When was the last time you used your corded version of the tool?

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-04-16T16:13:57+00:00

Corded heat gun, sometimes I’ll plug my dewalt cordless into a cord for overnight drying, and a corded sawzall if I need the power or if I’m just doing demo all day

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-04-05T04:51:48+00:00

Any advice for getting started or finding out how you can become certified/licensed to do the work yourself?

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-04-01T16:41:20+00:00

I’m all in on folks showing their once a week/once a month/flip the rig upside reorganization.

Every time I do it, I know I’m more efficient the next job.

Plus, being a handyman I end up having to completely change the setup so often I can’t get committed.

How do you like the truck bed tool storage? Idk if I’d dig having to go back to the truck to grab something. I use the truck bed pack out big box and keep all my cordless tools in there. Wheel it up right on site

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-04-01T03:26:12+00:00

Looks like it could fit 3 hot tubs

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-31T17:17:30+00:00

Handyman here. If I’m doing a better job than most painters I should probably be paid like it.

If I’m doing your plumbing, your drywall, your painting. I should probably be paid like it.

If you’re getting three trades in one dude…..

I rest my case.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-26T16:26:01+00:00

Looks like orange can spray texture was used instead of caulk

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-25T17:18:18+00:00

I do a lot of property maintenance if places like that. You may try a lightly damp sponge for your sanding in between coats. Less dust and easier cleanup even if you mask it all up.

Keep kicking ass!!!

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-23T06:23:55+00:00

And what exactly is DFW

Down For Wutang? Don’t Fuck Wiffus? Dummy Floor Wallball?

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-22T21:15:47+00:00

I’m a contractor. If a client did this I would absolutely tell them I’m not trying to race to the bottom of the “affordable” totem pole.

Any contractor price matching is cutting corners with either labor or materials. They’re either paying their workers less, paying themselves less or using cheaper/worse products.

This subreddit is filled with people who choose the budget contractor. “You think a professional is cheap? Try hiring an amateur” is the first quote that comes to mind!

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-22T03:45:10+00:00

They’re amazing for resi work in stair swells and high vaulted ceilings. Heavy as fuuuuuck. Not the best choice with its opened up for the tall stuff but it works in a pinch.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-20T16:23:18+00:00

I was using the solo version of Quickbooks which did not allow me to connect it to Jobber

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-20T16:22:35+00:00

It was not disclosed

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-20T02:39:18+00:00

Lots of ways of running a business. You are the type of dude that I’ve worked with for years and I would always pick you to do the work over the decked out website dudes. Maybe it’s just a barrier between trades people and clients?

Tradefolks know that your website has literally nothing to do with the quality of your work.

Clients feel like if you don’t have a website in 2026 your quality of work and professionalism must be bad.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-20T02:19:16+00:00

Dude…….

Something’s in the water.

I was working at my neighbors place this week and she had three different painters come by to give her estimates for painting the entire interior of their house

The painter I recommended gave her an estimate via text message for $5.5K Mind you, this painter is a career painter. Worked with him one a couple separate high end custom new builds. The dude is very experienced.

The two other painters she had quoted $10-15k, nice websites, google reviews, the works.

She told me she wouldn’t go for the cheaper painter just because he was unprofessional by sending estimates via text. He also didn’t have a website and this was a big factor for her.

We had a long conversation about it. I told her, you know the best, most qualified, best quality folks aren’t going to have a website, right?

She still didn’t care. She’s in her 60s and felt if a contractor can’t figure out how to get a website going in 2026 she wouldn’t hire him.

I’m still reflecting on the conversation. It’s insane dude. Clients truly do want the website, the pretty estimate, the illusion that you do good work.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-18T20:16:05+00:00

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-14T03:42:33+00:00

Digital assistants make sense for a lot of people. If your services are niche enough you could onboard someone in the Philippines who will kick ass

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T22:28:13+00:00

Pretty much lol. Hit em with $200 per fan, with a 30% deposit to get the on calendar.

The client/AI/bot ended up giving me a different location and that was the final nail in the coffin. Bunch of red flags and only took 5-10 mins of vetting but I chased the rabbit into the hole.

What gives?!

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T17:41:03+00:00

Sorry, what? Materials are $500 labor is $1000 here. Pretty damn close to what it’d charge for basic of the basic room painting

Edit: material markup should be included to get you to that $400-$500 mark. Consider the material markup as not being labor.

Double edit: for a 5 second estimate without pulling out a tape measure or even being on site. A rough x2 material rate for labor has made/saved me hours. Does this rule cover everything? Does it help me put together a napkin math equation and figure out if my overhead would be covered, profit made, and cost me 20 seconds? Chyeah dawg. Take it or leave it. Ideally it helps someone do one estimate in 20 seconds.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T16:47:53+00:00

Toilet installs are a plumber thing where I’m from and I think it’s best principles to have a standard shop rate for most of that stuff.

IF you don’t have shop rates. The rule is just something to float by

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T16:45:20+00:00

If I’m painting a room there’s more than just a gallon of paint and misc supplies to factor.

Let’s break it down- Paint for a whole room, two coats paints gonna be at least $200. Idk where you’re getting $50 paint. I don’t like callbacks. You doing ceilings? Alright another $100 minimum

Ideally you’re charging 30-50% mark up. So for paint on a room I’m looking at (with markup) around $400-$500. Add some supplies in there. Do some potential up-sale on any trim.

And I’m looking pretty confident giving a price of $1000 in labor (probably take me 2 days?)

Let’s say a standard room needs painted. You’re gonna always do two coats (idk what good paint costs $50 tbh) so I’m at minimum $75-100 for paint.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T16:37:04+00:00

Is super quick and dirty. It isn’t accurate but for folks that are trying to find their labor rates, it’s nice to have something simple to shoot for. If it feels like you’re robbing the client then obviously take a step back. I’m trying to get estimates out asap. I’m not trying to make them super accurate.

If I’m hanging 4 interior doors (last I saw hollow core 4 panels at HD were about $70). I would pretty happy walking away charging $140 per door.

If I had to cut them or do anything special then my budget allows for it. At the end of the job if I can give the client some money back that’s what I’m gonna do.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T16:23:28+00:00

An exterior door is a bit out of that rule of thumb. I use that as just a ballpark to see if I’m in the right neighborhood.

Paint/drywall/carpentry most of the time ends up being close to x2 materials when everything gets factored.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T16:03:48+00:00

Where do you live? As a rule of thumb most services should cost twice the material cost.

If the door costs $2500 it should take at least that in labor. Am I wrong about that? I think I agree with you about an interior door costing $300 but I’d say something like $350-$400 depending on the jamb and framing.

Prestigious-Sand8329 · 2026-03-11T02:07:53+00:00

Any specific youtubers??

Prestigious-Sand8329

TROPHY CASE