Received Second Pfizer Vaccine on May 05, 2021: Booster on Nov 24, 2021:
Please NOTE: Handyman is like Medical Doctor: I specialize in a few things. If you reach out, through the Thumbtack interface for work I do NOT do, Thumbtack will charge me if I reply to that job request. Even to be polite and say "thank you for asking, but that is not my specialty" ... It will cost me money to say that to you. Also; I am NOT set up for pick-up and delivery...I CAN NOT PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
Furniture and Equipment assembly starts at a 1/2 day Minimum of $149.00 plus parking reimbursement. There are very few exceptions.
Picture and Mirror hanging starts at a 1/2 day Minimum of $249.00 plus parking reimbursement. There are very few exceptions. The Thumbtack system forces me to type in an hourly rate.
I HAD to move my business away from the tiny jobs. One of my competitors is $119/hour, another is $60/hour with a 2 hour minimum. If you have a pile of work, I offer a competitive price!
For my furniture and equipment assembly business: I bring; tools, experience, and spare parts to the job. Chicago has a number of world class universities. For a student, or person starting a new job, who is relocating here, and needs to furnish a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment or condo with IKEA furniture, and get it all assembled, I am absolutely your guy. I do that type of job all the time. If you have purchased one tiny little thing from Bed Bath and Beyond for $99.00 and you need it assembled, I am not your guy.
It is my practice to download the assembly instructions ahead of time (in order to do that, I will need you to provide me with a link, or the brand name and model number).
All jobs are by the project, and NOT an hourly rate.
For the picture hanging: 3 years ago, I had one tiny case of picture-nails from Home Depot.
Now, due to demand: I have two large cases of assorted picture hanging supplies, plus more in the van.
I bring a Premium Service to my picture hanging clients. Rubber or Felt pads are placed on the lower corners of frames.
Many of the discount art stores (Including IKEA) sell artwork that has no hardware on the backside. I will wire frames, or attach the D-Ring strap hangers, or the saw-tooth hangers, saving my clients a trip to a specialty framing shop. I routinely work with, and hang things that are unusual. Large mirrors, heavy things are just another day at the office.
Presently; I work with around 10 Interior Designers who bring me in for picture hanging on large jobs.
I have clients in McMansions all over the area. One celebrity client, and a number of clients who drive Tesla's. But, I also have senior citizen clients who are often on fixed incomes. I do not repair or restore high value antique furniture. These seniors often have broken or dysfunctional particle board furniture, and I can get it back to functional with a simple repair (using glue, and or some screws and brackets). This is rewarding for me. On some of the large IKEA jobs, when we are done, the room looks like something out of a magazine, and that is rewarding. Setting up large-scale storage systems in; garages, basements, walk-in closets so people can begin to get their clutter under control is rewarding.