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.
Estimate request
Tell us about the job.
Straight to us, and a reply the same day.
By Michael Blair, owner, Nashville's Handyman Service · who we are
Warning signs
How to know you need us
Recognize one? Have it looked at before it grows.
- 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We do not quote handyman over the phone, because an honest number needs somebody to look at the job.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.
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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.
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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.
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Access and height
Anything needing ladders, staging or crawl-space work takes longer than the same task at floor level.
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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.
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Making good
Patching, sanding and painting after a repair is real work, and a fair quote says whether it is included.
Estimates are free, written and without obligation. Anything found only after starting is priced up front.
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.
Shortcuts that cheapen the quote and cost you later. Ask anyone you are considering about them.
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Patching drywall without matching texture
A flat patch on a textured wall is more obvious than the hole was.
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Mounting to drywall alone
Televisions, shelving and grab bars need framing or proper anchors. Most failures are anchor failures.
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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.
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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 handyman cannot answer these easily, that is the answer.
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Which jobs will you not take?
The good answer names them: panel work, gas lines, structural changes — the jobs that need a licensed trade. A handyman who does everything does some of it illegally.
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Is the price by the hour or by the job, and is it written down?
Either can be honest; both need to be in writing before the day, with the materials shown. A verbal rate grows.
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Are you insured for damage in my house?
Liability insurance, with a certificate. A handyman who is not insured is a friend with tools, and a dropped ladder is your claim.
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Who is actually coming — you, or someone you sent?
The name of the person, and whether they are an employee or a sub. The answer should not surprise you at the door.
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What happens if the small job turns into a big one?
Work stops and you hear about it before the cost changes. The wrong answer is a bigger bill at the end of the day.
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Will you come back if something you fixed fails?
Yes, for a stated period, in writing. A handyman is judged on whether he comes back, and the answer should be easy.
FAQ
Choosing a handyman in Nashville
How do I choose a handyman in Nashville?
Every handyman on our crews carries liability insurance on file with us, and the ones taking rental turnovers have references from landlords we have spoken to. Ask the six questions below of anyone, including us.
Should I get more than one quote for handyman?
Yes — and compare the scope, not the total. Handyman work in Nashville is priced by the hour with a minimum visit, or by the job for the ones that can be scoped — a fence gate, a ceiling fan, a run of trim — and the honest quote says which before the visit.
Is the cheapest handyman quote usually a bad idea?
Not automatically; a low number is information. A handyman is not licensed for structural, electrical or plumbing work beyond the basics, and the ones who claim to be are the ones to avoid.
Do I need a permit for handyman in Nashville?
Most handyman work needs no permit from Metro Nashville and the surrounding counties; anything electrical or plumbing beyond a like-for-like swap is handed to a licensed trade, and a handyman who says otherwise is doing your work without the license it needs.
How far in advance should I book handyman?
A handyman visit in Nashville is usually within a few days; a list of small jobs is done in one visit rather than five, which is the point of the service.
Free estimate
Need a handyman in Nashville today?
Tell Nashville's Handyman Service what is going on and we will come back with a free written estimate. No obligation, no pressure.