Professional Handyman As A Trade?

 Is a professional handyman a trade?  There are those who might say no.  There are those who will say yes.  But, why say no?

The biggest issue, in my thinking, is the vague definition of what a professional handyman is.  Where do they fit in in the spectrum of skilled trades?

For anyone who thinks that it isn't a skilled trade, I think they are confusing an amateur to a professional.   What is sometimes referred to as a "Chuck in a Truck".  This is the person who has learned how to do a few things and is basically looking to make a buck with no risk as a professional. 

So then, what is a "Professional" handyman?   What separates the two? The big three definers of a professional,  in anything really, are; training, ethics, and "professionalism."

Training.  This is a combination of education and guided experience.    This is not just being self taught.   While being self taught in anything isn't necessarily a bad or wrong thing.  In fact, it's to be commended.   But being self taught in a professional field really should only be seen as a stepping off point or beginning. 

With training on tools, techniques,  methodology,  and the mechanics and physics of how these things work and work together, you have a much more complete knowledge than just casual self teaching usually provides.

Ethics.  You have to believe in doing right by people.  All people.  If you don't operate by a set of ethics, you're not really a professional,  it's that simple.  There's a code of not taking unfair advantage of people.  Of providing a certain higher quality level of service because you take pride in your work.

Too often, there is this idea that being ethical and providing high quality service means bending over backwards for self entitled, hyper privileged,  and inappreciative customers.  No.  That's not the same thing. At all.  But going above and beyond in taking care of details and making sure the customer is reasonably satisfied in the end results, now you're on the right track.

Finally, professionalism.   Conducting oneself in a way that communicates concern with getting things done right, ethics, showing that you take what you do seriously.  It's reflected in how you dress for what you do.  How you treat others be they customers, coworkers, employees, even people who just happen to be around.

A handyman is mostly a one person operation. They are owner, sales rep, site foreman, and worker all rolled into one body.  Sometimes there is one or more assistants.  

The area of work we fill is not primarily as a new builder, though we may do some of that.  It's not a renovator or rebuilder, though we may do some of that.  The professional handyman is a fixer for the most part.  We come in to fix or repair minor structural issues, minor electrical or plumbing issues, and to add to or improve the environment.   

We install, assemble, and configure all sorts of things to a standard and quality of more than just "good enough." We make sure it's done right.

That means we observe local building codes. We take the property owner or resident's (or both in many cases) expectations and intentions as the ultimate goal for the project.  Improving and expanding on it as is required,  necessary and that fits into their reasonable constraints.

Here's one that fits both the ethical AND professionalism areas.  A professional handyman stays in their lane.  We do NOT do work we are not licensed,  qualified, or capable of doing.  We pass that work on to those who are licensed, qualified, and capable.  And we are glad to do it.  It's a reflection of us being honest with the customer and with ourselves. 

So I am going to say, with the above description and definitions, that yes, the professional handyman is a tradesperson.   We do have a niche that we uniquely fill. But it's up to us to demonstrate and be the example of if we are ever going to to distinguish ourselves as such.