It's a common question when something breaks: do I call a handyman, or do I need a specialist? Calling the wrong one wastes time and sometimes money — here's a straightforward way to think about it.
When a handyman is the right call
A skilled handyman can handle most of the small-to-medium jobs that come up around a house: swapping light fixtures and outlets, fixing a running toilet or leaky fixture, patching and repainting drywall, adjusting sticking doors and windows, mounting shelves and TVs, and general repair and maintenance work. These jobs share a few things in common — they're contained, don't typically require permits, and don't need specialized heavy equipment.
When it's worth bringing in a specialist
Some jobs are better handled by a licensed specialist, even if they sound similar to a handyman task:
- Panel-level electrical work. Anything touching your breaker panel, rewiring a circuit, or adding new circuits should go to a licensed electrician.
- Major plumbing. Repiping, water heater replacement, or anything requiring permits is a job for a licensed plumber.
- Structural work. Load-bearing walls, foundation issues, or roofing are specialist territory.
- HVAC systems. Furnace and AC repair or replacement needs a certified HVAC technician.
The general rule: if it's behind a wall in a major way, involves your home's structure, or requires a permit, it's a specialist job. If it's a visible, contained fix, a handyman is usually faster and more cost-effective.
Why it's worth having both numbers
Most homeowners don't need to figure this out alone — a good handyman service will tell you upfront if a job is outside their scope rather than taking it on anyway, and can often point you in the right direction. That's the standard we hold ourselves to.
What we do
Our handyman service covers electrical repairs, plumbing repairs, drywall and painting touch-ups, door and window adjustments, fixture installation, and general home maintenance. If a job needs a specialist, we'll tell you before we start rather than after.
If you're in the St. Louis metro area and aren't sure which one your project needs, reach out here and we'll help you figure it out.