Residential Odd Jobs and Repairs

It's hard to nail down an exact job description for a handyman, simply because he performs so many different tasks over the course of a working day. One day a handyman might be putting in a new door and the next he might be fixing the plumbing. Some handymen begin working in the field as an apprentice to a senior handyman. Here the future handyman will help the senior with basic measuring and cutting tasks, as well as other general labor. In this way, a handyman will gain a great deal of hands-on knowledge at the position. This practice is prevalent in the fields of plumbing and electricity, where a handyman starts out in a position known as a "journeyman" before becoming a licensed professional. To be an effective handyman, you need a wide range of repair and maintenance skills. The website of the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals, or ACHP, lists 24 different job areas under its "Handyman Directory" listings. These include air conditioning, appliances, carpentry, drywall, electrical, flooring, heating and cooling, kitchen and bath remodeling, painting, plumbing, pressure washing, roofing and windows and doors. Handymen work for homeowners and businesses, either as independent contractors or as members of maintenance crews. A successful handyman is versatile enough to repair faulty appliances and toilets, fix minor electrical issues, remodel rooms, paint a building's exterior and handle numerous other tasks.