FAQ's

"Have a question? Stan has the answer."

FAQs2021-05-01T14:54:31-04:00
Do you work on rental properties?2021-05-01T14:54:49-04:00

I do not work on rental properties since I do not have WSIB insurance.  WSIB considers any rental property commercial and you are required to hire someone with WSIB insurance. This is for your own protection. If someone gets injured on your property you could be liable for their medical expenses and you would be fined for hiring someone who does not have WSIB insurance. If you have rental properties, when you hire someone you should ask them for their WSIB number.

I am not required to have WSIB insurance as long as I do not work on rental properties and I do not hire anyone. The reason I do not have WSIB insurance is that as the business owner I would not be able to collect any compensation from WSIB if I got injured when I did work on rental properties. I have no intention in hiring anyone so I would be paying an expensive premium for nothing. The chance of me being injured doing the type of work that I do are slim but if I am caught doing work on rental properties without WSIB I could be fined.

The other reason is that WSIB premiums are based on your total book of business. If 10% my business is rental properties I would have to put my rates up for everyone to cover a cost that I don’t need for 90% of my business.
Also with commercial properties, you are not meeting the person who will be paying the bill and it takes more of my time to submit the bill and get paid. Many commercial clients pay in 30 to 90 days and I would have the worry of getting paid.

I prefer to be dealing with the person who I am working for I do the work, they are happy with what I have done and they pay me. I don’t need to be emailing, playing telephone tag and keeping track of who still owes me for work I have done.

Do you do plumbing?2018-01-04T14:02:34-05:00

Handyman Plumbing Services.

Yes, I can do plumbing. If you have a plumbing problem I can help. I can fix or replace your leaking tap, fix or replace your toilet and clear your drains. Replace your vanity and install your new dishwasher.
New plumbing requires a licensed plumber.

Do you do electrical work?2018-01-04T13:50:48-05:00

Electrical Work

I am a Handyman, therefore, I can only do electrical work in my own house. You have to hire an electrical contractor to do any electrical work in your house. Changing a light switch or a light fixture requires an electrician. Any new electrical work requires a permit and only the homeowner or an electrical contractor can get a permit. No one is allowed to work on someone else,s permit.

Will you do the job for cash?2021-05-01T14:54:49-04:00

You want an honest person who you can trust to work on your house so don’t ask me to be dishonest with the government.I am a man of integrity. That means I do that what is right even though I am not being watched. I have principles that I live my life by and I will not go against my principles just to get a job and make a quick dollar.

There are significant risks if I accept cash for the job without reporting it as income.

Contractors caught not reporting cash income face serious consequences, such as penalties, court fines, and even jail time, in addition to having to pay the taxes they are trying to evade, plus interest.

You may think you are getting a deal by paying cash and avoiding taxes, but it can leave you with no warranty, no recourse for poor workmanship, and the added risk of liability if an injury takes place on your property.

As a member of the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals (ACHP) I have committed to run my business according to the standards set out by the association. Being a member is a mark of excellence and accomplishment. I will not risk losing my membership in ACHP by working for cash under the table.

How do I schedule a handyman an appointment?2017-03-06T02:10:39-05:00

To schedule a handyman appointment fill out a service request on our contact page or call 905 818 1162 or e-mail theancasterhandyman@gmail.com leave your name, location, contact information and a description of the project and Stan will call you back as soon as possible to schedule your appointment

Do you provide free estimates?2017-03-06T02:11:36-05:00

I do free estimates on the telephone. When you call we will discuss jobs on your list and I will give you an estimate of how long I think it will take. I am a fast worker and accomplish a lot in the time but free estimates are just an estimate.

I can not justify the time to come and look at the work you want done if it is only a few hours work. If you want my advice on a project there will be a $75 consulting fee.

The cheapest way to hire a handyman is to pay time plus materials. I come and do the work you want done and you pay for the time it takes. If you want to add jobs to the list while I am there that is not a problem.

A fixed price quotes will be more expensive because I have to come and look at the job to see what all is involved estimate enough time to cover any and all problems I might run into and price out all the material required. I also have to include some money to cover my time doing the quote. If I do not run into any problems, it may take less time than I estimated, but you will still pay the fixed price you had agreed upon.

Who is sent to my home to do the repair work?2021-05-01T14:54:49-04:00

Stan McCall The Ancaster Handyman, The man you can trust with all of your home repairs. I do not send some low paid unskilled person to your home to do your repair work. I will show up at your home at the agreed upon time with my van and all the tools to do the repair work. I have many years of experience doing home repairs and there is not much that I have not done before.  For more information about Stan and his qualifications click here.

Who provides the material for handyman jobs ?2017-03-06T02:20:48-05:00

While I am happy to provide the material for handyman jobs it is better and cheaper if you provide the materials yourself. I can provide the material however I will have to charge you an hour to cover my shopping time, delivery and fuel. If it is too big a load for me to bring in my van then you will have to pay for the lumber store to deliver it.

I do have some basic things in my van like screws, wall anchors and calking. If you can send me pictures and a list of what you want me to do I will endeavor to bring all of the material with me however there is no guarantee that I will have everything to your liking.  If I have to leave the job site to go and get material you will have to pay my hourly rate for that shopping trip and the cost of the material.

If there is a problem with defective material I will return it but you are paying for all of my time to replace the parts. I do not mark up material to cover these costs. I am just doing shopping on your behalf.

Is there a minimum charge?2019-02-06T15:05:03-05:00

The minimum charge is $113 including tax.

Do you Guarantee your Handyman work?2021-05-01T14:54:49-04:00

I have the utmost confidence in my work so all the work I do has my personal guarantee. I will make one return visit to investigate any claim of defective craftsmanship within a reasonable time.

Material or items that have their own manufacturer’s warranty must be followed by the specifications of the manufacturer. The customer is responsible for keeping purchase receipts, and any other documentation that may be needed for the manufacturer’s warranty.

If any work, material, or items under warranty are tampered with by any other person besides The Ancaster Handyman warranty is void.

If a customer has any concerns or questions, they are to contact The Ancaster Handyman immediately.

You do not make final payment until the work is completed and you are satisfied.  By paying the full amount on the invoice, you confirm that you are 100% satisfied with the installation, repair or services performed by The Ancaster Handyman.

I do not warranty parts and material. I purchase material for you and do not mark up my material costs to cover replacing defective parts. If parts are defective I will replace them for you but there will be a charge for my time.

What are your Business Hours?2017-03-06T02:25:05-05:00

Normal business hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. If there is an emergency or special circumstances other arrangements can be made so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

How do I pay for The Handyman Services?2019-02-06T13:01:52-05:00

Full payment is required on the same day the job is completed.

If there are jobs require multiple visits over more than one week then I will do an itemized invoice on the Friday for the time and material spent that week and another itemized invoice when the work is complete.
By paying the full amount on the invoice, you confirm that you are 100% satisfied with the installation, repair or services performed by The Ancaster Handyman. When I write up an invoice itemizing the time and material used you can pay by check, cash or electronic transfer.

Check Policy

By using a check for payment, you agree to the following terms: In the event, your check is dishonoured or returned for any reason, you authorize us to electronically re-present the check to your bank account for the collection of the amount of the check. You will also be invoiced a return check fee of $30.00.

Late Payment

Accounts not paid within 2 days of the date of the final invoice are subject to a $30.00 fee.

Collections

Accounts not paid after 30 days will be forwarded to collections and maybe report to the credit bureau.

What is ACHP?2017-03-06T02:28:23-05:00

The Association of Certified Handyman Professionals (ACHP) is a not-for-profit organization with the purpose and vision to improve an unregulated handyman industry. Members must pass an exam and commit to run their business according to the standards set out by the association. Being a member is a mark of excellence and accomplishment. It demonstrates that you have the necessary knowledge to finish whatever jobs come up and proves your success and reliability as a competent professional.

How much do you charge?2021-05-01T14:54:49-04:00

Everyone wants to know how much it is going to cost, how much do you charge?

I work on an hourly basis and charge $75 per hr.  plus material and taxes. If I am picking up material for you I charge an hour to help cover my shopping time. For normal supplies that I carry in the van, there is a 30% mark up to cover my costs. The clock starts when I arrive in your driveway and stops when my tools are loaded back into my van.

My minimum charge is $113 including tax.

For handyman service work in Ancaster, there is no trip charge but for handyman service work outside of Ancaster, there is an additional $35 trip charge.

If you can give me a list of the jobs you need to be done and some pictures I will endeavour to bring the material required with me and give you an estimate of how long I think it will take. I don’t give fixed price quotes because it is the most economical for you that I work on an hourly basis. To give a fixed price for home repair projects I would have to charge enough to cover all unforeseen problems that I might run into in repairing your home.  I would also have to include the cost of a day driving around giving quotes for jobs that I might not get. You could end up paying for time not worked if the job goes smoothly. If there are unforeseen problems I might end up going over the time I had estimated for the job. I don’t like charging for the time I am not working and I don’t like working for the time I am not being paid for.

You just pay for the time it takes that way we are both happy and I don’t take shortcuts to meet a budgeted time. When someone gives you a fixed price and their price is high they usually don’t get the job. When their price is low because they have underestimated how long it will take the client does not tell them their price is low but schedules an appointment immediately. Now they are going to be looking for ways to get the job done within budget. That is not how I work. I will not take on a job if I can’t do it right.

If I have to make a special trip to the store to complete a job the clock is still ticking.

For the time over the first hour, I charge by the half-hour.

So to answer the question How much do you charge? I charge for the time it takes to do the job right.

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