FAQs

Handily is a service that allows you to video chat with home repair and improvement Pros to get your questions answered.

Video chatting with a Pro is easy.

When you have an issue around the house, come on over to Handily Appointments and book a session with a Pro who knows your area best.

You’ll receive a confirmation email, calendar invite and an SMS reminder shortly before your session. Tap the link in any of those from your phone and you’ll be connected directly with your Pro.

You’ll start by seeing your Pro and your Pro seeing you. Then, you can choose to share your back camera so that you can show your Pro exactly what is going on.

Sessions last 15 minutes. Please be respectful of your Pro’s time as they will need to wrap up the call promptly so they can take care of other customers.

If you’re not completely satisfied with your session, please reach out to us at 857-220-7311 so we can understand the issue and issue a refund no-questions-asked.

The best DIY projects will pay for themselves, not just from the savings in labor costs but because they can actually add value.

Fixing or replacing broken or worn items. An example is fixing or replacing a toilet that constantly runs. Fixing that will lower your water bill and make your showers feel stronger (because the shower is not competing for water pressure with the toilet).

Improving, updating or upgrading something. A good example is replacing old, recessed lights with LED lights. LEDs last longer, operate at a cooler temperature, and use less electricity.

There are many points throughout your DIY project where a Handily Pro can be helpful:

Planning your DIY project: before you even begin, a Handily Pro can help you plan out the project including everything from the best way to tackle, the sequencing, how long it will take and what tools and materials you should think about. They may even suggest which parts of a project to tackle yourself vs. using a professional.

After you’ve bought supplies: Once the planning is done, you’ll likely need to get some supplies, possibly including some new tools. Once that’s done, it’s another great time to call a Handily Pro to, for example, verify you have the right tools, parts and materials and to get any reminders for success. This is another good time to get any safety tips.

Midway through your project: If your project is more complex, it may take several steps and possibly occur over several days. It’s always a good idea to check in with a Handily Pro to ensure you’re on track. This is also useful when unexpected things happen (like you find an unexpected electrical wire, you find some rotten wood, or something you thought was a standard size is not).

A thousand times yes! This will allow you to share your rear camera so your Pro can see what you’re seeing. It’ll also allow you to maneuver around more easily.

Handily Pros are hand-picked experts that are deeply experienced, great at understanding your repair and DIY missions, and great at explaining things to normal humans.

Some questions you might ask are: What should I do about my leaky faucet? How do I stop my light from flickering? How do I unclog this shower drain? How do I find a stud in the wall? How do I repair drywall? How do I mount this floating shelf? Do I need a new washing machine? How do I remove that broken light bulb safely? You get the idea. If you’re thinking it, ask it.

You can also use Handily Pros to help plan your project and to help decide whether to tackle it yourself, use a professional or some blend.

Some questions you might ask are: What should I do about my leaky faucet? How do I stop my light from flickering? How do I unclog this shower drain? How do I find a stud in the wall? How do I repair drywall? How do I mount this floating shelf? Do I need a new washing machine? How do I remove that broken light bulb safely? You get the idea. If you’re thinking it, ask it.

Three tips: plan, plan and plan some more! One of the biggest hurdles with DIY jobs is not accounting for all the steps, the total time needed, and whether you can complete your project in phases vs. all at once.

For indoor projects, think about how long the job might take. If it’s more than just a few hours, think about whether disruptions to the project room will work for you, your partner and your family. Think about things like debris, paint fumes, lights that are temporarily off, water that is temporarily off, etc.

For outdoor projects, think about the impacts of weather and check the forecast. For example, you can’t caulk or paint if it’s too cold or raining.

For any type of project, think about whether you need things to protect vulnerable areas (like drop cloths) or whether you need to move things away from the immediate work area (e.g., fish tanks). Also think about clean-up and how you’ll get rid of any debris.

Many tools and materials (such as paint, stain and glue) come with instructions and safety precautions. You should follow those instructions. And it’s always a good idea to wear eye protection and gloves. Make sure the power is off before working with wiring and that the water is turned off before tackling certain plumbing projects. These are just a few simple examples.

You can also get tips on safety from your Handily Pros.