Here's a pattern I see constantly. Someone calls me about a leaky kitchen faucet. While I'm there, they say, "Oh, while you're here, the ceiling fan in the bedroom wobbles. And the bathroom outlet doesn't work. And we need a TV mounted in the living room. And there's a door that won't close right."
They've been living with all of these things for months. Each one felt too small to call a handyman about. But stacked together? That's a solid day of work, and every single one of those problems goes away in a single visit.
That's what I call a Project Day, and it's the smartest way to hire a handyman.
Why Stacking Jobs Saves You Money
Let me explain the economics. I have minimum charges — $150 if you're in my immediate area (Northwood, downtown West Palm), up to $300 if I'm driving further out. That minimum applies whether the job takes 20 minutes or two hours. It covers my drive time, setup, and the fact that I blocked out part of my schedule for you.
So if you call me five separate times for five small jobs, you're potentially paying five minimums. That's $750-1,500 in trip charges alone, before I've even started working. But if you stack all five jobs into one Project Day, you pay one trip charge and then my hourly rate ($87-125/hr) for the actual work time.
The math is obvious. A Project Day with 6-8 hours of work will cost you $700-1,000 in labor. Those same tasks spread across separate visits could easily run $1,500-2,000. You're saving 30-50% just by being organized.
What a Typical Project Day Looks Like
I show up at 8am with my truck loaded. Here's a real example from a Project Day I did recently in Flamingo Park:
- 8:00 - 9:00 — Swapped kitchen faucet (old two-handle for a Moen pull-down).
- 9:00 - 9:45 — Installed a ceiling fan in the master bedroom to replace a dated light fixture.
- 9:45 - 10:30 — Mounted a 65" TV in the living room with in-wall cable management.
- 10:30 - 11:00 — Swapped 4 outlets to USB-C (kitchen, both nightstands, home office).
- 11:00 - 11:30 — Fixed a bathroom door that was sticking, planed and rehung it.
- 11:30 - 12:00 — Patched two drywall holes and touched up paint.
- 12:00 - 12:30 — Installed a new shower head and towel bar in the guest bath.
- 12:30 - 1:00 — Installed a Ring doorbell (hardwired, replacing old doorbell).
Eight tasks. Five hours of actual work time. One visit. The homeowner had been putting all of this off for over a year because no single item felt worth calling someone about. By 1pm, every single one was done.
How to Prep Your Project Day List
The key to a productive Project Day is having your list ready before I show up. Here's how to do it right:
1. Walk Every Room
Go room by room with your phone and make notes. Open every door (does it stick?). Flip every switch (does it work?). Run every faucet (any drips?). Look at the ceiling (any water stains, outdated fixtures, or missing fan?). Check the outlets (any that don't work, or that still have the old two-prong setup?).
2. Prioritize
Put the must-do items at the top. Things that affect safety or daily function come first — broken outlets, leaking faucets, doors that won't lock. Nice-to-haves like TV mounting and cosmetic upgrades come second. If we run long, I want to make sure the critical stuff is done first.
3. Buy Materials in Advance
If you already know you want a specific faucet, ceiling fan, or TV mount, order it ahead of time. I can also source materials for you (with a standard 30% markup on cost), but having things on-site when I arrive means zero downtime. Nothing kills momentum like a mid-day Home Depot run.
4. Send Me the List Ahead of Time
Text or email me your list before the appointment. I'll review it so I know what tools and materials to bring. There's nothing worse than getting on-site and realizing I need a specialty tool that's back in the shop. A heads-up avoids that.
What Works Well on a Project Day
These are the tasks that stack perfectly because they're self-contained and quick:
- Faucet swaps (kitchen, bathroom)
- Ceiling fan installs
- Light fixture swaps
- TV mounting
- Outlet and switch replacements
- Door adjustments and hardware swaps
- Drywall patches and touch-up paint
- Shelving and towel bar installs
- Smart home device setup
- Ring camera and doorbell installs
- Cabinet hardware replacement
- Showerhead and toilet handle upgrades
What Doesn't Fit a Project Day
Some jobs need their own dedicated visit because they take too long or are too messy to combine with other work:
- Pressure washing — this is usually a standalone job, 2-4 hours depending on the area.
- Painting a full room — prep, prime, two coats, cleanup. That's a full day minimum.
- Flooring — even a small room takes a dedicated visit.
- Large carpentry projects — built-in shelving, custom trim work, etc.
These are great follow-up projects after your Project Day handles the quick hits.
Book Your Project Day
The best time to book a Project Day is now, while you're still thinking about all the things that bug you about your house. Walk the rooms tonight, make the list, and text it to me. I'll get you on the schedule and we'll knock it all out in one clean visit. Your future self will thank you.