Where to Find Affordable Help for Small Jobs
Unless you live in a new-build home with a 10-year guarantee, chances are that now and then you are going to need some household repairs. Of course you could learn to mend and repair things yourself. But if you’re not blessed with DIY skills (or need help for bigger jobs), then there are places to help, beyond big expensive companies.
Obviously get professionals in for safety jobs like plumbing, gas, electrics, roof repairs etc. For fireplace and roof repairs, read our post on fireplace safety, as it’s important not to disturb birds that may be nesting in chimneys (this post has info on how to prevent this happening).
Make use of Community TimeBanks
Some people belong to community timebanks, where skilled amateurs (and often qualified professionals) can carry out jobs for equal ‘hours of time’). They then get back other jobs in return. For instance, a qualified electrician may mend your doorbell, and earn an hour of time for someone else (or you) to house-sit his pets, while he has to visit relatives in another town.
These are such a great idea. If there is not one near you why not set one up? It only needs a few volunteers to manage the software, and means lots of ‘odd jobs around town’ can get done quickly, within communities.
Employ self-employed handypeople online
Obviously do your research, and check for insurance and reviews. But there are a few reputable websites where handymen (or women) carry out small jobs at affordable prices: Try Airtasker orTaskrabbit.
You can usually find people to do the following:
- Furniture assembly (flat-pack nightmares solved)
- Gardening (ensure it’s pet-friendly and wildlife-friendly)
- Cleaning (choose biodegradable cleaning brands)
- Minor repairs (fixing shelves, mending fences)
- Moving help (lifting boxes, shifting furniture inside homes)
- Rubbish removal (small clear-outs or tip runs)
- Gutter cleaning (saving you a climb up the ladder)
Set up a NextDoor account
Nextdoor is like a local Facebook, where you can set a boundary and then local people can post online (from lost pets to DIY jobs to litter clean-ups).
Age UK’s handyperson service
Age UK offers a handyman service, just enter your postcode to find trustworthy affordable people to help with:
- Putting up curtain rails, shelves & pictures
- Fixing smoke & carbon dioxide alarms
- Fixing grab rails
- Fixing door/window locks & chains/viewers
- Installing radiator boosters & draught excluders
- Installing energy-efficient lightbulbs.
More services provided by Age UK
If you’ve ever passed an AGE UK charity shop and wondered what it does, this post can tell you. By the way, it does not test on animals, so it’s okay to shop there! In fact, the charity Age UK (nothing to do with government), offers a suite of services that is more helpful than government:
- A phone helpline (some people have had income rise by over £100 a week, after one phone call).
- A free Silver Line helpline where older people can receive calls from chatty volunteers (including ‘conference calls’ which involve other elders, to make new friends).
- An in-person volunteer befriending service.
- Over 80 trained workers, to offer in-home footcare
Proof that often it’s private charities and organisations, that do the work better than governments and councils can. If you know anyone who could use their help, do mention Age UK if they could benefit.
This also has a knock-on effect on reducing NHS costs. Because older people who are eating well in warm homes, who have friendships and access to local support, tend to be healthier both physically and mentally. And results in less stays in hospitals, and long-term stays in residential and nursing homes.
Adapt My Home (possible grants)
Adapt My Home is an online free self-assessment tool. If you qualify, you may be eligible for grants to help with:
- Ramps, stairlifts & floor lifts
- Ceiling track hoists & wider doors
- Walk-in showers & accessible toilets
- Accessible kitchen facilities & lower tables
- Improved heating & accessible controls
- Safety features & security lights
Extra Help (for little jobs and walking dogs!)
Extra Help is a nationwide franchise, where people help older people with little household jobs, and other things like walking dogs. It was set up by the ambassador for the British Franchise Association, and offers reference-checked staff to help also parents and anyone who needs a little extra help.
Services offered include:
- Small maintenance jobs (furniture, fixing leaky taps)
- Dog walking (read about volunteer dog walkers)
- Shopping (take a list or take you with them!)
- Providing company and ‘senior sitting’
- Helping with meal preparation
- Helping with parties (no balloons, to help turtles!)
- Transport (for appointments or outings)
- Help for homework and during school holidays
- Cleaning, tidying and ironing
- Gardening (read about pet-friendly gardens)
