And just for extra encouragement for newbies. I am semi-retired at 68 years old. I can still make up to $2000/week working less than 20 hours. With TH-cam channels like yours and all of the fix-it channels out there, it can really speed up the learning curve and give one the confidence to be self employed.
Hi James, Like you, I'm 68 years old but hardly could call myself semi-retired. I'm working 40+ hours a week, plus all of the other stuff that goes into running a business, so probably closer to 60-65 hours a week. I'm in Canada, and unfortunately the Canadian dollar is equivalent to toilet paper these days. I charge $105 an hour plus a $55 trip fee and last year I pulled in $177K. However, all of my other costs (insurance, licences, fuel, maintenance, alarm systems, etc.) added up to $55 an hour so in reality I'm only making $50 an hour while on the clock, but closer to $30 an hour with all the other activities that go into running a business. Man, it's tough out there!
@@bulletproofhandyman I'm curious about your trip fees.... perhaps you have explained them in other videos, but I'm wondering if that is on top of your hourly rate?
I live in San Diego and there's no way people will pay that sort of price....I tell people 35 an hour and rarely get a bite... on bids.. I give prices I gave 20 years ago and still have trouble getting jobs. I see these handyman guys charging a lot...and I have never seen it..and Im 58... the only time Ive made 50 plus an hour was doing whole room additions... but NEVER on anything smaller... Maybe there's too many guys from Mexico here...who knows.. might just be me too..@@brucewilliamsstudio4932
I just priced a 2 ceiling fan job. One was an installation with an existing fixture box. One was going to require attic crawling, finding live power, installing a wall switch location, and installing a fan rated ceiling box, plus fan kit install. I priced it a little high at $850. I really didn't want the attic crawl. The customer said her boyfriend could handle it and I was very happy with that! The calls keep rolling in from steady customers and referrals, and I am able to be much more choosy now. I even attempt to refer them to others for work I am not anxious for and my steady customers are willing to be put on the wait list. Bottom line if you do quality work, communicate timely, you will keep and build a steady customer base.
I’m a electrician who is seriously considering quitting my job and becoming a full time handyman. Great advice about ceiling fans. Some are super easy to install and some are complicated. Good tips.
You are doing a great job especially for new guys and girls entering independent business in a tough job market. On your own it takes years to figure out proper pricing. I think a lot of people quit home repair because they don't price right and they don't know what it is worth, and they therefore don't make enough $$$ to feel it is worth it. You probably already have, but it can't be overstressed that you need to cover your overheads in your pricing. For instance I am pricing a Spa installation/ electrical and I have 2 hours into it already just visiting the job, measuring, and pricing materials. If I don't cover that time and travel, I am losing.
@@bulletproofhandyman hey man, I wish you all the success in the world. You are doing a great job educating people and I’m sure your channel is growing.
A friend of mine calls them Chiropractors. They're not bad people, but they also haven't decided to take their business seriously yet. I'm here hopefully to motivate them to step up a level.
Hi great video I’m a Handyman north of Boston, Massachusetts and I get 250 to 300 depending on the height of the ceiling. Working up high is always more money.
I used to install hundreds of Ceiling fans in showrooms all across the United States for Home Depot Expo’s. A trick we used is using red loctite on the ceiling fan arms going into the motor. That keeps them from wobbling loose and getting out of balance. But red loctite will not come out so it’s permanent, but you can also use blue loctite which you can remove if you want but usually you never take the blade arms off for the life of the fan. If it’s wobbling and out of balance fresh out of the box, you either did something wrong or it’s a real piece of shit fan.
Good video - I did notice you were talking about a ceiling fan rated box - I may be misunderstanding you but the blue nail in boxes you find are normally rated to hold up to a 50 lb ceiling fan -anything above that would require a ceiling fan support bracket - however it is always good to put in a ceiling fan support bracket when possible because you never know what type of fan someone may want in there in the future. As for price - I know here in my part of Texas the average Electrical Company (licensed Electrician) will charge about $250- $300 to assemble and install a customer supplied standard ceiling fan and about $500-$600 for a large fan up to a height of 10 feet - anything over 10 feet gets charged extra.
Those boxes aren't inherently dangerous but they all are fairly wobbly and the fans inevitably make them worse over time. If I install a new fan I always require approval to upgrade the box if it's not already a really solid box.
Hampton Bay is typically a good value, but each ceiling fan is different. Typically you need to match the new fan to the old fan so you just end up finding the most affordable thing that's the same size, color, etc
@@bulletproofhandyman Would you have a list of your "go to" parts (or brands) for the most common jobs? This would probably be a good video too, if & when you have time. I gave my 2-week notice & am already using what I have learned from you to go out on my own. Thanks again Ray! Be blessed!
Before i watch or read.... if im at the home for multiple projects, the fan is $50-75, if im only going for the fan $125. Now let me see what the pros say.....
@@bulletproofhandyman the hardest part is saying no to your customers when you know you can easily do what they want done. Some take a chance, some dont, some end up on the losing end of a sting operation and get their mugshots taken and name in the paper. Thats not good for business.
I live in Ohio and you cant do any electrical or plumbing without some sort of contractor license, being a licensed plumber, being a licensed electrician, or permit. Is there a way around this?
Here in Arizona we have the same law but every state has different definitions for what constitutes plumbing or electrical work. In my case, I spoke to an investigator at the Arizona registrar of contractors and he told me that if it's under $1,000 and doesn't require a permit then it would be legal. An example he gave was that swapping out an outlet doesn't require a permit and can be done by a handyman. However, moving the location of the outlet does require a permit and would not be legal for a handyman. I suggest calling your states contractors agency and asking for clarification of the definition of electrical and plumbing jobs with the context of faucets, fixtures, etc...
@@bulletproofhandyman ok so when you get arrested you just say you talked to a guy on the phone at the contractors agency and then they will take the cuffs off right?
I just got a ceiling fan replacement job in a condo and, after seeing another video of yours, where you’ve mentioned the box upgrade, realized that in that condo (I had been in another unit of the same building and on the same spot there was just a ceiling light there) the ceiling fan may have been installed in the regular box at some point.
Interesting. I don't want to pretend to know things that I don't, so my honest answer would have to be that I don't know. You definitely wouldn't be able to install what I would refer to as a remodel fan box, however, I would imagine since the ceiling is concrete it wouldn't be very hard to find an alternative way to ensure that the fan is definitely solidly mounted.
@@charleshairston4853 of course it turned out to be a not rated box. I managed to fix the fan (the problem was actually just with the wall switch) without replacing it. Left it as is.
Hey Ray, sorry to bring up and old video. But does the $125 you charge is that in addition to your $125 trip fee? Or is the fan install included with your $125 trip fee?
The trip fee and the fan install are one in the same. In other words, I can install a ceiling fan fast enough that I don't need to charge anything above the trip fee for it. This means most of my one-off jobs are 125
@@bulletproofhandymanthat’s what I figured. In the works of picking up 2 property management contracts. Have in person meetings tomorrow morning. Would be a total of 645 units total between the 2.
Thing is hit .em hard up front.i tell them look I'm going to give you a high bid based on worse case.thrn I kinda laugh say I'd rather come with good news.
Thanks. I thought it was just me. Referrals are best...but just like selling a car or something, craigslist seems like it's all lowballers.. @@charleshairston4853
And just for extra encouragement for newbies. I am semi-retired at 68 years old. I can still make up to $2000/week working less than 20 hours. With TH-cam channels like yours and all of the fix-it channels out there, it can really speed up the learning curve and give one the confidence to be self employed.
I agree, the resources are there to learn. Thanks for helping with the encouragement!
Hi James, Like you, I'm 68 years old but hardly could call myself semi-retired. I'm working 40+ hours a week, plus all of the other stuff that goes into running a business, so probably closer to 60-65 hours a week. I'm in Canada, and unfortunately the Canadian dollar is equivalent to toilet paper these days. I charge $105 an hour plus a $55 trip fee and last year I pulled in $177K. However, all of my other costs (insurance, licences, fuel, maintenance, alarm systems, etc.) added up to $55 an hour so in reality I'm only making $50 an hour while on the clock, but closer to $30 an hour with all the other activities that go into running a business. Man, it's tough out there!
@@bulletproofhandyman I'm curious about your trip fees.... perhaps you have explained them in other videos, but I'm wondering if that is on top of your hourly rate?
You're making 2k via YT?
I live in San Diego and there's no way people will pay that sort of price....I tell people 35 an hour and rarely get a bite... on bids.. I give prices I gave 20 years ago and still have trouble getting jobs. I see these handyman guys charging a lot...and I have never seen it..and Im 58... the only time Ive made 50 plus an hour was doing whole room additions... but NEVER on anything smaller... Maybe there's too many guys from Mexico here...who knows.. might just be me too..@@brucewilliamsstudio4932
I just priced a 2 ceiling fan job. One was an installation with an existing fixture box. One was going to require attic crawling, finding live power, installing a wall switch location, and installing a fan rated ceiling box, plus fan kit install. I priced it a little high at $850. I really didn't want the attic crawl. The customer said her boyfriend could handle it and I was very happy with that! The calls keep rolling in from steady customers and referrals, and I am able to be much more choosy now. I even attempt to refer them to others for work I am not anxious for and my steady customers are willing to be put on the wait list. Bottom line if you do quality work, communicate timely, you will keep and build a steady customer base.
You are 💯 correct!
Great info thanks I'm about to start my own business soon so looking for as much advice I can get!
I quoted a job for next week. 3 fans, new instal with stack switch $350 each. Should take me 3-4 hrs alone.
I’m a electrician who is seriously considering quitting my job and becoming a full time handyman. Great advice about ceiling fans. Some are super easy to install and some are complicated. Good tips.
Good luck!
You are doing a great job especially for new guys and girls entering independent business in a tough job market. On your own it takes years to figure out proper pricing. I think a lot of people quit home repair because they don't price right and they don't know what it is worth, and they therefore don't make enough $$$ to feel it is worth it. You probably already have, but it can't be overstressed that you need to cover your overheads in your pricing. For instance I am pricing a Spa installation/ electrical and I have 2 hours into it already just visiting the job, measuring, and pricing materials. If I don't cover that time and travel, I am losing.
Yes sir I agree 💯
@@bulletproofhandyman hey man, I wish you all the success in the world. You are doing a great job educating people and I’m sure your channel is growing.
Thank you again. Learned a lot on ceiling fans today. I thought I knew.😂 thanks.
We're always learning new stuff
@@bulletproofhandyman your contents are priceless to me. Thank you very much.
You're welcome!
Come on guys! Let’s give that like right away because y’all know the video is great, the information is priceless 👌🏽💯
You're the best! Thanks!
Great info, thank you.
You're welcome!
Chuck with a truck. Love it! Also trunkslammers cause they’re working out of their cars.
A friend of mine calls them Chiropractors. They're not bad people, but they also haven't decided to take their business seriously yet. I'm here hopefully to motivate them to step up a level.
Hi great video I’m a Handyman north of Boston, Massachusetts and I get 250 to 300 depending on the height of the ceiling. Working up high is always more money.
Yes sir!
Yep….. the extendable arm with box is worth keeping one on the truck
Yep!
I used to install hundreds of Ceiling fans in showrooms all across the United States for Home Depot Expo’s. A trick we used is using red loctite on the ceiling fan arms going into the motor. That keeps them from wobbling loose and getting out of balance. But red loctite will not come out so it’s permanent, but you can also use blue loctite which you can remove if you want but usually you never take the blade arms off for the life of the fan. If it’s wobbling and out of balance fresh out of the box, you either did something wrong or it’s a real piece of shit fan.
Good Tip!
Good video - I did notice you were talking about a ceiling fan rated box - I may be misunderstanding you but the blue nail in boxes you find are normally rated to hold up to a 50 lb ceiling fan -anything above that would require a ceiling fan support bracket - however it is always good to put in a ceiling fan support bracket when possible because you never know what type of fan someone may want in there in the future.
As for price - I know here in my part of Texas the average Electrical Company (licensed Electrician) will charge about $250- $300 to assemble and install a customer supplied standard ceiling fan and about $500-$600 for a large fan up to a height of 10 feet - anything over 10 feet gets charged extra.
Those boxes aren't inherently dangerous but they all are fairly wobbly and the fans inevitably make them worse over time. If I install a new fan I always require approval to upgrade the box if it's not already a really solid box.
Maybe mention time spent trying to acquire a replacement part. Then it is not correct. 3rd trip to the job. At least 2 to the supplier 😢
Yep that happens. I do have a decent little kit with quite a wide array of replacement parts that fit most fans.
More gold Ray, thank you! Do you have a "go-to" ceiling fan brand that is a good value and readily available?
Hampton Bay is typically a good value, but each ceiling fan is different. Typically you need to match the new fan to the old fan so you just end up finding the most affordable thing that's the same size, color, etc
@@bulletproofhandyman Oh ok, I've installed a few of those. Thank you.
@@bulletproofhandyman Would you have a list of your "go to" parts (or brands) for the most common jobs? This would probably be a good video too, if & when you have time. I gave my 2-week notice & am already using what I have learned from you to go out on my own. Thanks again Ray! Be blessed!
Before i watch or read.... if im at the home for multiple projects, the fan is $50-75, if im only going for the fan $125. Now let me see what the pros say.....
Almost spot on
its a misdemeanor in Florida to install a ceiling fan unless you are a state licensed electrician.
I've heard that the laws for handymen in Florida aren't great.
@@bulletproofhandyman the hardest part is saying no to your customers when you know you can easily do what they want done. Some take a chance, some dont, some end up on the losing end of a sting operation and get their mugshots taken and name in the paper. Thats not good for business.
I live in Ohio and you cant do any electrical or plumbing without some sort of contractor license, being a licensed plumber, being a licensed electrician, or permit. Is there a way around this?
Here in Arizona we have the same law but every state has different definitions for what constitutes plumbing or electrical work. In my case, I spoke to an investigator at the Arizona registrar of contractors and he told me that if it's under $1,000 and doesn't require a permit then it would be legal. An example he gave was that swapping out an outlet doesn't require a permit and can be done by a handyman. However, moving the location of the outlet does require a permit and would not be legal for a handyman. I suggest calling your states contractors agency and asking for clarification of the definition of electrical and plumbing jobs with the context of faucets, fixtures, etc...
@@bulletproofhandyman thank you that was very helpful. I’ve been trying to figure that out for the longest time.
@@bulletproofhandyman ok so when you get arrested you just say you talked to a guy on the phone at the contractors agency and then they will take the cuffs off right?
What if this is a condo with a concrete ceiling? Can the box be upgraded there?
I just got a ceiling fan replacement job in a condo and, after seeing another video of yours, where you’ve mentioned the box upgrade, realized that in that condo (I had been in another unit of the same building and on the same spot there was just a ceiling light there) the ceiling fan may have been installed in the regular box at some point.
Interesting. I don't want to pretend to know things that I don't, so my honest answer would have to be that I don't know. You definitely wouldn't be able to install what I would refer to as a remodel fan box, however, I would imagine since the ceiling is concrete it wouldn't be very hard to find an alternative way to ensure that the fan is definitely solidly mounted.
@@bulletproofhandyman okay, I guess, we’ll soon find out)
@@maxxtheautumnso how did it turn out?
@@charleshairston4853 of course it turned out to be a not rated box. I managed to fix the fan (the problem was actually just with the wall switch) without replacing it. Left it as is.
Hey Ray, sorry to bring up and old video. But does the $125 you charge is that in addition to your $125 trip fee? Or is the fan install included with your $125 trip fee?
The trip fee and the fan install are one in the same. In other words, I can install a ceiling fan fast enough that I don't need to charge anything above the trip fee for it. This means most of my one-off jobs are 125
@@bulletproofhandymanthat’s what I figured. In the works of picking up 2 property management contracts. Have in person meetings tomorrow morning. Would be a total of 645 units total between the 2.
That's great! Good luck!!!
You mentioned $225 for two fans - does it mean $125 for one and $100 for the second one?
Yes exactly. 3 fans for 325. 4 for 425. Of course that pricing assumes 8' ceilings, traditional fans, etc ...
I can tell this is an older video, because your hat isn’t browned yet.
Yep!
Thing is hit .em hard up front.i tell them look I'm going to give you a high bid based on worse case.thrn I kinda laugh say I'd rather come with good news.
Under promise, over deliver
This vid is 💯🤌
Thanks!
Craigslist seems to be very cheap people.
I'm in the drywall repair business, and yes Craigslist is is awful.
Thanks. I thought it was just me. Referrals are best...but just like selling a car or something, craigslist seems like it's all lowballers.. @@charleshairston4853