How North Van Handyman Works: Our Process Step by Step
See how North Van Handyman handles a job from your first call to final walkthrough, with real timelines, pricing, and quality checks.
Our process at North Van Handyman runs in five stages: first call, on-site scope, written quote, scheduled work, and final walkthrough. Founded in 2018 and based off Lonsdale Avenue, we handle small repairs to full renovations across the North Shore. Most jobs are booked within 48 hours, and quotes are flat-rate, not guesswork.
What happens on the first call?
The first call takes about ten minutes. We ask three things: what's broken or being built, when you need it done, and whether you own or rent the property. Renters need landlord sign-off before we schedule anything structural, and that trips up more bookings than you'd think.
We won't quote a price over the phone for anything larger than a tap swap or a door adjustment. Photos help, but they lie. A wall that looks like drywall on your phone can turn out to be lath and plaster from 1954, and that changes everything about how we anchor a shelf into it.
Small jobs (under an hour) start at $95 flat. Anything larger gets a free site visit, usually within two business days. If you're comparing us, the questions worth asking a contractor are the same ones we'd want you to ask us.
How do we scope and quote a job?
On site, we measure, photograph, and note anything that could go wrong. Then we send a written quote by email within 24 hours, broken into labour, materials, and a contingency line if we've flagged unknowns behind a wall or under a floor.
Here's a comparison of how we quote three common job types:
| Job type | Typical quote turnaround | Deposit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small repair (<2 hrs) | Same day, verbal | None | Leaky taps, sticky doors, TV mounts |
| Half-day to full-day | 24 hours, written | 25% | Fence panels, trim, shelving units |
| Multi-day renovation | 3-5 days, written | 30% | Bathrooms, decks, basement work |
Most people ask first about price. That's the wrong first question. Ask about the failure rate, because a $200 fix that fails in six months costs more than a $400 fix that lasts ten years. Roughly 20-25% of general contractor complaints in BC involve workmanship disputes, according to Consumer Protection BC data [1], and almost all of those trace back to a vague scope on day one.
What does the actual workday look like?
We show up when we said we would. That sounds obvious. It isn't, in this trade.
A typical day at North Van Handyman looks like this:
- We arrive within a 30-minute window, not a four-hour "morning slot" that wastes your day.
- We lay down drop cloths and set up a contained work zone before any tool comes out.
- We photograph the starting condition of the area, especially floors and adjacent walls.
- We check in at the halfway point if anything unexpected has come up, so you're not surprised by a change order.
- We clean up daily, not just at the end. Sawdust doesn't sit overnight.
- We haul away debris on the final day, included in the quote unless it's drywall or tile over 200 kg.
Last March, a homeowner on East 19th Street called us for what she thought was a simple vanity swap. Two hours in, we found a slow supply-line leak behind the drywall that had been feeding mould for probably 18 months. We stopped, showed her, sent photos, and gave her a revised quote before touching another screw. That's the check-in rule doing its job.
When is the job actually finished?
A job is finished when you've walked through it with us and signed off, not when we've packed the van. We do a punch-list walk at the end of every project over half a day. You point at anything that looks off. We fix it before invoicing.
Our workmanship warranty runs 12 months on labour, which matches or beats what WorkSafeBC-registered contractors typically offer on residential work [2]. Manufacturer warranties on materials pass through to you directly.
Want to see more of how we operate? Read our welcome post for the short version of who we are and what we won't do.
FAQ
How quickly can you start a job?
Most small repairs get scheduled within 48 hours of your first call. Larger projects depend on materials and permits, but we'll give you a realistic start date in the written quote, not a hopeful one. Emergency call-outs (burst pipe, broken lock) get same-day response when we have crew available.
Do you charge for quotes?
No. Site visits and written quotes are free for any job over $200. For very small repairs we'll quote verbally on the first call and confirm by text before starting. You're never charged for us showing up to look.
What areas do you cover?
We work across the North Shore: North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Deep Cove, Lynn Valley, and Lions Bay. Jobs outside this area get a travel surcharge quoted upfront. We don't cross the bridge for jobs under a full day, it just isn't fair to the client on cost.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We carry $2 million liability insurance and are registered with WorkSafeBC. Certificates are available on request before any deposit is paid. For structural or electrical work beyond our scope, we bring in licensed trades and coordinate the schedule so you deal with one point of contact.