What a handyman proposal is for
Handyman customers usually have more on their list than they want to spend at once. Three options make it easy: fix what matters now, do everything in a day, or do everything and add a seasonal check so the list does not pile up again. It turns one visit into a relationship.
What to put on a handyman proposal
- The same task list across options.
- Which tasks each option covers.
- Visit time for each.
- What the checkup includes, for the top option.
- One acceptance line.
A worked example
The same homeowner list. Price each task from your own rates.
Option 1: Good: urgent repairs. The door, the tub caulk and the grab bars.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust sticking door | 1 | each | Your price |
| Caulk tub | 1 | each | Your price |
| Install grab bars | 2 | each | Your price |
Option 2: Better: the whole list. Every item on your list in one visit.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall patch, small | 2 | each | Your price |
| Mount TV | 1 | each | Your price |
| Adjust sticking door | 1 | each | Your price |
| Caulk tub | 1 | each | Your price |
| Install grab bars | 2 | each | Your price |
| Assemble bookcase | 1 | each | Your price |
Option 3: Best: list plus seasonal checkup. The whole list, then a fall visit to check caulk, doors, smoke detectors and gutters.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall patch, small | 2 | each | Your price |
| Mount TV | 1 | each | Your price |
| Adjust sticking door | 1 | each | Your price |
| Caulk tub | 1 | each | Your price |
| Install grab bars | 2 | each | Your price |
| Assemble bookcase | 1 | each | Your price |
| Fall home checkup visit | 1 | visit | Your price |
Option three adds the seasonal check, which is a reason to come back in six months instead of waiting for the next emergency.
Line items handymen use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Handyman labor | hour | Your hourly rate, with a minimum visit. |
| Minimum service visit | each | Covers the trip and the first block of time. |
| Drywall patch, small | each | Holes up to a size you set; paint match extra. |
| Mount TV on wall | each | Customer supplies the mount, or you do. |
| Hang pictures, shelves or mirrors | each | Per item. |
| Replace interior door | each | Pre-hung or slab; paint extra. |
| Adjust or rehang door | each | Sticking, sagging or not latching. |
| Assemble furniture | each | Per piece; large pieces more. |
| Caulk tub or shower | each | Remove old caulk and recaulk. |
| Replace light fixture, like for like | each | Where your license allows; customer supplied. |
| Install grab bars | each | Into blocking or with proper anchors. |
| Gutter cleaning, single story | ft | A common add-on. |
| Materials and supplies | each | At cost plus your markup, with receipts on request. |
| Haul away debris | load | Small loads from the job. |
Terms and deposit language for handyman
- Deposit. No deposit on small jobs. Larger projects with materials to buy may take one to cover them.
- Payment. Due on completion. Materials at cost plus markup, or as quoted.
- Warranty. State how long you stand behind your work and that customer-supplied items are covered for installation only.
- Work that requires a licensed trade in your state, such as larger electrical or plumbing jobs, is referred out or done by a licensed partner.
- A minimum visit charge applies to every trip.
- If a quick fix turns into a bigger repair once opened, you stop and price it first.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for handyman
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for handymen: how handymen run on Koira.