by Eric Goudie

Created on: December 15, 2009

You don’t need a lot to make a living as a handyman (or woman), just your time, some tools and a bit of know-how.  It’s the perfect job for almost anyone in good health who’s willing to work hard.

Before you start

A handyman is someone who knows how to do just about anything that a homeowner or property owner might need to be done, so before advertising yourself as “handy” it’s important to acquire a few skills across a wide variety of fields.  You should become familiar with the basics of:

Residential Carpentry

Cabinet-making

Roofing

Drywall

Masonry

Tiling and Grouting

Wood-turning

Painting and re-finishing

Electrical Installation and Repair

Plumbing Installation and Repair

Landscaping and Pruning

Gardening

Lawn care

Snow Removal

Auto Mechanics

Small Engines

Welding and Machining

Upholstering

Animal Husbandry

Window Cleaning

And that’s by no means an exhaustive list!  The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to be an expert in any one of these particular fields, you just have to be comfortable enough with most of them to handle whatever jobs you’re likely to encounter.  But the chances are that most of the work you’ll have to do will be well within your skill and comfort level.

Tools you’ll need

The tools of the handyman vary widely from job to job, so you’ll probably need several large toolboxes to hold it all.  But you can start small and work your way up with a few good quality items like:

A wrench set

Screwdrivers

Electrical Multi-tester

Pipe wrench

Tape measure

Speed square

Hammer

Level

Hex Key Set

Putty knives

Marking Pencil

Sliding T-bevel

Handsaw

Step-ladder

Cordless Drill and battery, with a selection of drill and driver bits

Cordless worm-drive “skill” saw and battery

Cordless jig saw and battery

Battery Charger

(buy these last four items as a set)

The above items should be enough to handle most jobs, and as time goes on you can add more specialized tools.  You should also visit your local equipment rental store or the “tool rental” department at your building supply store so you’ll know where you can get things like a chain saw, wet tile saw or floor-polisher, and at what price.  You should also have a van, pick-up truck or trailer for transporting materials from the store to your jobsite.

How to Begin

Once you’ve accumulated some tools and some knowledge it’s time to start advertising

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