Request a Quote from The Sarasota Handyman

When did you last write the list down?

When did you last stand in the yard, look up at the roof, the soffit and the tree by the fence, and think, I really need to get someone out here? Be honest. Most of us do it for a while. Weeks. Sometimes a whole season. The stain on the hallway ceiling that is a little bigger than it was in spring. The door that sticks every August. The limb that hangs over the lanai. Each one is small. Together they sit on your shoulders.

This page is where that stops. You leave your name, number and the address, you send it, and I read it. Then I call you back. That is the whole process, and you set the pace of it.

I work across Sarasota and Manatee counties, on everything from small repairs to roof, storm and water work, inspections and remodeling. You do not need to know the right word for what you are looking at. If you can describe it to a neighbor over the fence, you can describe it here.

What happens after you send the form?

Here is the path, start to finish, so nothing about it is a mystery. You fill in the form on this page. Your request lands with me. I read it, I look at any details you included, and I pick up the phone and call you back to talk through the job.

Nothing is sold or booked through the form. Sending a request does not commit you to anything. It is a small, honest yes: a way of saying, here is what I have, tell me what you think. If you hear my answer and decide the timing is wrong, or you want to think it over, or you would rather wait until next month, that is a perfectly good outcome.

After the call, one of three things usually happens. For a small, clear job, we agree what the work involves and when it can be done. For a larger or less clear job, we arrange a visit so I can look before I suggest anything. Or the conversation shows that the job is not one I should take on, in which case I tell you plainly and quickly. In every case you stay in control from the first line to the last. I will not push, and I will not ask you to decide on the spot.

What do I put in the request?

A good request is short and plain. Say what you see, where it is and what you would like to happen. The form asks for the basics, and the job itself gets described on the call, in your own words.

• Your name, and the best email address to reach you
• A phone number, so I can call you back. If you would rather I call, make sure it is correct.
• The service you are interested in, chosen from the list in the form
• A few lines describing the work: what you see, where it is, how long it has been going on
• The town or neighborhood and the address of the property, written in the message, so I can tell you honestly whether the job is within reach
• Days and times that suit you for a callback or a visit
• Anything I should know in advance, such as pets, a locked gate, steep access or a condo association

Double-check the phone number and the email before you send. A mistyped digit is the most common reason a callback goes nowhere, and I would hate for you to wait by the phone for a call that never reached you.

Why is there no price on this website?

Because a price on a web page is a guess, and a guess is not fair to you. What a job costs depends on the job itself, the age and condition of the house, how easy the work is to reach, the materials, the weather and how far I have to travel. A small leak at a vent boot is a different afternoon from a leak that has been running for a year. None of that can be known from a headline number.

So instead I do it the straight way. I call you, I ask what I need to ask, and I explain the price for your particular job and your address, in plain words, by phone. You can ask why it comes out the way it does. You can think it over. You decide in your own time.

If you are collecting several opinions, that is sensible. Ask each person what is included, what is assumed and what happens if conditions turn out different from expected. Those answers say more than the total ever will.

What is the callback actually like?

It is an ordinary phone conversation with the person who will do the work. No script, no sales pitch, no pressure. I ask about the property, what you are seeing and what result you want. You ask whatever you like back.

By the end of the call you should know what the work involves, what the price is for your address, and when it could be done. If any of that is still fuzzy, say so and I will go over it again. If the job is not something I can take on, I will tell you plainly, so you are not left waiting.

I will not tell you a job is simpler than it is. If something looks bigger, riskier or better suited to a specialist, you will hear it from me honestly. I would rather lose a job than lose your trust.

Missed my call? Here is what to expect

Some days I am on a ladder, in an attic or standing in a yard with a chainsaw running, and the phone is in the truck. If you miss my call, I will try again. If you have a preferred time, tell me on the call and I will aim for it. Evenings, early mornings, lunch breaks: tell me what works for your day.

If you call back and get voicemail, leave your name and the town and I will ring you when I come off the job. Your request does not go cold. It sits in front of me until we have spoken.

The number to call is (407) 383-9118. If water is coming in right now, say that first, in the form or on the phone, and it is read first.

What can I ask about?

The services on this site fall into a few families, and any of them is a fair subject for a request. If your situation sits between two, pick the nearer one and we will sort it out on the call.

• Roofs and storms: roof inspection, roof repair, roof replacement, storm mitigation and emergency tarp installation
• Water and trees: water mitigation and tree removal
• Inspections and reports: wind mitigation inspection and report, 4-point inspection and home inspection
• Repairs and upkeep: handyman service and property maintenance
• Larger projects: remodeling, kitchen, bath and additions
• Energy: solar panel packages

Not on the list? Ask anyway. If it is not something I do, I will say so straight away so you can look elsewhere without losing a day.

Where do I take requests from?

I take requests for homes and properties in Sarasota and Manatee counties. That covers the city of Sarasota and its neighbors, Bradenton, Palmetto and the communities between and around them. The service areas page lists the towns.

Not every job at every distance makes sense. If you live near the edge of the area, send a request anyway and tell me where you are. I will tell you honestly whether it is workable. Drive time is part of how a price is worked out, so being straight about location from the start saves us both a phone call that goes nowhere.

Should I send photos?

Photos are not required, but a few of them are one of the kindest things you can do for the callback. They let me come to the call already understanding what you are looking at, so the time we spend talking goes on your questions and not on me trying to picture a roof I have never seen.

Take them in daylight, with the camera steady. One wide shot from a few steps back shows where the problem sits. One close shot shows the detail. For a ceiling stain, photograph the stain and the room around it. For a tree, photograph the whole tree and the base. For a roof, photograph from the ground only. Please never climb up to take a picture.

The form on this page does not take attachments. Mention in your message that you have photos, and I will tell you on the callback where to send them. There is no obligation to send anything you are not comfortable sending.

How can I get ready for the callback?

A few minutes of preparation make the call far more useful, and they make your decision easier, too.

• Walk around the property and write down everything you would like done
• Decide which jobs matter most to you
• Note when you first saw the problem and whether it changes after rain
• Think about when you will be home and when you will not
• Have the address ready, spelled the way a map would show it
• If it is a rental, a condo or a second home, know who can say yes and who can give access
• Keep your phone nearby and your voicemail clear

If you have several small jobs, list them all. Grouping them into one visit usually makes better use of the drive time, and it clears more of your list in a single go.

Which questions are worth asking me?

Ask anything. These are fair questions to put to any contractor or handyman, and they are fair to put to me.

• How is the price worked out for my address?
• What does the price include, and what does it leave out?
• When could the work be done, and how long will it take?
• What do I need to do before the visit?
• What happens if the weather is wrong on the day?
• How will you let me know if anything changes once work has started?

Clear answers to these mean fewer surprises later. If I cannot give you a clear answer, I will tell you what I do not know yet and when I will find out.

What if the weather is wrong?

Outdoor work depends on the weather, and in Florida the weather has opinions. Heavy rain, lightning and strong wind make a day unsuitable for roof and tree work, and pushing on through bad conditions gets a poor result and puts people at risk. When that happens, we move the work to a better day.

A change of day can shift the order of other jobs on the route, so I appreciate patience. In return, I will call you rather than leave you wondering. If your own plans change, tell me as soon as you can and we will adjust the schedule fairly.

During hurricane season, the picture changes. Demand rises and the calendar shifts quickly. I cannot promise a date I do not control, but I can tell you where you stand and what can be done to protect the house in the meantime.

Asking for someone else? That is fine

Plenty of requests come from people helping a parent, a tenant, a neighbor or a friend who cannot manage a ladder anymore. Others come from owners who live in another state and manage a Florida house from far away. Good. Give the address of the property, the name and number of the person who will be home, and say who makes the final decision.

If you manage a rental or a vacant home, mention how access works and who can say yes. The callback goes much more smoothly when it is clear who will be there and who is deciding.

What will I not do on the phone?

I will not pressure you, rush you or ask you to decide while I wait on the line. I give you a price, I explain the work, and you take the time you need.

I will not run down a list of reasons you must book this week. The honest cost of waiting on a leak or a loose limb is real, and we will talk about it plainly, but it is your call and your calendar.

I also will not make promises I cannot keep: not about dates I do not control, not about what a third party will do with a report, and not about how a house will fare in a storm. If I do not know, I will say so.

How are my details handled?

The details you send are used to call you back about your request. Share only what the form asks for and what helps describe the job. Do not put payment details, account numbers or passwords in the message. They are never needed for a quote request.

If there is something sensitive you would rather not write down, leave it out and mention it on the call. The privacy policy explains in plain language what the form collects and why, and the terms and conditions explain how work is handled once you decide to go ahead.

Ready when you are

Picture the weekend you get back. The ceiling clean and dry. The limb gone from over the roof. The door closing softly, the list finally done. All of it starts with a few lines in the form on this page.

Give your name, phone number, address and email. I will read it, call you, talk through the job, the location and the distance, and give you a price for that specific work. Nothing is booked until you are happy with the answers.

How do I describe a roof, water or storm problem clearly?

The best descriptions answer three questions: where is it, what is wrong or what do you want, and how big is it. Instead of writing that the house has a leak, say which room, what you see on the ceiling or wall, and roughly how large the mark is. Say whether it appears only in heavy rain or all the time.

Say what you have already tried, if anything. If a ceiling has been painted over, or a gutter has been cleared, or a patch has been put on the roof before, mention it. It helps me choose the right approach and avoid repeating what did not work.

For an inspection or a report, say what you were asked for and by whom, and send me the wording if you can. A request from an insurer or a lender is specific, and I want to match it. For a remodel or an addition, describe the space and what you imagine, even roughly, and mention any association rules you know about.

For anything involving a storm, add the date the weather hit, what you saw afterward and whether anything has been moved or covered. Photographs from before cleanup are valuable. The earlier I know the full picture, the faster the callback can get to the useful part.

What about access, power and water on the day?

Some jobs need a water tap, an outlet, a clear driveway or a way into the attic. Tell me whether the outdoor tap works and where it is, and whether there is power close to the work area. If you are renting, check with the landlord before the visit.

Gates, locked sheds, tight side yards, steep lots and condo parking rules can slow a job down. If there is a gate code, a key, a dog or a reserved parking space, mention it when I call so there are no surprises on the day.

If the work is on a condo or townhome, tell me who is responsible for the part in question. Roofs and exteriors are often the association's, and the right first step may be a letter from you to the board. I can help you describe what you see.

Which credentials do I hold?

These are the credentials I hold, listed as issued. They are Florida credentials, listed as facts about me and not as a statement about any other state.

• Florida Building Contractor, CBC059592
• Florida Roofing Contractor, CCC1327217
• Florida Home Inspector, HI4878

Ask me what any of them covers and I will tell you plainly.

Common questions