The wrong call costs you twice. Hiring a general contractor for a list of small repairs means paying contractor overhead, contractor minimums, and contractor scheduling lag for work that would have taken a handyman a single afternoon. Hiring a handyman for a project that actually needs structural work, plumbing rough-in, or electrical permits means redoing the work later, often paying for the same job twice. Knowing which trade fits which job is one of the most useful skills a homeowner can develop.
When you need a handyman
Handyman work is the broad middle of home repair: anything that does not require a permit, a licensed sub-trade, or major structural change. Most BC homes generate a steady flow of this work over the years, and bundling it into single visits is far more cost-effective than calling specialists for each item. My services page is a good map of that middle ground.
- Drywall patches, paint, and texture matching
- Door alignment, hardware, and weather stripping
- Cabinet realignment, soft-close retrofits, and hardware swaps
- Tile repair and backsplash installs
- TV mounting, shelving, and IKEA assembly
- Light fixture and ceiling fan swaps (within homeowner-allowed electrical scope)
- Faucet and toilet replacements
- Fence repair, gate alignment, and deck maintenance
- Tenant turnover punch lists
When you need a general contractor
General contractors coordinate multiple sub-trades across a larger project. They run permits, schedule electricians and plumbers and framers, and take responsibility for the project end-to-end. Their cost structure assumes weeks or months of work, not a half-day visit.
- Full kitchen or bathroom remodels
- Basement suite legalization or in-law suite builds
- Adding or removing walls, opening up a floor plan
- New rooflines, roof replacement, additions, dormers
- Whole-home rewires or plumbing rough-ins
- Major foundation or structural repair
When you need a specialist sub-trade
Some jobs go directly to a specialist, not a generalist of either kind. Licensed electricians for new circuits, panel changes, or anything that requires a permit. Licensed plumbers for gas line work, sewer line repair, or hot water tank changes. Roofers for full re-roofs and complex flashing repair. HVAC technicians for furnace and AC service. I refer out to trusted Lower Mainland specialists whenever a job crosses that boundary, rather than stretching the work into something the homeowner pays to redo later.
Every job I take gets a written scope before I start, so the price is agreed in advance and the list stays the list.
Why bundling matters more for handyman work
A general contractor's cost structure includes overhead per project, regardless of size. A handyman's cost structure has a per-visit minimum (mine is $150) that is meant to be spread across multiple small jobs in a single trip. The same five repairs handled by a contractor would be five separate small projects, each with its own coordination overhead. The same five repairs handled by a handyman are one bundled visit, often for a fraction of the contractor cost. The savings are largest when the homeowner has been quietly accumulating a repair list for months.
