Ninety-two Karen Kuhl 4/8 '22

How do you find handymen and landscapers nowadays?

What do you use to search for them? I've had suggestions to try Facebook Marketplace, which seems like neighborhood groups of the same couple dozen people mentioning one or two names. Having tried this to find a cleaning lady, the results were less than stellar, and I'm out a hundred bucks from a woman who left halfway through what should have been a 3 hour job on a house that is not at all trashed. If she was the best out of the neighborhood group for my area, I don't trust the process. And I hate FB with a MFing passion. The lack of privacy with anything I do on there infuriates me. I don't need my second cousin, or my neighbor, knowing my business.

Whitepages doesn't seem to be a thing anymore, Craigslist is sketchy af, and I'm not paying to be pushed the company that bought the highest ranking on Angie's List. Unless that is really my only option, then let me know and I'll friggin do it.

My last guys, the last time I could afford real help, are from over 15 years ago, and a lot has changed, and they are not around anymore.

Please. I could use some advice here. Thanks.

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4/8 '22 6 Comments
In my case, I asked my next-door neighbor who does their lawn. Now he has a miniature empire of clients on our block. I'm glad because it means he only has to drive all of his stuff to one place, park it, do four lawns, invoice us, and leave, and that means that I only have to deal with lawnmower noise once a week for about an hour (nobody here has a big lawn). But, some of the folks on our block do their own or hire other people.

We used to pay $35 per cut, every other week, but one neighbor wanted hers cut weekly. So, he put his foot down and said, "there's been too much rain, everybody gets their lawn cut weekly for $25 a cut, take it or leave it." we all said fine.

I wonder if whoever's working the front desk at your local library knows anyone? Librarians seem to know everything.
Lindsay Harris Friel
The librarians are an interesting angle - especially since you have a library literally next door.
Matt Lichtenwalner
I concur. Neighbors and librarians. Also bulletin boards at local grocery stores/shops.

Also if any neighbors have responsible teens looking for work, that can be great. Pay them what you’d pay an adult, be clear with expectations, and they’ll do 10x better work—and teens are often fun company.
Anne Mollo
Well, teens are great for yard weeding and maintenance, and cleaning. I wouldn’t hire one as a handyman though.
Anne Mollo
Aside from asking neighbors or coworkers, my other thought would be whatever Reddit sub is most specific to your area.

Nextdoor (aka MyRacistNeighbor.Com) is actually pretty useful (and possibly at its least racist) for uses like that also.

CM Adams
I signed up for Nextdoor when I was staying in MD. Didn’t wind up using it very much.

They don’t have a region for my parents’ place (which is close enough that I suspect it includes Karen’s area) but it does seem like an interesting option.
Matt Lichtenwalner