In today’s world, we have lost sight of the beauty and quality found in the work of someone’s pair of hands. Thank you to all the powers that be for my handyman Kenny! I’m not going to tell you his surname – he’s mine and I don’t want to share.
Handymen get their name because they’re supposed to be good at so many things around the home. Things like mending stuck drawers and leaky faucets around the house. Isn’t that why they’re so adored?
Normally, husbands fulfill that role but there’s a whole load of widows here in Florida, including me, yearning for a trusted someone who can replace their departed hubby’s handiness around the home.
For me, there’s nothing more comforting than to have found that handyman. As soon as I have a little problem, he comes to the rescue! It’s such a relief when I see him arrive kitted out with his tool belt to fix my latest disaster.
So, how did I find my handyman? It was through a chance encounter between my daughter and himself at a gas station in Tampa and an exchange of business cards. I was skeptical at first, having met more than my share of “jacks of all trades.” There were some I wished I could afford and others I wished I’d never met.
Anyway, I took the plunge and called this dude called Kenny. And that was it. I had found my dream handyman.
Handymen are renowned for being hard workers. The brand is reserved for them as an individual, not as a company. The actual word “handyman” is generally ignored within the contracting trade. In these days of web searches, it’s all about posh adverts for plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc.
But there’s handymen and handymen. Repairing a leaking faucet is something my late husband would’ve fixed in a heartbeat, but some quotes I’ve received recently are astronomical for replacing a worn-out washer or tightening up some screws.
Kenny is from S. Carolina — y’all and fixin’ are his favorite words! He’s honest and charges a fair price. I’m so lucky to have found him.
If you’re looking to find your dream handyman, the place to start is to ask your friends and neighbors to recommend someone they use. And get references, at least one and no more than a year old. Any worthwhile handyman will be able to produce references and most customers will be glad to recommend someone with a good track record.
When you’re ready to hire someone, agree on a price and never, ever pay the entire bill until all the work is done.
I wonder what Kenny’s house is like. After all, he’s the handyman, so it must be perfect!
Sue Quigley writes regularly for the Hernando Sun. She can be reached at 727.247.6308 or emailed at [email protected]
