church.
It'll be full of potential customers who'll know you from their congregation.
Neil
ACE Cafe - Just say No.
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big_l
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 08:08 AM |
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My hammer. Com is good for handy men also I would go to every carpet shop in your local area and drop a card in most carpet fitters can't be
bothered messing about cutting 5mm of doors so we get a joiner in to wip some of the bottom they charge £30 call out and the first door free and £15
per door after that some houses we go to need 7-11 doors cutting so can be quite profitable going ???
[Edited on 11/1/11 by big_l]
Check out my blog mnrvortxhayabusa@blogspot.com
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nick205
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 09:33 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by trikerneil
Bit cynical this, but I'd start going to church.
It'll be full of potential customers who'll know you from their congregation.
Neil
It's not a bad idea at all (if you can stomach the sermons!) anything that gets you more widely know in the area can only help. Maybe sort out
some logo'd t-shirts/fleeces along with the vehicle graphics to further highlight what you do.
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interestedparty
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 12:23 PM |
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This is definitely a word-of-mouth situation, however you need to get the ball rolling somehow. There comes a point with this sort of thing that if
you are lucky and do good work you can eventually get to a 'critical mass' where you don't need to advertise at all, as posters
above have pointed out.
It's desperately difficult to get the ball rolling though, as I know from experience. My advice would be to try advertising some service in
particular, and get your foot in the door(s) that way. One good way is to advertise kitchen refurbishments- replace the doors, worktops and sink/taps,
maybe even tiling. That sort of thing can be very popular, does require some study and some practice though.
If you want to have a go, practice on your own kitchen and those of friends and relatives first, you'll need to do 3 or 4 before you can really
advertise it tot he public. Doors etc can be got from ebay, worktops from builders merchants etc (buy good stuff, doesn't cost much more but is
worth the extra), and buy a good router, jig and cutters.
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list-- I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed-- who never would be missed!
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Jasper
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 12:51 PM |
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Ask your local newsagent what they charge to drop your flyers off with the local newspaper, might be a good way of getting them out there.
If you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room.
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 01:41 PM |
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I think calling yourself "Property Maintenance" gives a better impression too as "Handyman" gives me an image of an older
bloke with a flat cap and a rolled-up cigarette hanging out of his mouth doing odd jobs like hanging a door and painting a fence to top up his
pension.
Sounds like you need to invest in a good printer and lots of ink, or find someone who can sneak a load of photocopies at work
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Peteff
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 02:50 PM |
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A friend of mine was made redundant and set himself up with a van and a set of ladders to go window cleaning. One of his customers asked if he knew
any decorators as she had been let down by a painter and he volunteered for that. Now he is a painter and decorator doing a bit of window cleaning and
gardening on the side and has just bought a new house on the strength of work he has lined up. His work all comes from word of mouth now and he
doesn't need to self publicise at all as he does a good job and is not exorbitant on price but doesn't sell himself short.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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swanny
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 04:28 PM |
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I'd go along with the church idea, but in a slightly different way.
churches are old building run by generally quite conservative older folk in my experience.
while you are not working, offer to do any jobs as a gift to you local churches, say offer them 2 free days each.
explain that you are starting up and you simply would rather be working while you wait for the adverts to pay off.
you'll get to know them
they'll think you are a good egg
they will contact you when they need something doing in the future
you'll than get access to their 'customers' without doing the sermans.
lets face it at the moment, when you dont have work on, volunterring like this will only cost you time, rather than additional marketing spend.
also if you are an engineer why not offer to do small kit car jobs? there are a good deal of people out there with kit cars that cant/dont do basic
maintainence
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 11/1/11 at 05:24 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by swanny
I'd go along with the church idea, but in a slightly different way.
churches are old building run by generally quite conservative older folk in my experience.
while you are not working, offer to do any jobs as a gift to you local churches, say offer them 2 free days each.
explain that you are starting up and you simply would rather be working while you wait for the adverts to pay off.
you'll get to know them
they'll think you are a good egg
they will contact you when they need something doing in the future
you'll than get access to their 'customers' without doing the sermans.
lets face it at the moment, when you dont have work on, volunterring like this will only cost you time, rather than additional marketing
spend.
Actually that's a cracking idea, like those companies that put the sign outside "This extension is being built by Bodgit and Scarper
co"
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