Homo Habilis Handyman Service

I’ve had Neal out to my house five times and each time he was great. He’s done plumbing and carpentry. He finds solutions to odd problems, he’s efficient and easy to communicate with. I highly recommend him.

Neal is great. I’ve had him come out three times – the first when I needed some kitchen cabinets cut down to make way for a new fridge, then when I needed a window pane replaced, and again when a rental property we own in SF also needed a window replaced. Neal always found a way to do the job quickly, reasonably and well (the latter is crucial – who wants a handyman who leaves things a mess?) and he was always on time and pleasant to chat with. Five stars!

On his most recent visit of 4 hours, Neal earthquake-​proofed my bookcases, televisions and computer, fixed an air-​vent for my dryer, replaced faucet washers, secured the broken base of my bed’s wooden frame, re-​varnished scratches on my wooden floors, and restored the arm of a classic ‘50s desk chair.
Though his hourly rate ($ 60) is higher than some others who advertise on Craigslist (where I was lucky enough to find him), it only partially reflects a lightning-​quick ability to assess and solve any problem I’ve ever given him. (For instance, the repair of the chair had been estimated by the decorator who’d bought it for me as likely to cost $ 200. Neal had looked at it on his previous visit, brought some widget with him the next time he came, and restored it in ten minutes.) On that earlier visit, he’d solved a plumbing problem deep below my ancient kitchen sink, re-​strung wiring to a tv and lighting fixtures, and vermin-​proofed the apartment.
(These are only the highlights I remember, all accomplished within 6 hours. Since I’m the un-​handiest guy I’ve ever known, all the while I kept throwing him all the things I don’t understand, like re-​setting the little function monitor of my electric toothbrush, or hanging paintings with minimum damage to my walls.) He’s unobtrusive but pleasant to have around. For those who read Kerouac, it’s an added plus to name-​drop that one’s handyman is Neal Cassady.