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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hire someone to do this?

37 replies

uncivil2 · 03/06/2022 18:39

I’m early 20s, live alone and am a DIY novice. I have friends and family nearby but none who could help with this.

I have furniture arriving soon, most needs to be assembled and all should be affixed to the walls.


  • a tv console table

  • a tv

  • a large chest of drawers

  • a clothing rail to be attached on top of the chest of drawers (IKEA Nordli)

  • a large mirror

  • a Hollywood mirror

  • a desk


AIBU to hire someone to mount the furniture to the walls for me when I don’t have much money to spare? I could possibly buy a strong drill and do it myself but I’m scared of messing the walls up as I’ve never done this before

if I hire someone, what do you think a reasonable amount is to pay them for this?

OP posts:
Seraphinesupport · 03/06/2022 19:01

i have. taskrabbit is good. also local fb groups, found a man that did it for £20 per hour for 2 men. put my tv up in 15 minutes and bed up in 45 mins

PlattyJoobz · 03/06/2022 19:03

Are you in rented or do you own?

Xztop · 03/06/2022 19:57

I've just recently paid someone to put some flat pack furniture together as I am incapable. I'm now looking for someone to hang some pictures for me

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 03/06/2022 20:01

My sister offers this exact service as part of her handy woman business. She has found a lot of women living on their own love another woman coming into the home and she's had a lot of demand for furniture building along with all the other home renovation services she offers.

Cuwins · 03/06/2022 20:02

We (my partner and I) hired someone to attach wardrobe, chest of drawers x2 and bookcase to the walls recently. Wardrobe and 1 chest of drawers were in our babies nursery so we wanted to make sure it was done properly to avoid any accidents.
However partner would be very upset if I ever suggested getting someone to put a flat pack together- he is weird and enjoys doing it!

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 03/06/2022 20:03

Ieouldnt bother fixing furniture to the walls unless you have young children or it requires it. But yes hiring someone is a good idea!

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 03/06/2022 20:03

@Cuwins I love flat-pack too, its like a jigsaw puzzle!!

BiscoffSundae · 03/06/2022 20:05

What’s wrong with that? I paid for a man to build my daughters trampoline and to build a wardrobe, not everyone has people that can help. Most things I do myself but those I couldn’t manage alone

underneaththeash · 03/06/2022 20:09

You need a handyman OP, but remember if you rent you can’t usually drill into walls.

Cuwins · 03/06/2022 20:10

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 03/06/2022 20:03

@Cuwins I love flat-pack too, its like a jigsaw puzzle!!

My partner says it's like lego for adults! I don't think he has ever quite grown out of a love of Lego- he was admiring sets he wants to buy our daughter the other day- she is 3.5m old!😂

IcedOatLatte · 03/06/2022 20:13

Cuwins · 03/06/2022 20:02

We (my partner and I) hired someone to attach wardrobe, chest of drawers x2 and bookcase to the walls recently. Wardrobe and 1 chest of drawers were in our babies nursery so we wanted to make sure it was done properly to avoid any accidents.
However partner would be very upset if I ever suggested getting someone to put a flat pack together- he is weird and enjoys doing it!

What's weird about liking making flat pack furniture? I don't understand, that's a perfectly normal thing to do isn't it?

OP - it's fine to get someone to do those things, keeps handyman in jobs 😀

SquirrelFan · 03/06/2022 20:32

@ithoughtisawapuddycat is your sister's business in London? I'm not single, but I'd much prefer a female handyperson. I searched for Handywoman and the only one I found was in Leeds!

Escapetothecatshome · 03/06/2022 20:33

Do you have any nice neighbours ? My neighbours are very generous with tools and bits and pieces, could you ask for some help - I'm sure they'd be willing to help ...

Bryonny84 · 03/06/2022 20:42

Loads of "no job too small" people if you've no one to help. Don't bodge it, get a man/woman/person in to do it. Probably £15 an hour? It was a while ago when I hired someone though so maybe that's cheap.

quietnightmare · 03/06/2022 20:43

YouTube

Cuwins · 03/06/2022 20:50

@IcedOatLatte it's not weird to do it but I find it weird to enjoy it but maybe that's me growing up with a dad who would rather do almost anything than DIY

FloweryCurtainTwitcher · 03/06/2022 20:53

Seraphinesupport · 03/06/2022 19:01

i have. taskrabbit is good. also local fb groups, found a man that did it for £20 per hour for 2 men. put my tv up in 15 minutes and bed up in 45 mins

so less than the minimum wage! allowing for Ni on costs, tax, holiday pay etc
how can you be proud that you paid slave labour rates?

HollowTalk · 04/06/2022 00:02

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 03/06/2022 20:01

My sister offers this exact service as part of her handy woman business. She has found a lot of women living on their own love another woman coming into the home and she's had a lot of demand for furniture building along with all the other home renovation services she offers.

I would definitely use that service. Whereabouts is she?

yesthatisdrizzle · 04/06/2022 00:15

FloweryCurtainTwitcher · 03/06/2022 20:53

so less than the minimum wage! allowing for Ni on costs, tax, holiday pay etc
how can you be proud that you paid slave labour rates?

Show quote history

That is higher than NMW and individuals can charge whatever they like. They can even charge less than NMW if they want to.

If they only do a few odd jobs now and then and earn under the threshold, they don't even need to register as self-employed or pay tax / NI.

AnElegantChaos · 04/06/2022 00:17

Echo what others have said about Taskrabbit - have used a couple of times, they work really quickly and do a fab job. Also if you get a good one, get their mobile no. so in the future you can contact them directly and cut out the middle man as the taskrabbits (is that what they're called??) lose a sizeable cut of the money to the company.

tkwal · 04/06/2022 00:26

Hire someone who has good references. It might be expensive now but worth it in the long run. If you were to DIY you would need lots of time and tools as well as being aware of health and safety...like finding where electrical wiring and water pipes are in your walls before you start drilling, whether your walls are brick , block or stud and how much weight each can bear.
Yes, I know some women can do this stuff without it causing them a second thought , I would love to give it a go, but it would probably end up costing me 10 times as much as just paying someone

Yellowshirt · 04/06/2022 00:31

I'm awful at DIY. I've tried youtube video's and books but I just can't do it. I've drilled holes to big and had to refill them and then you have to drill again in slightly different places. A simple job for a handyman takes me hours.
I'll hire someone now even for the most basic jobs.

FloweryCurtainTwitcher · 04/06/2022 00:33

yesthatisdrizzle · 04/06/2022 00:15

That is higher than NMW and individuals can charge whatever they like. They can even charge less than NMW if they want to.

If they only do a few odd jobs now and then and earn under the threshold, they don't even need to register as self-employed or pay tax / NI.

Show quote history

No it isnt

Minimum wage plus employer/employee Ni plus allowance for holiday pay is more that 10 an hour.

SarahDippity · 04/06/2022 00:39

If DIY is not your thing, you will get greater satisfaction and enjoyment out of having everything done. List out all the jobs, with links to the products. Agree a price in advance. My trampoline handyman kept calling back to check all the connectors and springs, seeking an extra couple of quid to ‘make sure it was okay for the kiddies.’ 👀

Aquamarine1029 · 04/06/2022 00:44

All of these tasks are very, very basic. You can definitely do them yourself. Watch YouTube videos to learn how to do all of this.