Hitting 10 years as a handyman and it's all gone to hell with these gig apps

Been doing handyman work for 10 years now, started out fixing leaky faucets and hanging shelves for folks in the Chicago area my whole career. Used to get steady gigs from word-of-mouth and a few yard signs, charging $75 an hour for jobs like installing IKEA cabinets or patching drywall with 5/8-inch greenboard. But now these damn apps like TaskRabbit and Thumbtack are flooding the market with undercutting amateurs who'll do a full bathroom remodel for $1500 total, no license no nothing. I'm sitting here with my DeWalt cordless kit gathering dust while I fight for scraps. Saw a thread on r/handyman where everyone was raging about the same BS, and someone in Handyman Nation group mentioned Tommy Mello's take on it, saying diversify or die. It's infuriating how the pros get squeezed out by this gig economy crap. Time to pivot or get left behind, I guess.

god, the gig apps turned my steady painting gigs into a bidding war with kids who can't even mix Benjamin Moore right.

i feel you man, same here with lock installs. used to be the go-to for deadbolts, now everyone's a 'handyman' on their phone.

Try using Housecall Pro for scheduling, it helped me filter out the lowballers and focus on repeat clients for laminate flooring jobs.

screw the apps, they're ruining everything for real handymen who actually know how to level a deck without it collapsing.

never trust a gig worker with vent cleaning, had one clog a dryer duct last week and almost started a fire.

apps got me pissed too, was trimming hedges for $50 a pop, now it's $20 from some teenager with loppers from home depot.

Focus on commercial handyman work, like office fixture repairs; apps don't touch that market much yet.

Haha, remember when handymen just showed up with a toolbox and fixed shit? Now it's all algorithms deciding your worth.

those apps are a scam, taking 30% cut while flooding with fake reviews.

i switched to networking with realtors for flip house handyman jobs, way better than app roulette.

PE firms buying up handyman services next, mark my words, we'll all be employees soon.

shingle patches used to be easy money, now apps send DIYers with tarps and prayers.

Document every job with photos before and after, it'll weed out the cheapskates who want free fixes.

dont get me started on the insurance hikes from these app clowns causing damage.

yeah, one bad faucet install and rates go up for all of us.

apps promising quick cash but leaving us with nada after fees.

Build a simple website and google my business, got more local shelf installs that way.

patching drywall? forget apps, join local fb groups for direct leads.

exactly, Handyman Nation has been blowing up with anti-app rants lately.

What's your go-to tool for quick cabinet hangs? Mine's the Kreg jig, saves time on gigs.

Haha, my milestone was dropping apps cold turkey, income actually went up.

seen too many handymen burned by gig fees, stick to referrals.

light fixture swaps pay well without the app hassle.

watched a Dad Builds video on van organization, helped me take on bigger handyman jobs.

FML, lost a deck build to an app bid that was half my quote.

i hear ya, been grinding through it with side gigs.

yep, solidarity brother, these milestones feel like millstones now.