Not sure if you should tip your handyman or how much to give? I understand your confusion. In the US, it’s common to tip people who do a good job for you. But handymen can be different because many of them are self-employed.
I am here to help make it easy for you. My guide will show you when and how much to tip your handyman so you can feel confident. Just follow and you’ll be a pro at tipping your handyman.
What Does A Handyman Do for You?
Before digging deeper into the discussion, let us look at the picture of what the handymen actually do for you. The following points elaborate more on this aspect:
- Working on electrical repairs in community areas, including lights and laundry.
- Making sure the mechanical equipment is in working order and fixed as needed.
- Performing general building cleaning and maintenance.
- Replacing & installing floors, stairs, and piping as necessary.
- Repairing and painting doors, windows, walls, ceilings, roofs, and other parts of the building or your home.
- Disposing of trash and recycling receptacles around the facility.
- Maintaining and repairing air conditioning and heating systems as required.
So now you may have a clear idea about the duties that a handyman has to perform in many cases.
When Should You Tip A Handyman?
Now you know that a handyman has to deal with common general repairs around a home or facility. Based on his service, what you choose to give him as a tip can depend on several factors. Take a look at those!
Overall satisfactory experience working with the handyperson.
Length of time they are providing you their services for.
The quality of their work and how often you have made contracts with the handyman or their company.
Scope and size of the job that has been completed.
So if you find that all the factors are in favor of the handyman you are working with, do not hesitate to leave a generous tip for them!
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Do I Need to Tip Handyman?
Tipping a handyman may not required in all regions, but it’s a common practice in the USA. It is a nice gesture if you feel that the service provided was above and beyond what you expected. If you are satisfied with the handyman’s work and would like to express your gratitude, you may consider leaving a tip.
In general, tipping is seen as a way to say “thank you” and to recognize the effort that has been put into providing a good service.
What is Considered As the Standard Tip for a Handyman?
While it may not be expected all the time, the main reason you will want to tip your handyman is for exceeding your expectations, save you money, or find a potentially costly break. When you are truly surprised or happy with the repair results, you should definitely tip your handyman.
We have looked at some recommended amounts in the industry. Some of them have been found looking at several discussion forums as well. So after all of our research, we have found out that the most frequently mentioned appropriate tip for a handyman is $20. Other industry-recommended amounts refer to 10-15% of the total charge of a handyman’s large job. However, if the tasks are relatively smaller, you can always round up the bill – for example, paying $100 for a bill of $85.
If you find out that the handyman has done something completely above & beyond, tipping as much as $50 can also be justified. However, $10 to $20 is a more accurate range for most of handyman tipping situations. It is also expected not to tip below $10 as it can be a little insulting for the workers. Whenever you plan on tipping, try to keep it above $10.
On an additional note, it is always a great idea to leave a positive review. It will be encouraging for the business as a whole and will also tell the business owner that a particular employee is very much customer-oriented.
How Much to Tip Handyman NYC?
If you are supposed to tip a handyman, it will show gratitude for the job they have done for you. Tipping is a way of acknowledging that you are happy with their work and appreciate the effort. Handymen often work hard to provide a good service and a tip is a way to recognize their hard work and effort.
The amount you should tip a handyman in New York City can vary based on your personal preference and the quality of work. However, a range of 5-20% of the total cost of the job is common for service industry workers, including handymen, plumbers, landscapers, etc.
How to Tip When Your Handyman is the Owner of the Business?
It is common in the USA that many repair companies are local, family-run operations. As a result, when you call a handyman for service, it is very likely that the handyman can be the business owner. And like most industries, tipping the handyman who is the owner can often be frowned upon. The thought process behind this is that the owners do not need to be tipped as they can be as equal as you are.
However, you may often find yourself completely pleased by the business owner’s performance and that can lead you to tip them as well. In such cases, consider opting for some alternative measures to tipping that can be much more to the owner than extra cash.
Here are some great ways to express your gratitude to a handyman who is the business owner:
- Give a great review online.
- Refer his business to potential & future clients.
- Refer the business to a close friend or family member of yours.
You may also opt for any personal gift if you have a very close relationship with the business owner. Consider offering the owner a bottle of wine, a batch of cookies around the holidays, or even tickets to a sporting event he likes. However, we do not recommend you give him gift cards as they can be similar to cash tips.
Do You Tip a Self-Employed Handyman?
Tipping a self-employed handyman may be optional in some regions but it is customary in the USA. If you are satisfied with their work and would like to show your appreciation, you may choose to tip them. The amount to tip is also up to you, but a range of 5-20% of the total cost is common for service industry workers.
Get to Know How Fixer Practices Tipping
Fixer, offering handyman & home repair services, recommends $10–$20 per hour as a guideline for tipping that depends on the size of the job. They encourage the customers to simply round up the bill if the job is small. For example, rounding up a $129 bill to $150 will eventually accommodate the tipping as well.
They recommend providing a positive review as well if, at any point in time, you feel uncomfortable tipping. After all, this is a great way to let them know how great of a job your handyperson did. They also encourage you to recommend the handyperson to your family, friends, and neighbors which can go a long way, potentially increasing their profits as well!
However, whenever you decide to tip, Fixer makes it easier for our customers to leave a tip after the job is completed via their online portal.
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To Conclude:
In conclusion, it can be said that tipping your handyman is an amazing idea if their service exceeds your expectations and offers a great customer experience. Tipping is certainly appreciated as a well-accepted gesture for a “job well done”.
However, existing traditions typically advise against tipping a business owner, however, to make a lasting relationship, you can always offer a gift, leave a glowing review, or refer the business to a friend. This can help a lot for the business’ well-being. On the other hand, when your handyman is an employee of a company, try to tip them as you feel justified but not below $10.
When deciding when or how much you want to tip your handyman, your intuition can help a lot. Because your emotions will help guide you through the tough decision of tipping your handyman.
