What a handyman work order is for
A good handyman day runs in order: buy materials first, do the messy jobs early, finish with the quick ones. The work order puts the list in that order with the tools for each, so nothing is forgotten at the store. For a helper or a second tech, it carries the house details you would otherwise explain on the phone.
What to put on a handyman work order
- Tasks in the order you will do them.
- Materials to buy and tools to bring.
- Parking, pets and who is home.
- Anything to check before starting.
- Customer sign-off.
A worked example
The honey-do list, in the order the day runs. Prices are hidden.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patch drywall first so mud can dry | 2 | each | Your price |
| Install grab bars into blocking | 2 | each | Your price |
| Recaulk tub | 1 | each | Your price |
| Mount TV, check stud locations | 1 | each | Your price |
| Adjust sticking door | 1 | each | Your price |
| Second coat on drywall patches | 2 | each | Your price |
Putting the drywall first and last gives the mud time to dry between coats in the same visit. Note the grab bar blocking question in site notes.
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. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for handyman
The same work order 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.