Average Handyman Hourly Rates-Sarasota

Handyman Hourly Charge 

So you go search the internet for ‘”handyman hourly rate”, the first few or so results are from Homeadvisor, porch, Houzz, Thumbtack, angie, or Yelp.  You read each description and many say the typical handyman rate is around $40 to $80 per hour.

 Palmer Ranch Handyman’s take:  These sites are correct with the hourly charge.  The main issue is that a handyman can do so many different skills that the hourly rate can vary.  I have seen carpentry for around $80-$100 per hour, but house painting for $50, or lanai screen repair around $45.  The handyman hourly rates depend on the type of work, as well as the quality of results you desire.

Local Handyman Rates 

Then you see a neat little feature that allows you to sort by the type of  work you need done: ie. Lanai screen repair, drywall repair, exterior house painting etc.  Then they show some cool little graphs and charts that even sort by your city.  In your case probably Sarasota/Venice/Lakewood ranch. 

Palmer Ranch Handyman’s Opinion:  I really think these features are helpful, but only if they are not misleading.  I always remember that anyone can manipulate handyman rate statistics to fit their needs.  They can make Sarasota Handyman rates whatever they want.

Sarasota handyman hourly rates – $40!!!

So you did all of your contractor research on these sites, and found the best handyman service rates.  You matched the location, and even found a “skilled handyman who is below the Sarasota average handyman rates.  He is drug free and background checked.”.

Palmer Ranch Handyman’s take: Or so this is what they claim.  What they mean is the handyman paid to be listed on their “directory” site and they will take some of the profit.  How am I on expert on Handyman Service Sites?  I am constantly pestered by them.  So what’s in it for the Contractor or Handyman? 

 so the….
Skilled handyman calls you

 You are excited to start your drywall repair project! Tyler from the website calls you…2 days later. He then promises to be there tomorrow at 8:30, and the bathroom drywall repair job will  be done in a couple of hours. 

 Handyman Hourly Rate vs Handyman Flat Rate Pricing

Tomorrow comes…and goes, and you sit in your house waiting for 3 hours (you could’ve been at book club with your friends) and he never shows.  You get a text that your drywall guy is 30 minutes away.  The contractor arrives at 12:30. “I had to stop for supplies.”, he says.  Meanwhile you are missing lunch with friends. He works  3 hours to patch 3 small holes.  Annoyed, you look at the bill and the handyman labor rates are $325 ($100 more than the other guy’s handyman FLAT rate quote) … 6 hours of labor and a travel charge.  You feel cheated.  You say nothing, as not to make waves, but you later read the contract’s fine print, which states that you are billed for travel and supply time as well.

Palmer Ranch Handyman’s opinion:  I have a very strong opinion here…sorry…But if you hire think handyman services hourly rates are what you should use to hire your handyman, get ready to open your wallet, as hidden fees and the fact that they will do the slowest work possible and since all jobs are different, you will have no way of telling you have been taken.  A good handyman will quote a flat rate price or a price by the job.  It is almost impossible for even the best contractors to estimate a project to the nearest hour.  Sometimes we win, and sometimes you win.  But I will do the job right, and at a fair price.  As a side note, if I quote you a flat rate handyman price, then if I finish a couple of hours before the per hour handyman(and I give you a superior product), please don’t try to switch to hourly…I have actually had this done to me.

Average Hourly Rate for a Handyman: the big guys

Many big Sarasota handyman companies are paid advertising farms.  In other words, many if these large sites are companies who know nothing about home repair or maintenance.  They are only sites that outsource and farm out handyman jobs to the schmuck that will pay to join there home improvement service and sneakily pass the cost onto YOU. 

So, do you want to work with a fair, on time, no hidden fees handyman?  Whether you need screen repair, drywall repair, carpentry, or remodeling from a fair handyman who charges a per job rate?…or take your chances with a “cheap” bait and switch hourly rate, with interests geared towards big corporations?