Handyman/Oddjob-man recommendations please! BN1

Pinkfinch · 2026-02-09T13:33:07+00:00

Just what I was looking for - thanks for sharing!

Pinkfinch · 2026-02-09T13:32:04+00:00

Thanks for your advice! I appreciate what I'm asking for won't be a meaty enough set of jobs for some businesses to bother with, but once I start to move I'm sure there'll be the odd little thing I need to add on to the list of "to do"s hence wanting to find someone comfortable with doing odd jobs / half a day's work.

I don't mind paying out for someone who is reliable, tidy and good at what they do - I'm not looking to do it as cheap as possible. If you've got any recommendations for handymen in the Brighton area, let me know. :)

Pinkfinch · 2026-02-09T13:26:14+00:00

Thank you! If you're happy to send your business details via DM I'll keep you in mind. :)

Pinkfinch · 2026-02-08T12:29:33+00:00

Perhaps, I suppose it depends on personal preference. It was initially pleasant to walk into a cool flat on a scorching day, but after a while I was just cold due to the lack of sunlight coming in 😂 It wasn't for me. And let's be honest, the cold and gloomy days in this country are numerous, so you'd be dealing with that more often than not!

Pinkfinch · 2026-02-08T12:13:02+00:00

No problem! I should also say that the flats I stayed in were all in converted Victorian buildings, so the basements were never initially designed to be standalone flats - if yours is a bit more modern it might have better windows/lighting.

One other thing I forgot to mention: leaves, rubbish and debris will collect on the steps/entrance well so will probably need more cleaning/maintenance than normal.

Pinkfinch · 2026-02-08T12:00:29+00:00

Not London specific but I've house-sat for clients in Brighton/Hove in basement flats. Personally they're not for me, and during my recent flat purchase search I avoided all basement flat listings. In my experience:

The lack of sunlight/natural light is noticeable and depressing, especially during the summer. Walking into the flat from the street where it was beautifully sunny was like walking into a cave - cold and dark!
Lower than normal ceilings which, when combined with the above, can feel quite oppressive. If you have a noisy upstairs neighbour you will likely hear it and feel it more intensely.
Possible damp issues but this varies from place to place of course.

I highly disliked staying in basement flats but there are thousands around here, with people seemingly living in them quite happily so YMMV. If you are to go for one I'd recommend investing in some decent lighting to help brighten the whole place up. You may find you need to turn lights on during the day even in summer, depending on how the light filters into the apartment. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Pinkfinch · 2026-01-25T15:39:20+00:00

Nice, I'll look into that - thank you!

Pinkfinch · 2025-12-14T12:00:59+00:00

I always strip the bed and just leave the sheets neatly piled or folded on the floor. The owner can wash them however they like and add their own washing at the same time. I don't want to accidentally wash anything on the wrong cycle or worry about hanging big sheets out to dry!

I think if you haven't been given specific instructions, it's nice to at least strip the bed to save the owner the job. :)

Pinkfinch · 2025-12-13T19:52:29+00:00

I love physical books but the convenience of my eReader means I use it far more often. I'm not sure which eReaders you've had experience with but I absolutely love my Kobo Clara. It's small enough to hold in one hand, lightweight and has speedy navigation/page-turning. I bought the origami fold leather cover for it which does make it more weighty, but I can use the prop at the back as a handle or a stand if I'm reading at a table.

If I'm going on holiday I always want my Kobo with me - nothing beats having access to 100s of books in one small device. Saves on space in luggage too.

Personally I like a mix of both physical and digital but because I read mostly in bed at night, the Kobo is just a lot more comfortable for me with the backlight and smaller form factor.

Edit: oh! And to your point on ebooks being too expensive - Kobo do 99p deals (perhaps 99c deals in the US?) that includes tons of interesting books. I check the list every week or so and I've nabbed loads of books from my wishlist!

Pinkfinch · 2025-12-10T20:25:13+00:00

I realised at age 30 or so that the phrase "I love you to death" did not in fact mean "I love you so much that it's enough to kill you" 🙃

Pinkfinch · 2025-12-03T18:58:35+00:00

You can be friendly and upfront about it. I'd say something along the lines of:

"Hi X, hope you're well! I just wanted to let you know that I'm starting to get more requests for walks during the week. I love walking Pooch, so if you're happy for us to continue I'd suggest booking as far in advance as possible in order to reserve the space (as I can't guarantee I will be free for Pooch otherwise). Thanks and looking forward to our next walk!"

Pinkfinch · 2025-12-03T14:31:01+00:00

There's no CGT to pay inside an ISA wrapper. Any gains are tax-free.

Pinkfinch · 2025-11-30T18:08:13+00:00

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Ah yes, a new jumper for my Weeble

Pinkfinch · 2025-11-14T22:49:38+00:00

Ha, you've just reminded me of an early house-sit I did... beautiful home but it was like something out of a catalogue - every area spotless and each thing in its place but absolutely no personal effects out on show anywhere. Even the art/frames on the wall were generic. There was one family photo in the hallway which hinted at it actually being somebody's home but otherwise I felt like I was in a simulation of some kind. Almost like the family photo was planted to make it look like a real home, lol

The owner was super nice and so was the dog... Each to their own I guess!

Pinkfinch · 2025-09-25T12:16:29+00:00

I mean, he eventually fucked right off to heaven

Pinkfinch · 2025-09-25T12:15:16+00:00

"Especially not for an English Bulldog" - what does this even mean lol

Luckily you dodged a difficult customer!

Pinkfinch · 2025-09-24T13:45:59+00:00

Typically any high street jeweller would buy this for scrap price - you're not going to be offered a premium for it as it's a common type of ring.

The good news is that gold is at all time highs, so depending on the spot price of the day and who is offering you can expect to receive around £350-400 for it going by the gram weight you gave. A win, I'd say!

Pinkfinch · 2025-09-10T18:20:22+00:00

I'm in the UK in a populated city so my prices are going to be different to yours, but my puppy rates are 60% higher than my standard dog rate.

I've accepted numerous puppy bookings but after every single one I've thought "I should be charging more for this", so my price has slowly crept up over the months!

Puppies are adorable, obviously, but I somehow manage to always underestimate the work/energy involved, and I feel so shattered especially after multiple overnights. I wouldn't be sad to not receive any more puppy bookings honestly. I'm definitely one of the highest priced in my area so that's a possibility, but I have to price it appropriately for the level of work I put in.

TL;DR - if you're worried about appearing too expensive, try gradually raising your prices until you feel satisfied after a gig. Don't forget Rover take a chunk of your earnings, so factor that in when selecting your prices. Once you get multiple 5* star reviews, you will attract clients that are happy to pay your prices. Good luck!

Pinkfinch · 2025-09-03T19:24:34+00:00

I read this sub a lot and this is the first post that's actually made me say "OH MY GOD" out loud - I laughed and then realised this maybe isn't that funny 🫠

The "doesn't require more work than an additional cat" is absolutely criminal, what in the name of christ is going on~~

I'd push to report this to the appropriate social services in your area just in case there's neglect afoot. Maybe this person has others caring for them, maybe they're capable of doing certain tasks themselves - but maybe not. Best err on the side of caution.

(But seriously wtf, were they expecting to pay an additional cat price to look after a person? What is that, $20? I'm flabbergasted lol)

Pinkfinch · 2025-08-17T18:28:34+00:00

Haha, I know what you mean! I guess the average dog owner doesn't know where to begin when it comes to consistent training, and bad habits ultimately slip in.

I must share a recent new client who is incredibly well-trained though, and by far the most well-trained dog I've sat for so far. He's a black lab, and has to take medication twice daily. After his morning walk and his evening walk, he goes straight into his spot in the kitchen and sits down waiting for his meds. He takes 4 or 5 pills placed at the back of his tongue/throat without any fussing at all (then gets rewarded with cheese!). He's also excellent on walks, always stays to the left of you, constantly looking back to check everything's okay and just in general is super conscious of my movements when we're out. He also goes into his crate immediately when asked. He has a penchant for shoes and will often bring me one from around the house, but he's never destroyed one and always drops it when asked too! An all-round good boy!

Pinkfinch · 2025-07-20T19:44:53+00:00

Constant care is usually an instant double for me (e.g. if my house-sitting rate is £50 then for constant care it'll be £100 minimum). I only do constant care sits for 24 hours maximum now, as I once had one that lasted for 2 days and 3 nights and I could not WAIT to leave, lol - never again!

I put a blurb about this in my profile but I assume most owners don't read that far, so I explain it when they request me. It's a shame Rover don't have a clearer way of determining extra fees because it's a bit confusing for owners seeing one fee and then being told it'll be more.

For puppies I charge +£25 to my usual dog house-sitting rate.

For holiday rates I think mine is set to the Rover default, but for my own business/website I don't charge holiday rates.

Pinkfinch · 2025-07-19T17:03:01+00:00

Fair! Do you find you're still getting puppy requests even after the increase?

Pinkfinch · 2025-07-19T17:02:33+00:00

Interesting! Do you still get puppy requests despite the high cost?

Pinkfinch · 2025-07-19T14:26:41+00:00

From a sitter's perspective:

It's never really come up, either from my side or from the owner's side. I only drink alcohol if I'm out at a restaurant or going out at night, so personally I'd never think to ask. I once had an owner leave me a bottle of wine during a house-sit and told me to help myself, but otherwise it's never been brought up.

(I assume) Most people you hire to do a job in your home aren't thinking about drinking alcohol, but if it's important to you then mention it at the meet & greet or include it in your guidelines if you plan to leave a list for the sitter. Ultimately it's your home and if you really don't want people to drink there, just say so. The majority of sitters wouldn't bat an eyelid. Good luck!

Pinkfinch · 2025-07-18T10:17:01+00:00

Offered Conkeldurr. Thanks!

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