Frequently Asked Questions

Send an email to info@handymanwilliam.co.uk with a description of the job and a photo or two if possible. I’ll come back to you the same working day with an honest opinion and a no-obligation written quote. For larger jobs I’ll usually come and have a look in person; the visit is free and you’re under no obligation.

All of it. I cover the 28 main Suffolk towns — from Lowestoft and Beccles in the north, through Ipswich, Felixstowe and the coastal towns, west to Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Mildenhall and Brandon, and the medieval cloth towns of Sudbury, Lavenham, Hadleigh and Clare in the south — plus the surrounding villages. The full list is on the areas page.

No call-out fee for jobs I can quote and complete on the same visit. For longer or more complex work I’ll come and look first, and that visit is free within Suffolk. There’s no minimum job size.

Most small jobs are quoted as a fixed price for the whole job rather than charged hourly. That way you know exactly what you’re paying before any work starts. For multi-job lists or longer projects I’ll quote the whole list as one fixed price. The price I quote in writing is the price you pay.

If I find something on site that genuinely changes the scope of the job, I’ll stop and talk to you before doing anything that adds to the cost. You’ll always know what you’re paying before I do extra work. Equally, if a job turns out smaller than expected, the bill goes down.

Yes, I carry £2 million of public liability insurance and I’m happy to email a copy of the certificate before any work starts. For any gas or notifiable electrical work I bring in Gas Safe and NICEIC-registered tradespeople so the right paperwork sits behind the job.

Small jobs can usually be fitted into the same week or the following week, depending on diary load. Larger projects (kitchens, bathrooms, full repaints) generally need two to four weeks of notice depending on the time of year. Spring and autumn are busier than mid-summer or January.

I work Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. Sundays are kept for family except for genuine emergencies (a broken window after a break-in, a leak that’s actively damaging a property).

Either works. For small jobs I bring everything with me. For larger projects most clients prefer to buy bigger items themselves (sanitaryware, kitchen units, paint, fencing) so they can choose colours and brands; I’m happy to give a sensible shopping list. I can also pick things up on your behalf if that’s easier — mileage and time are added to the quote in advance, not afterwards.

Bank transfer is preferred for most jobs — I’ll email an invoice with my account details once the job is finished. Cash is also fine. I don’t take card payments. Payment is due on completion of the job, except for larger projects where a small deposit may be agreed up front to cover initial materials.

Yes. All my workmanship is guaranteed for twelve months from completion. If anything I’ve installed or repaired develops a fault that I’m responsible for in that period, I’ll come back and put it right at no extra charge. That guarantee is on top of any manufacturer’s warranty on the materials themselves.

Yes. A lot of my work in Suffolk is on listed and conservation-area properties — particularly in Lavenham, Clare, Hadleigh, Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds and the coastal towns. I work sympathetically with traditional materials (lime mortar, breathable paints, traditional limewash) and I’m familiar with the listed building consent process. I’ll always tell you up front if a job needs consent rather than starting and asking later.

Not under my own certificate — I’m not Gas Safe or Part P registered, and I won’t pretend to be. For any gas work or notifiable electrical work I bring in registered tradespeople I trust and work alongside, so the certificates are right and the work is properly signed off. You only deal with one person.

Yes, regularly. I work for a number of Suffolk landlords and lettings agents on changeover repairs, small refurbs between tenancies, and ongoing maintenance. I can issue formal invoices for tax and accounting purposes.

I’m a sole trader operating below the VAT threshold, so my prices are not subject to VAT. The price I quote is the price you pay — no hidden 20% on top.