3.1    Introduction

The low-entry cost is amongst the things that make
the handyperson business quite attractive and lucrative.

Most people are already DIYers when it comes to
home-based fix-it needs - and the avid home repair expert can turn it into a profitable business.
It is easy to get started too - just place ads and accept job offers that are within your
range of expertise.

Often, the tools you already have in your
possession are enough to get you started off with the occasional odd jobs. However, the truth is that you will need to
keep on buying handyperson tools as you go along, adding to the list of the portfolio
of services offered.

If you are serious about going into the
handyperson business on a full-time basis, you will eventually have to invest in quality tools. Think about it as a lifetime investment that will bring in a life's worth of income. Once you get your tools,
you need to realise that they will primarily represent your ability to do your job well. Therefore, securing
and getting insurance for your plumbing equipment is worth considering.

The easiest way to go about buying more plumbing
supplies would be to take up as many small jobs as you can handle and put the profits back into buying more
equipment to grow your plumbing business.

3.2    The Handyperson Toolbox Kit Essentials

Cordless Circular Saw

One thing is for sure when working as a plumber -
plumbing repairs always involve some form of cutting. With the right cordless
circular saw, you can cut through just about any kind of plastic, wood, or metal, as long as you have the right type of blade to take care of the job.

The corded circular saw, on the other hand, depends
on a power source to keep it working. If the
task requires excessive
drilling, then you are better off going with a corded saw.

Cordless Reciprocating Saw

On the job, there will be hard to get to places, but the right type of saw can help you get there and cut what needs cutting, in order to get the job done. A cordless reciprocating saw is what you need to get into those hard to reach
places.

Again,
the reason you should go for a cordless one as opposed
to a corded one is to give you access to difficult areas, without
restrictions.

After the circular
saw, the cordless
drill is yet another essential
that you should have in your toolbox.

From driving bolts
into wood/metal to drilling up holes - just about
every job that you do will require the services of a power drill.

Once again, get a corded drill to allow you to keep
working whether or not there is an electricity
supply. However, for large-scale drilling needs, you might want to
consider going with a corded power
drill.

Corded Jig Saw

For thick-level cutting, you need a corded jigsaw,
because it requires a considerable amount of
power, which cordless versions often cannot handle efficiently.

The vacuum-type detail sander features a sandpaper
with holes and attaches to a vacuum, allowing
it to suck up dust. The working
mechanism results in less mess and dust left behind.

Corded Thicknesser/Planer

Getting wood in a particular thickness can be quite challenging and even costlier
trying to get it in a
customised width. Custom thickness, when working with a board, is achievable
with the use of a corded thicknesser/
planer.

Test-drive your corded planer on a practice
board, before taking it out on a job. Power tools have also made the handyperson job much
easier, because, in the past, a hand planer got used with wood. The whole purpose of giving the corded planer a
test run is to get better at trimming wood and being able to customise thicknesses as needed on different jobs.

Cordless Dry/Wet Vacuum Cleaner

The bottom line is that being a handyperson means
creating some level of mess - and since it is your mess, it goes without saying that you have to clean up before you leave.

Cleaning up after a job also shows excellent
workmanship and works as a sort of “after-sale service” that will keep your clients happy.

A cordless dry/wet vacuum cleaner
comes in handy to help out with the cleanups
after a job.

Well, you do not have to buy a vacuum,
but just use the dust extraction tools that accompany most of your power tools.
If you can go with the purchase of a vacuum, yet again, go for a cordless
option for convenience.

6-Step Ladder

You will need to reach up high - and the 6-step
ladder can help with that. However, you can get away with a 5-step
ladder, depending on your height.
The reason you need a ladder is to reach
up to ceiling heights
and work comfortably. A 6-step ladder does the trick, in most cases.

Levels

The reason you need levels is to help you to
achieve evenness and alignment. When dealing with a large task, you should go for a longer level,
but a small-sized level helps
with things such as shelf alignment.

Levels come in handy when performing numerous other
tasks, including drilling holes to fit wall fixings.

Studs Finder

Studs hold up structures together and
they act as the strongest points on walls, making them the best anchoring
points as well. Sometimes, electricians cut out parts of studs to run power
cables behind them and you will be best served to get an electronic stud finder.

Amp/Volt Meter TesterTo make sure that all electric power is off when
needed, you will need to have an amp/volt meter tester.

The continuity tester acts as a security tool and
gives you the green light to work on electrical devices, as long as it is safe.

The tool also helps to measure the amount of
volts/amps passing through, to ensure that they are at the right levels.

Hacksaw

It is hard to work with metal, particularly when you want to cut through it. However, with a
hacksaw, you can cut through
metal, as well as just about anything
else. You should also have a vice, to help grip the item that needs
cutting.

The hacksaw comes in handy when cutting through
plastics and woods, but it works much more efficiently when cutting up metal
used for tile job finishes.

Mitre Saw

The one tool that works across the board when
installing picture rails, skirting boards, or cutting wood up at 45-degree angles, is the mitre saw. The mitre saw
offers good finishes, owing to its external
and internal cut guides.

The mitre saw proves useful when cutting up pipe
mitre joints to join them up at an angle, often at 45-degree angles.

Tool Belt

One of the essential items that will prove useful
in helping with tool organisation and convenience of access is a tool belt. The choice of an appropriate tool belt
should be guided by the dominant hand factor, meaning
that there are belts for both right-handed and left-handed people.

Your tool belt carries some of the equipment you
use often and you should organise it with regards to primary and secondary devices.

For instance

A hammer often gets used with the dominant
hand and falls under the main tools category.

Tools like chisels,
which you operate
with your non-dominant hand, function as auxiliary equipment.

Arrange other supplies, such as squares and
pencils, using the same rule. Pens are used with your dominant hand, whilst the other holds the square. The tool belt arrangement should see to it that the tools that you would use with your dominant hand
are placed on that side of your body, whilst the others go on the non-dominant
side.

Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)

Staying safe is an important part of making sure
that you can keep doing your job. The personal
protective equipment (PPE) kit helps to keep you protected whilst
working. The package includes protective eyewear, protective ear wear, gloves
and dust masks, used when working on construction sites or with power tools. You might also need knee pads, to
ensure that your knees stay protected when
you have to crawl up underneath cupboards and other spaces.

 Activity
1

Estimated time: 10 - 15 minutes

So far, we know that working as a handyperson
requires having several essential tools on hand to enable you to do your job. Now, the other issue ties to the
ability to work seamlessly and this means taking
care, maintaining and insuring your work equipment. It is never too early to
start shopping around for insurance
cover for your gear.

Look up the available covers, costs and
requirements, so that you will have all of the information you need when you are ready to take up
coverage.

3.3    Tool Bag or Toolbox?

Once you have purchased and assembled all of the
tools you need, the next consideration is whether or not to store and carry
them in a tool bag or a toolbox.

A tool bag functions well when it comes to carrying
around the essential powered equipment you need for work.

However, a toolbox comes in handy, because it often
has compartmental storage spaces to keep your
gear appropriately organised. Go with a toolbox with at least a five-drawer compartment, for
efficient, adequate storage
and transportation of all of your tools, supplies and equipment.

To break
it down, the tools you should have in your tool cabinet include:-

 *Hammer

*Continuity Tester

*Screw Drivers

*Stud Finder

*Squares

*Spare Blades

*Rulers

*Sand Paper

*Pliers

*Screws, Bolts, Drywall Inserts,
Nails and Nuts in various
sizes

*Pliers

*Paint Scrapers

*Tin Snips

*Grips

*Chisels

*Wrenches

*Files

The type of home repairs that you specialise in
will determine the set-up of the tools. Separate and store additional tools that involve working on other tasks,
including painting and electrical work, in other
toolboxes.

Also, you may want to get certified
to offer other services, including
electrical work, painting
and plumbing, because these jobs often crop up across the board.

 Fact

 Copper is one of the main tubing materials currently significantly utilised in plumbing.

Source: Growplumbing.com

3.4    The Handyperson's Plumbing
Kit

 Basin Wrench

For changing taps/faucets, you will need to have a
basin wrench. These wrenches feature a design
that allows them to specifically go beneath your sink basin, lock onto nuts and loosen them quickly.

Toilet/Closet Auger

Most people will call up their local plumber to
unclog their toilets - and a toilet/closet auger comes in handy in such instances. Whilst a clogged
up toilet happens to be an embarrassing thing for most homeowners, for you, it can end up being a great money-making
opportunity.

Pipe Wrench

When you need to loosen or tighten bolts and
fittings, a pipe wrench is what you grab. They come with serrated teeth used to grip what needs gripping, but
caution should be exercised because they can
also damage finished surfaces.

The best option is to use a protectant, such as thick tape, before gripping any object using the pipe wrench.

Plunger

The plunger works hand in hand with the toilet
snake/auger. Homeowners often have it, but to be on the safe side, you are better off taking one along with you to jobs. The way a plunger should work is
to push down to the extent where there is a seal/block on the drain and then
pull out, creating a vacuum that
dislodges the blockage.

Plumbers Snake/Hand Auger

To remove obstructions that might have gotten lodged
deep down a drain, you will need a plumber's snake/hand auger. The tool looks
like a long, flexible cable made out of steel and comes in handy to unclog sinks, showers, drains and toilet
drainages.

3.5    The  Handyperson's  Painter's  Kit

One of the important things to keep in mind throughout the equipment
assembly process is quality and longevity.

Finding and Identifying Quality Paint Brushes

The investment that you are making on the tools and
supplies you need for your work should see to
it that they serve you for a long time. The same applies to paintbrushes, which are not built alike, but these simple tips should help
you pick the best.

Get Natural -Based Bristles

Most paintbrushes feature synthetic construction,
but what you want to get is one with natural
filament bristles. Also, go for multiple paintbrushes in various sizes, to cover all types of paint job requirements.

Once you have your paintbrushes lined up, you will
also need to assemble your painting kit. Generally, the items that you will
need include the following.

Edge -Painter

One of the most crucial
tools that should go in your painter's
kit includes the edge painter tool.

The edge painting tool is what you need to reach high up to ceilings and walls, to get them painted
up quickly and efficiently.

WorkPlatform

The work platform functions as a better alternative
to ladders because it provides a larger working space. The work platforms
can also work as mixing and pouring
platforms, to prevent
strained backs - and you can also have a rest on them when needed.

Paint Stripper

Sometimes, you will need to start off a job by
stripping painted walls. The tool that you need to help with this is a paint stripper.

To strip
up a paint job, additional supplies are required including:

* Chemical solutions - the most important thing to
realise about chemical solutions used for stripping is that some are caustic,
which means that they contain hazardous materials. Check labels and go for non-caustic ones, to avoid higher insurance
premiums and to ensure safety when
working.

* Heat solution - a heat gun comes in handy to apply
heat when needed. However, exercise caution to avoid burning
through wood, because
the scorch marks are difficult
to cover up.

Extendable Pole

The areas around the region where the paintwork
gets done will need covering up, in order to
protect them from paint damage.
Go for pro masking tools to save on time, as opposed
to going for the traditional newspaper cover-ups or masking tape/film.

Paint Spouts

Whilst you can use cardboard when starting out, in
the long run, you will need paint spouts that will last. Colour spouts assist with minimising spillage
and help to get more out of your old paints.

Latex Primer

Priming comes before painting and a latex primer is
what you need to get. This choice works well on surfaces including weathered wood, drywall, unfinished wood and
existing paintwork.

Dust Sheets

If you use chemical strippers a lot, you will need
heavy-duty dust sheets. While disposable dust sheets provide an easy fix, it helps to invest in a more permanent solution, in the long run.

Comb

The traditional comb that you use on your hair
comes in handy when cleaning and straightening up the bristles of your paintbrushes. However, cleaning combs
specially made to clean up paintbrushes are
available.

Work Gloves

You need heavy duty latex work gloves when working with paints and other solutions.

Storage

Get a separate storage toolbox for your paint
supplies, for easy access, convenience and better organisation.

Activity 2

Estimated time: 10- 15 minutes

When working as a handyperson, you will have a
primary area of focus tied to your skillset and expertise. However, once you
get started or obtain additional certifications, you may want to increase your portfolio of services
offered. Painting, electrical and plumbing services are often the three core services a handyperson offers.

Determine your area of expertise and think of other
additional services that you could provide along the way. If some of the services, such as electrical work, require special
certification, get online and
research on how to go about obtaining these credentials in your area. It will
save you time and equip you with the
knowledge you need to go about adding to your list of handyperson services.

3.6    Essential Additional Tools

 Kitchen Roll

Every job that you will perform will involve a
given level of mess. The mess does not have to directly relate to the work at hand and you will find that having
kitchen roll on hand is very helpful.

Long Power Extension Cord

When using cordless tools, there are times when
they will run out of power or not function as required. In such instances,
having a long power extension cord will give you access to electricity where you need it.

Some of the
other tools and supplies that can help you add on to the list of services you
provide include:

 *Extension Ladders - To help you get to those high up places, like roofs.

*Plunge
Saw - It works pretty much like the circular or jigsaw, but comes in handy with marking and masking laminate woods.

*Rake - If grass needs cutting,
it will also need raking.

*Woodworking
Router - For creating slots,
mouldings, woodworking joints and cutting grooves with carpentry work, you will
need a Router.

*Trimmer - Yet another gardening tool that offers great use when working outdoors.

*Cordless Finish Nail Gun - To efficiently work with a lot of nails, you will make great use out of a cordless finish nail gun.

*Pressure Washer - To quickly and efficiently clean up outdoor spaces, get a pressure
washer.

*Shovel/Spade - When working outdoors, sometimes
some digging will be needed.

*Post Digger - For fencing service,
you will need a post hole digger.

 Fact

 Plumbing is one of the few lucrative job fields that offers a practical on the job work,
earn and learning model. It does not require years spent in school before you start working.

Source: Explorethetrades.org

Module Summary

At a glance, the list of equipment, tools and other
essentials required to get you started up seems costly.
However, do not let it prevent you from starting up and building your way up.
As explained, you can always start
with what you have and add on more tools, supplies and equipment as your
handyperson business grows.