Can I pay someone to do DIY?!

[Kaloobear]

I realise this sounds ridiculous. We've seen some stuff in Ikea that we like-bookcases, doors, tv stand etc that all fit together and that would fill a wall in our living room. We were going to hire someone to custom build us shelves, cupboards etc but the Ikea stuff would be a lot cheaper. However, neither DH or I are any good at DIY, even just putting together flat pack, screwing stuff to the wall etc. To be honest we're not even any good at hanging paintings-I've been known to use a trainer as a hammer...

Could we hire someone to put it all together for us?! And in fact, come in and hang all our paintings and do all the DIY we're crap at/too lazy/scared of pulling down the house to do? And who would we ask? Not really a joiner, a builder or a decorator...does this job exist or am I living in a fairy tale?

(I wish we had some friends who liked DIY but unfortunately everyone we know is just as pathetic as we are in this regard.)

My (rich) friend has a dedicated handyman. She first employed him when she lived down south.

Now she lives up north. She saves up jobs for him then pays for him to come and stay for a week.

He's an old geezer and no threat to her marriage. Sadly.

Honestly Daisy, DH built a flatpack bookcase for us a few years ago and it remains one of the most stressful and angry afternoons of our marriage...it's worth paying someone just to save us from that again!

MorrisZapp

We live in London so I dont know if this no will help, but the best thing we ever did was start using 0800 Handyman. You can book a handyman for any size and type of job, they whizz up on a moped, do it, charge a sensible amount, and bob's your uncle. No stressed DH, no stressed me. There are plenty of similar services - one called 'silver handymen' or something which is older chaps.

Looks like they're just based in London unfortunately but what a good idea! Wish there was such a thing up here. I've found a few people who look good on MyBuilder this morning though so fingers crossed one of them will be free.

how about asking a friend? i remember going along to an "assembly" once, where we spent an hour puzzling some ikea flatpack together, and stayed after for a few drinks. with the promise of a beer/bottle of wine, i am sure you can get someone to come and put the stuff together for you. make sure they drink it afterwards though ..

Call a local handyman.

There's a local guy who came round to our new build house when we moved in and put up curtain rails, shelves, towel rail, put all our flatpack furniture together, even hung pictures for us.

Very pleased with him!

Sounds like a perfect way to earn a living Ruby