I worked behind a computer all of my career. Left that in April to work with my hands and in my community. Handyman is a great job. Every day is a new experience.
Hey, how are things now? Did you have any hands on experience or training before jumping into handyman? I'm 51yrs old and have done almost all the things in and around the house. I would love to leave my current career and do THIS. BUT,...I'm terrified! lol
I'm doing the opposite kinda lol, I've gone from manual labor my whole life to going back to college at 27 to get a degree in cyber security. Still currently doing handyman contractor work while in school tho
My two cents on the fear of the unknown is that sometimes you can't shake the fear sometimes you can. Either way what you need is bravery. Bravery is not the absence of fear is the willingness to face it, act in spite of it, and overcome it.
I retired two years ago and started mine a year ago. I am busy everyday. I take only easy jobs like installing new smoke detectors, batteries, light bulbs, weather stripping, faucets, toilets, etc. I make $120 an hour and have all the work I want.
8 years I have worked for a contractor and everything you said hit home for me. I just license and getting ready to advertise. Fear has been huge. But this helped. Thank you
I am very inspired by your fear of failure speech. That is the one thing holding me back but with your advice, I feel I can go for it now. Thank you so much for this!
So inspiring, I’m a woman and I like doing handyman work, I got my first bathroom drywall repair job and he loved it. But I struggle with being a woman and getting jobs because of this.
Thanks for posting, I'm in the same boat, started in 2019, business is going great, but I want to get licensed etc to charge more but it's just really confusing in my state how to do that or who needs to, so I appreciate you coming on here and sharing your experiences.
Thank you for the motivating video. I was always afraid of fixing stuff around the house or my car and I had to pay people to do the job for me. I started working on few projects at home & my car, and I’m now more confident to fix up things.
Been selling Hot Dog for two years and this year I decided I should follow my heart and start a handyman Biz. Always been a dream so now it’s time to put it into fruition. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Great! how about starting a utube channel about hot dogs? how to cook, taste reviews and general daily customer interactions? Do handyman during day time and channel at nights.
@@utubehandyman I actually have a very small channel I’ve been trying to work on. Have a few videos under @gooddawgcatering. Been wanting to take it more seriously tho but I have three little ones at home I take care of too. My goal is to get someone else to work my hot dog biz for me and then focus on the handyman biz and videos. Appreciate your words of encouragement.
What I come too realizing is that the scariest part is trying new stuff, because if you already have any experience then no matter what you need to do you are already 2 step's ahead and you know its just matter of time to figure out the solution to whatever problem you are facing. 😊
UR exactly right, often times I utilize RU-vid, with the hope of their possibly being a faster-easier or maybe a more efficient way of fixing something...though it may be something I already familiar with....
Thanks for the content man! It definitely makes sense that you can charge more in big cities. And you can also charge more in small towns that have a lot of AirBnB's and not a lot of reliable handymen to do the work.
true I have a house in another state, small city and handyman there rip me off everytime I need repairs done. Most times they charge more than I charge for same work here.
@@gianthills 1 job at a time. utube university is a great resource along with code books for plumbing and electrical. It's really not hard. The hard part is building up the confidence and the mentality "you can't do it".
@@gianthills everyone knows someone that may need some small jobs around their house. All you have to do is ask them if you could fix it for them. I started with stuff around my own house. I've never worked with drywall and now I've patched up 3 spots recently (and found a few more spots to repair). Now Im about to texture and paint the walls. Also did some stuff for my parents and grandparents and they were very impressed. I say all of this to say just start where you can and take pictures. Good luck.
I'm a more techy kind of guy but I think this would be a great way to begin to learn some hands-on skills while making great money. And it looks like there is plenty of demand.
Thankyou for this video.... 4 years I've been putting off starting. I made a website in 2018 and didn't advertise it. Every fear you said here is.... has been holding me back. Yesterday I designed and ordered fliers to start advertising myself. I'm going for it!
@@utubehandyman thanks bud, we have to start somewhere and add to it but I've realized the main point is to actually start. Your video has been inspirational and really helpful 👌
Awesome! I'm kind of where you are, we just moved back "home" to the mountains and I want to start over. I have too many tools, if that's possible, and nothing to use them on aside from things around this old house. I wish you the best of luck and let's do this!
@@weekendhomeprojects hey buddie, hope your well. Yea I've been getting work in slowly, keeping it low-key. Been getting alot of bathrooms refurb and repairs and some garden clearance, perfect little jobs whilst still working full time
Very nice video, when the "pandemic" one day I didn't have my job anymore, so I thought on working on a apartment complex as a handyman, and I did, learn a lot on RU-vid. 👌
That was the problem, I really like working, using my hands however because I didnt want the job to slip I always try to make my price lower compared to others as a handyman, as well as thinking about how much profit I'm going to make. Thats what is keeping me counting in the same spot. Its really hard for me i have a family and two kids make pray for me.❤
I've learned over the years that approach will only attract customers who will not appreciate your work and are always looking for the cheapest price. You may have to suffer a bit but do not be the cheapest unless you REALLY need to make ends meet. Quality customers will come with time. Have faith friend.
Don’t know how I ran in to your video but this was an awesome testimony! Hey - did you get a lot of scammers from your Craigslist ad? I’ve posted things and I get strange emails some times. Never left my phone number because of this.
My only worry is being properly licensed to perform certain work, for example, ceiling fan replacement like you mentioned…others I have thought about but are worried about licensing is sinks, home water filters
bud most places you don't need a license to replace a sink :) . Just do the work and guarantee it. Bigger jobs simply hire a sub or even better, have friends in the trades you need.
Great video. Where did you find out what your state license requirements are to do that type of work? I’m interested in doing something similar and I’ve done an extensive amount of remodeling and repairs in the two houses I’ve owned. I’ve been stuck thinking about it and to your point I need to just get started
Hey man, I really appreciate the video. I’m in NC here and you can’t do any plumbing or electrical here at all, even minor. Do you think it’s worth trying to be a handyman if that’s the case?
yea, tons of misc work that dont require either trade. I'd research your regulations though. Ceiling fans and faucets can be done by handyman in most states.
I'm in NC as well I'm not sure who told you you can't do work without a license. In north carolina you can do plumbing of any kind as long as it doesn't pass 30k dollars same with remodels up to 10k per job. No one wants the small jobs any more, they want the big ones but alot of small job make big money. Don't be afraid you can do it how do I know I did it 2 years ago I just made my first 200k and this year isn't even close to being over
I`m exactly where you were 4 years ago. About to start my own business but doubting myself due to lack of experience. Your video was a good motivation. Thank you.
I get that you have to be willing to learn, and getting past the fear of failure, but if you're gonna be successful you need to be good at the job. When you say anybody can install a faucet or ceiling fan that's not 100% true. A slight drip on the faucet can cost you a ton of money and an insurance claim. A bad ceiling fan install can cause a lot of damage. Take risk, but you've got to be good at what you do.
Thanks for your feedback. There are risks in everything we do in life. If we get stuck in the "what if's" we would never get anything accomplished. The chances of dying from a car crash are a lot higher for a new driver. Did that stop you from driving when you got your driver's license?. No one starts being good at anything in life, even if you go to college for it. Practice is what makes perfect. Every new job I ever did, I researched thoroughly to make sure it wouldn't be my last. If you apply yourself, you can do anything you want in this life.
Great feedback. You are 100% right. It’s all about the research and the willingness to do the job. If you enjoy what you do, I think most of that stuff comes naturally. Sure, things can happen but like he said, that’s why you get insurance.
You are 100% right. Young people do not want blue collar jobs. Every young person thinks they are ENTITLED to be a millionaire from birth. No hard work required. They want jobs sitting behind the computer. Or they want to be the boss and have no experience. It’s unfortunately
Not in my family. We have been blue collar. It's military or skilled labor. Your later years, as your body breaks down, you become a truck driver. Got a nephew that went straight outta high school into marina/boat recovery, then plumbing. Got his leg messed up in a motorcycle accident, driving a delivery truck until he can get back to work. Other nephews tend to go military then contracting, firefighter etc. College is trade school for us. Me-military, auto tech, then contracting. Now I'm breaking down, time to get a CDL for me. Folks from up north were coal miners. Folks from down south were watermen. My dad is the weird one and has an office job drafting pipe systems... But the mofo does everything himself and taught me ceramic tiling and flooring which was his side hustle till his back blew out. Women in my family 90% in medical/nursing.
I guess my point is, it ain't the work it's the pay and the system. Even the laziest young folks in my family are skilled at several things and work within the family. Hardwork only pays if you keep 100%. SS (which 40s and under will never see), taxes for surveillance state and to bail out banks so boomers dont get their retirement savings wiped out, scams, inflation just makes it impossible to live the boomer life. My generation and the Zs are nihilistic, but the boomers are definitely the selfish generation that opened the flood gates and voted this country into the ground. For every AOC (millenials) there are 10 Joe Bidens (boomers). Thanks for selling us out! Come dumpster diving with us sometime!
@@gonzowarburn7045 It's mainly the system. We're indoctrinated from early age. This is why it's not easy to get out of it. And most of us fear it just as much as death.
You don't need a license. If you're in California, you cannot charge more than $500 for a project. The only way around is getting a GC license unfortunately so there's almost no point
no specific channel, I would literally look up " how to drywall, how to install a toilet, how to change a faucet, etc, etc". I would watch several videos on the same subject and then go for it. It hasn't failed me yet. :)
I started out as a handyman back in 2013 here in the UK. I never had much experience and now have regular customers and a different views of the world. Thing is when you work for someone else you never have time to reflect on what's happening in the world. Working on your own goals weather it's a handyman or building cars gives a different meaning. Many of us are stuck in a communist world in an image of socialism that is not the real reality. It's either work for yourself or be stuck in dictatorship. Sorry for being a bit deep 😃.
Any tips for me please, Robert? 22 years old in the Uk and want to become a self employed handyman/property maintenance. Need to break out the corporate world and work and earn for myself. Thank you for your time.
@@m33ddyhv focus on what your good at, what makes the most profit for least work. Be central don't drive more than 5 miles, pay for marketing. keep customers by given more.
Thank you for the insight and inspiration I'm a maintenance man for my town through an agency and I've been here for about 2yrs and I'm really thinking about starting my handyman business
@@omargavarrete1078 Make a list of things you know can do and "might" be able to do. Come up with a name, check out other handyman posts on craigslist, fb, etc. Make your own post detailing all your skills, get a voip number from google voice and wait for texts/calls. I would suggest texts so you can research pricing when people contact you.
The safest thing to do is start with assembling furniture from IKEA, Staples, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc. I do not encourage these younger guys to go out here installing ceiling fans, sinks, cabinets, or dry walling just to get caught up in a lawsuit that can ruin their handyman career for good. I know you mean well, but please don't make it seem like this is something a monkey a can do from just watching video tutorials.
I love youtube i have learned so much from it i like the video if you have anything else to help me advertise please help me lol i know most of the trades can do the jobs but ihave trouble geting my name ouy there thanks
The problem with handymen is that they should be pro in all areas that they offer, ie drywall, carp, paint, electrics, but they aren't. Do you really want a drywall guy doing your carpentry or a carp doing your paint?
if the guy does a good job why not?. You need to understand, nothing in construction is perfect. Not even if a "pro" does it. Am I an expert in all areas?. No I'm not, but I can do good work and make a good living. That negative thought is what holds people back. Rid yourself of that mentality and you will succeed in life whether it be a handyman or any other field.
@@gianthills thats why you have general contractor's mate, handyman is just like a mechanic they know how to find the problem and fix it the right way. 👌🏽
As a homeowner - 1) “pro” = sticker shock x how many trades you need 2) time - need to find 5 different tradesmen, that’s scheduled meet your timeframe … 3) Trust - find 5 different tradesman that you can trust in your home, & with your money Sounds like a PITA … or find a competent handyman, that has reasonable rates, and you feel is trustworthy enough ti let in your home
How do you find customers? Just craigslist? Make a video to explain how you got the license. Its sad people are brainwashed to think a license means you know what you are doing it does not.
It's less likely the contractor is a hack if they are licensed. To get my general contractors license and specific trade license I had to take two 6 hour exams. I passed them both the first try. Its very unlikely a typical handyman is going to be able to do this especially when it comes to HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing. Government should make it that all contractors have to be licensed just like Accountants, Doctors, Lawyers, Bartenders, etc. The poor quality unlicensed contractors give the good ones a bad name. The licensing exams should be extremely difficult and you should have to perform a sample of work for a panel that rates it pass or fail. The construction industry needs to have higher standards and mandatory licensing would weed out all the illegal immigrants.
Friend not once have I ever messed up a job beyond repairs. This line of work is easy and anyone can do it :) . Besides I do my homework before actual on hands work. No different than going to college and getting a job afterwards.
If you don't know what you are doing... do yourself and the customer a favor .. and don't even look at it... Customer should not have to pay for a non skilled handy man .. earn your stipes in the field and learn the job right before doing some bullshit job ...
lol I'm good. This stuff is easy even I can do it. What stripes do you talk about?. Working for someone else and making someone else money?. All my work is guaranteed and in all these years I haven't had a single complaint.
I want to be a handyman, but I`m a refugee from russia. I have some experience, of course, lots of things are different. But do you think people will hate me? In Europe they hate all russians now, even if I am against putin and his regime... Can I be a helper, for start, for little money?
Don't worry about what others think friend. That's one of the biggest things that can change your life. It isn't your fault others hurt inside and want to hate others, just do you and keep moving forward. Just do it!
