Set the Scope for your Handyman Project

So you have a need or a vision of Home Improvement Project in Conroe or The Woodlands, Texas. Before you call Baldy the Handyman, you need to be sure that you are clear on the scope of work.

The SCOPE OF WORK, is a clear instruction list of what you want done. It is the details behind “I want to redo the bathroom.” These details cover the exact work to be done, including materials, fixtures, plans, timing, etc. These details need to be defined in order to receive a clear and accurate estimate and to ensure you and Baldy are on the same page. The clearer the detail, the clearer the communication.



Obviously, not all details will be known initially, and indeed options may lead to decisions and different scopes.

Even for simple projects, it is good to have a clear idea of what you want done. Take this image.

It could be misleading to send this picture to Baldy and say “Fix this.” Where as if you communicate “I need the scrapes on the door and trim repaired and the paint matching. It’s a wood door – can it be repaired? Or is better to replace? Can we match the trim paint? And don’t worry about the drywall damage right now.” With this kind of communication, Blady has a much clearer idea of how to respond with a concise estimate with clearly laid out options.

It’s also great to have some ideas in your head before the call. Examples:

• “If the door cannot be repaired nicely, I see a similar door on sale for $200. Though I’d like to upgrade to a nicer door for $400 that I saw at the store.”

• “It is a rental property so I want to keep costs and options the lowest possible in favor of new and nice.”

• “I have (Don’t have) matching paint” This anticipates obvious questions.

What if the scope exceeds budget. Now what?



If Baldy makes an estimate that exceeds your budget, it’s time to negotiate. Please don’t just ask for a discount. He operates on very low margins; you’d be asking him to lose money. Instead, ask questions about how to adjust the scope to fit your budget. You might get some surprising and imaginative ideas. Baldy is great at coming up with alternatives to meet your needs. A remodeling rule of thumb: The more rigid your budget, the more flexible your scope should be.

Good luck Scoping