What’s the budget required for handyman work?
The cost of a handyman service depends on several factors, such as your location, the complexity of the project, and the experience level of your handyman.
Usually, handymen don’t charge to quote on small jobs, but it’s best to check upfront, as some have a standard ‘call to assess’ fee of
between R450 & R650, or R750 to include work within the first ‘call to fix’ hour. This ensures suppliers cover basic costs for their petrol,
labour, time and the admin involved to assist you.
Key costs to plan for include:
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A potential ‘call to assess’ or ‘call to fix’ fee
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Budget to hire the right skill level of handyman
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The potential need for a project manager.
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Extra expense depending on your timeline – planning ahead gets you a better price, while tight timelines usually means more expense
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Having extra budget for unforeseen setbacks, e.g., delivery & traffic delays, drying time delays or bad weather, work times set by your body corporate or building complex, and mid project changes
Remember: To get your money’s worth, have other tasks ready while your handyman’s there. For some jobs, it also makes sense to hire two people. For example,
an experienced handyman usually has an assistant to prepare, finish and clean the work site. Rest assured that this will save you time, and likely the overall cost of job.
Our advice: Get a clear, itemised quote
Always ask your handyman service for a detailed, itemised quote that includes:
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Material costs
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A breakdown of the repair phases or steps
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Labour charges (hourly or daily rates)
This will give you peace of mind and will help you to understand the full cost of your project upfront.
Typical daily labour costs:
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Labourer: R350 – R500
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Apprentice: R500 - R800
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Trade qualified: R800 - R1500
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Experienced handyman: R2000 - R2500
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Multi-skilled, experienced handyman: R3500+
For the best results, it’s worth hiring a reputable, experienced multi-trade handyman to supervise and guide their team.
This ensures a high-quality, long-lasting result and can save you money in the long run.
If needed, rather save up to hire the best handyman you can afford – the results will be worth it.
How can I keep my handyman costs down?
Book it through HandymanDirect
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Appoint an experienced handyman who understands your vision and the best, most affordable way to achieve it.
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Identify any underlying problems like damp that you may need to fix first to save on the cost or redoing the handyman work later on.
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Check about handling fees. It’s often cheaper to buy and return building materials yourself than let your handyman do it.
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Stay involved. Regularly walk the work site, take regular progress photos, and address concerns early with your plasterer to
ensure a high-quality outcome and save on overall costs.
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When you book your handyman service through HandymanDirect, we’ve got your back. Simply send us a few photos,
and we’ll provide an expert opinion - and even speak directly to the handyman on your behalf.
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Book your annual property inspection or maintenance before the rainy season to identify & repair issues and to prevent them
from getting worse.