Handyman · Nashville, TN
The Nashville homeowner's guide to handyman
What the work involves, what drives the price, what your options are, and what a bad job looks like — written so you can judge any handyman in Middle Tennessee, including us.
Warning signs
How to know you need us
If you recognize any of these, it is worth having somebody look before it becomes a larger job.
- A list on the fridge that has been there long enough to become invisible
- Doors that stick, drawers that do not close, trim that has pulled away
- Drywall damage, nail pops or a patch someone else started
- Caulk failing around tubs, sinks and exterior trim
- Fixtures, shelving, blinds or a television that need mounting properly
- A rental turn, or a punch list before listing a house
Your options
More than one right answer.
A handyman who only ever recommends the most expensive option is not giving you advice. Here is the honest range.
Half-day visit
Best value for a handful of small tasks. We work down your list in priority order.
Full-day visit
For a longer list or a single job with real scope, such as trim work or a run of repairs.
Specific repair
Quoted as a job rather than by the hour where the scope is clear — a door rehung, drywall repaired, a deck board run replaced.
Pre-listing punch list
A walk-through and a single visit to clear everything a buyer or an inspector would flag.
What it costs
What actually drives the price.
We do not quote handyman over the phone, because an honest number needs somebody to look at the job. These are the things that move it.
-
Time on site
Most small jobs are priced by the hour or half-day, and batching several tasks into one visit is markedly cheaper than four separate call-outs.
-
Materials and trips
A job where we can bring what is needed runs faster than one requiring a mid-job supply run, so knowing the task in advance saves you money.
-
Access and height
Anything needing ladders, staging or crawl-space work takes longer than the same task at floor level.
-
Trade boundaries
Some work legitimately belongs to a licensed electrician or plumber. Saying so is part of the job rather than a way of turning it down.
-
Making good
Patching, sanding and painting after a repair is real work, and a fair quote says whether it is included.
Every estimate is free, written and carries no obligation — including the parts we would find only after starting, which are priced up front rather than left open.
What happens
From your call to the finished job.
Send the list
Photos help enormously. Most lists can be scoped without a site visit, which saves you a charge.
Estimate
A realistic time estimate rather than an optimistic one, with the hourly rate and materials handling stated plainly.
The visit
We work top-down through your priorities, so if the day runs short the important things are already done.
Walk-through
Everything shown to you before we leave, and anything not right is fixed then rather than on another visit.
Done badly
What goes wrong, and why it matters.
These are the shortcuts that make a quote look cheaper and cost you more later. Ask anyone you are considering about them.
-
Patching drywall without matching texture
A flat patch on a textured wall is more obvious than the hole was.
-
Mounting to drywall alone
Televisions, shelving and grab bars need framing or proper anchors. Most failures are anchor failures.
-
Caulking over failed caulk
The old bead has to come out. A new bead on top of a failed one fails in the same place.
-
Taking on licensed work
Panel changes, gas lines and structural alterations are not handyman jobs, and pretending otherwise is how people get hurt.
Before you hire anyone
Six questions worth asking any handyman.
Including us. If a contractor cannot answer these easily, that is the answer.
-
Are you licensed for handyman and can I see the certificate?
A licensed and insured contractor will have this to hand and will not be irritated by the question.
-
Is the estimate written, itemized and free?
A verbal number is not an estimate. Itemized means you can compare two quotes on the same basis.
-
What happens if you find something once you start?
The honest answer names a rate and a process. The answer to worry about is that it never happens.
-
Who is actually doing the work?
Employee crew or subcontractor is not a wrong answer either way, but you should know which, and who carries the insurance.
-
What is the workmanship warranty, and is it in writing?
Materials carry a manufacturer warranty. Workmanship is the contractor, and it should be written down.
-
Will you pull the permit?
For permitted work, a contractor who suggests skipping it is telling you something important about the rest of the job.
FAQ
Choosing a handyman in Nashville
How do I choose a handyman in Nashville?
Check the license and the insurance certificate, get the estimate in writing and itemized so you can compare quotes on the same basis, and ask what happens if something is found once work starts. A contractor who cannot answer those easily has told you what you need to know.
Should I get more than one quote for handyman?
Yes, and compare what is in them rather than the number at the bottom. The cheapest quote is often cheapest because it leaves something out, and on handyman the thing left out is usually the preparation that decides how long the work lasts.
Is the cheapest handyman quote usually a bad idea?
Not automatically — but an unusually low number is information. Ask specifically what is included, what grade of material is quoted, who is doing the work and what the workmanship warranty is. If all four answers are good, the low quote is a good quote.
Do I need a permit for handyman in Nashville?
It depends on the scope. Metro Nashville and the surrounding counties permit and inspect a good deal of this work, and a contractor suggesting you skip a required permit is telling you something about how they approach the rest of the job. We pull the permits our work requires.
How far in advance should I book handyman?
A few weeks where you can. Booking in the quiet season usually means better scheduling and sometimes better pricing than booking in the rush, and it gives you time to make the selections properly.
Free estimate
Need a handyman in Nashville today?
Tell us what is going on and we will get you a free estimate from a local handyman. No obligation, no pressure.