Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this man doesn't charge enough?

44 replies

Hairush · 01/09/2023 14:34

I know him through a club I belong to, he's basically a handyman/ odd job man.

Since DH died I've used him to do anything that involves going up a ladder small jobs I can't do and he also replaced a fence for me.

Lots of single women at the club use him to do the bits and pieces your dad might do for you and he does come across a bit fatherly/like a favourite uncle. I have other people who offer to help me, but I prefer not to mix business with pleasure!

He always attends promptly and is able to fix whatever the problem is, but he doesn't claim to be a skilled or qualified builder.

Anyway, he's been today. Looked at the problem, went to the builder's merchant to get the bits he needed, came back and fixed it. Not a difficult job, I probably should have done it myself but it's all done and that's a problem off my list. He's charged £30 including the £11 part.

I'm know he keeps busy with lots of these little jobs, but that's not enough?

OP posts:
shiningstar2 · 01/09/2023 14:39

My mum ...aged. 92 has someone who 'can do'. Very cheap. She just tips him more and insists he takes it so would add ten/twenty depending on the job. He is always happy with that. She is always telling him to put his prices up. Also nice money gift in a card at Christmas.😀

cocksstrideintheevening · 01/09/2023 14:48

Pay him more then?

TheFlis12345 · 01/09/2023 14:50

How long did it take him all in?

Original poster
Hairush · 01/09/2023 14:58

TheFlis12345 · 01/09/2023 14:50

How long did it take him all in?

Just over an hour

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 01/09/2023 14:59

Is he declaring his money? He might just like the anonymous extra cash

TheFlis12345 · 01/09/2023 15:00

That is cheap but he probably keeps his rate low deliberately so that people use him more.

Original poster
Hairush · 01/09/2023 15:03

Theunamedcat · 01/09/2023 14:59

Is he declaring his money? He might just like the anonymous extra cash

I think so, he doesn't ask for cash, says he prefers a bank tf

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 01/09/2023 15:03

He might also be doing other jobs in the area and when he went to the merchants, he might have been buying bits for other jobs he had on. So economy of scale.

He's free to decide what he needs to charge to make an income. He might not be that bothered about what he earns eg if he's supplementing a pension.

Hellocatshome · 01/09/2023 15:06

So £19 an hour? Not bad really. He can charge what he likes. If you want to pay him a bit more then there is nothing stopping you.

MitchellMummy · 01/09/2023 15:08

If skilled people undercharge me for whatever reason then I'll insist on paying more.

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 15:12

Where are you? I need someone like this!

Original poster
Hairush · 01/09/2023 15:13

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 15:12

Where are you? I need someone like this!

Essex

OP posts:
smashburger · 01/09/2023 15:14

Wouldn't you be miffed if he asked you for £50 for not a difficult job that you could have done yourself?
£30 is fine
If you already had the part you'd probably have chucked him £20 for it right?

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 01/09/2023 15:15

If he's "just" a handyman rather than anything more skilled then I think £19 an hour is fine, really.

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 15:16

drats!

Original poster
Hairush · 01/09/2023 15:18

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 01/09/2023 15:15

If he's "just" a handyman rather than anything more skilled then I think £19 an hour is fine, really.

Yes; but it's £19 to include the driving, to me and to the merchant's.

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 01/09/2023 15:19

He sounds like a chap my Gran called "John the Painter".

John would come round for anything that the older ladies couldn't do them selves, be it changing a light bulb, painting a room, moving a heavy box etc.
It wasn't skilled, and he didn't charge much. They loved him because he'd sit down afterwards, and have a cup of tea and a biscuit and talk.
I don't know whether he did it because he wanted to do something and enjoyed the company, or whether he did make enough of a living, or whether he actually charged others far more and saw it as a bit of a charitable side of his business.
I know when Gran was getting towards the end of her time able to live independently he was wonderful, popping in to "check" she didn't need anything-but really to give her a bit of company and to check that she wasn't in need of anything more urgent. He didn't charge for that.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 01/09/2023 15:26

He might be quite happy only earning small amounts.

My late FIL did something that. He had a pension, but did little odd jobs. All above board, but he didn't charge loads as he didn't want to start getting into more complicated tax matters and the likes.

To him it was a hobby business that kept him from boredom.

Hellocatshome · 01/09/2023 15:29

Hairush · 01/09/2023 15:18

Yes; but it's £19 to include the driving, to me and to the merchant's.

Show quote history

Unless you suspect he has a learning disability or any other sort of vulnerability he is a grown man and this is what he has decided to charge. He might like to get out the house and just want his expenses covered and not necessarily be that bothered about the income. He might like you and charge less than he would other people.

BCBird · 01/09/2023 15:32

Next time just give him a bit extra. People like him are worth their weight in gold.

outdooryone · 01/09/2023 15:47

I have a friend who is a skilled handyperson. She barely leaves the town we live in, seems to do everything from moving furniture out and back for a deep clean, to putting together Ikea furniture, painting a room, leaky taps, adjusting patio doors, gutter cleans etc. She even helps with basic technology like plugging in a new router and making sure a phone or ipad is on it. She has a small van with a battery drill, some decorating stuff and handtools only, plus a couple of ladders.
We live in a relatively wealthy area.
She is a) very busy and b) seemingly earning good money.
She does say some of her customers are very vulnerable and she has to be very careful over excessive tips and charging 'fair' amounts (both ways...)
I have to say, I keep looking and going 'if my job ends tomorrow, I could do that....'

AmyandPhilipfan · 01/09/2023 15:54

My dad used to do similar as a volunteer for Age Concern. It started off with fitting smoke alarms but he was soon putting up shelves and all sorts. The service was free. My dad did it for about a year when he retired and he loved it. He didn't want any money. I think if he was given any he gave it to Age Concern. He just liked helping people. And I think he thrived off people being pleased to see him, happy with his work 'Oh you are a good one!' Etc

Sadly he then developed cancer and had to stop but he was so happy for that year.

Presumably your odd job man also enjoys helping people more than the money aspect.

TotalOverhaul · 01/09/2023 16:15

He sounds so lovely. We once needed to call an electrician out on Christmas eve as the plug socket for the cooker melted - not just the fuse blown but the whole thing, and was fusing the house. He came out, bought a new part fixed it and tried to charge £25 in total as it was 'an easy job'. I insisted on giving him £50 and he looked so surprised. Never met an electrician like him.

LadyEloise1 · 01/09/2023 18:35

MitchellMummy · 01/09/2023 15:08

If skilled people undercharge me for whatever reason then I'll insist on paying more.

Our handyman is so lovely and obliging and always undercharges so we usually add €20 + to whatever he says.

Mamma2017 · 03/09/2023 08:49

I’m desperate for someone like this- everyone Iv found online charges extortionate prices! What area are you in? I know it’s a long shot but decent affordable handymen seem elusive to me!