Why would I need someone for a small job if I’ve spent years tackling small jobs? It’s the big jobs the OC specifically mentioned maybe needing help with.
It’s like insurance at this point. I can probably cover 90% of the small stuff. But when the big stuff hits, I call someone.
Had a small job recently - install vent from bathroom fan to go outside. Required getting to attic, cut a hole in the wall/roof and install vent. It was too small for most companies i called. Took me 3 month to find someone and it costed 1k cad.
One thing I've found is that you have to call the right people. As tempting as it is to get a professional in the right field, you do find pretty quickly that they don't want small jobs. For that you will be much more successful if you talk to a handyman.
And being aware of how state and local laws could affect the market. Depending on municipality, only licensed tradespeople can touch electrical and plumbing, except for the homeowner, so handymen can't help with certain things.
As an example, I wanted to have a new water heater installed and replace the improper vent. When I asked plumbers for a full quote, replacing the vent added thousands of extra dollars because I would have been paying plumber rates for it. But I was able to pull a permit and replace the water heater myself, and then hire someone much less expensive than a plumber to replace the vent.
Your mileage may vary, but there could be a few steps in a multi-step process that are significantly raising the costs because the only people you can hire by law are expensive, but are also simple and legal to do yourself.
True, electrical and plumbing can be exceptions to the rule. They're also the two areas I've never had any trouble getting help with small jobs, so maybe that's why. But most any construction-related work, I've had to learn to be comfortable with a handyman for all such jobs.
It’s like insurance at this point. I can probably cover 90% of the small stuff. But when the big stuff hits, I call someone.