Think twice before buying that daily deals voucher; a little research might yield a much lower price than that “bargain” through an online service like Groupon. According to a new report, Groupon’s supposedly discounted offers — especially for local services such as maid service, home repair or house painting — can be just as expensive as hiring a local laborer yourself. Thumbtack is an online marketplace for local services, a sort of well-designed and narrowed-down version of Craigslist that lets normal folks get bids from and hire contractors. In a case study, Thumbtack found that the prices offered by Groupon in particular often don’t reflect a true discount. For example, Groupon recently offered a voucher for housecleaning service in Phoenix at a supposedly discounted rate of $24.50. Groupon claimed that the normal hourly rate for the service was $75; however, Thumbtack says (and local Craigslist ads seem to confirm) that the average hourly rate for housecleaning in Phoenix is closer to $23.50.

In this case and in several others, which we’ll detail below, Groupon’s “discounts” are actually more expensive than hiring a contractor through normal channels. So what’s the value proposition for consumers? “Buying a deal in your inbox is easier than shopping around,” said Thumbtack co-founder Sander Daniels. “We think that people buy daily deals for local services because they’re not aware of other ways to easily find a good deal.” Already, we know that daily deals are sometimes not so great for small or medium-sized local businesses. Yelp cut back its daily deals program due in large part to the fact that “daily deals are uneconomic for [many businesses in popular verticals], which does raise questions around the sustainability of “50% off” daily deals for these types of businesses,” according to CEO Jeremy Stoppelman. And a recent Rice University study showed that around a third of merchants said their forays into daily dealing had been unprofitable.

In fact, the only way a 50-percent-off deal voucher would be profitable for a business is if the business was able to acquire new customers. But based on Thumbtack’s data, the only way buying a deal voucher would be profitable for a customer is if the customer was already a regular purchaser of the good or service in question or was planning to make the purchase anyhow. In other words, it is highly likely that in many voucher purchase situations, no one wins. Let’s take a closer look at some of Thumbtack’s data, which comes from the site’s database of 200,000 local businesses and hourly rates from 80,000 professionals in markets all around the country. The Phoenix housecleaning deal (a $24.50-per-hour Groupon voucher for a service that might normally cost $23.50 per hour) is just one example Thumbtack found of daily un-deals. Thumbtack also found a voucher for $79 for two hours of handyman services in Seattle. The discount was said to be 64 percent, with the regular price of service being around $220.

However, of the 57 handymen advertising their services on Thumbtack, the same amount of work would have added up to about $84. The rates we found for the same service in the same area were even cheaper, inexpensive enough to make Groupon’s “deal” seem laughable.businesses for sale inverloch victoria This scenario repeats itself regularly in Thumbtack’s research. davis handyman and home servicesTwo hours of maid service for $45 in Chicago; business for sale whangaparaoathe actual cost of normal Chicago maid service is $20 per hour, or $40 for two hours. handyman services california md

Two hours of handyman services for $75 in Houston; the average local rate is $27.50 per hour or $55 for two hours. Around 11 percent of daily deal offers are for local services — things like wedding planning, handyman services, photography or housecleaning that are generally performed by a local contractor. business for sale suwaneeBut with “deals” like these, who needs rip-offs?handyman services bend or “We think the daily deal fad won’t survive very long in our neck of the woods because consumers are finding that lots of deals for house cleaners, painters and the like aren’t really deals at all,” said Daniels. Also, Daniels noted that when consumers are really in a buying frame of mind for local services, they’re more likely to use Craiglist, Google or Yelp to find a contractor than to wait for a Groupon email to show up in their inbox.

Welcome to Mr. Handyman of Fairfax and Eastern Loudoun Counties, commonly known as Mr. Handyman. We are home improvement professionals!A handyman typically has experience in a number of trades and offers a wide range of home improvement, maintenance, and repair services. This versatility often earns a handyman the reputation of a “jack of all trades” or someone who takes on “odd jobs.” This lack of specialization does not necessarily represent a lack of skill or training, though. Many handymen have several years of experience in construction fields or carry licenses to perform plumbing, electrical, or other specialized work, but choose to offer a broader range of services and take on small and diverse jobs. A handyman is a good choice to complete a small job or a number of unrelated tasks around the house that don’t take a lot of time on their own, such as repairing a leaky faucet, changing out a light fixture, making small carpentry repairs, and taking care of the prep work for a larger job.

Handymen also fill the gaps when there isn’t a specialized pro available for jobs like hanging a mirror, assembling furniture, and installing cabinet hardware. Many handymen take on larger jobs too, such as painting, flooring installations, deck building, and interior renovations. A handyman is the pro to choose when you have a quick project or repair to complete, or a small-scale job that requires just a single worker or a very small crew. Handymen are typically hands-on, and complete the work on their own or with a single helper, rather than subcontract the work to other providers. If you are updating a single room or have a small repair or installation project, a handyman will probably be a good fit. Contractors, on the other hand, are usually better suited for larger jobs that require work in several trades or that call for a large crew to keep the project on schedule. Many contractors perform a lot of their work themselves, but typically have a crew to keep busy and subcontract or “sub-out” some of the work to specialists, such as plumbers, painters, roofers, electricians, and mechanical contractors.

One of a contractor’s most important jobs is to handle the logistics and coordinate every aspect of a project, from securing permits to ordering materials and scheduling subcontractors. If your project is a big one, like a whole-house remodel or building a room addition, a general contractor is well-equipped to manage the whole job. Since handymen take on a variety of jobs and work alone or with a small crew, it is often more cost-effective to hire a handyman than a general or trade-specific contractor who has a higher overhead and charges more for similar services. Handymen also tend to have more flexible scheduling than contractors. Since they typically work on short-term projects, you can probably schedule your job sooner than if you had to wait for a contractor or specialist who had a large-scale project to complete before they could get to you. Since handymen are so versatile, hiring one is also a convenient way to complete a number of jobs around the house in one shot.

Many handymen charge by the hour no matter what type of work you need to have done, so it can be simple and affordable to take care of your To-Do list all at once, rather than lining up a variety of specialists--all of which may charge a minimum fee, even if the work takes just a few minutes. The skill level and expertise of your handyman will reflect directly on the work he does on your home. If you hire a less-than-professional handyman who doesn’t know which side of the hammer to hold, you may end up with a home improvement project that costs you more money in the long run because it detracts from your home’s value and forces you to redo the work. Your home may be your most significant investment, protect it by hiring a great handyman with top-notch experience instead of one who lacks skills and expertise. Finding a great handyman will likely require interviewing more than one. Through the interview process, you will likely be able to cross a few off your list simply because they don’t meet your basic qualifications, such as having high prices or lacking experience.

Once you have a short list of handymen, it’s time to dig a little deeper to ensure that the professional you hire has an impeccable reputation and a solid work history. A good handyman has the skills necessary to complete the work you need. Some handymen might have general and all-purpose experience and skills, making them suitable for many different home improvement tasks and projects. Other handymen might have specialized skills that make them a better choice for plumbing or electrical work. In any case, a good handyman will have a solid background in residential construction, renovation, or repairs. A good handyman will need to have access to all the tools needed to complete the job. In some cases, a pro may need to rent a specialized tool or equipment to overcome access issues or handle an uncommon task, but if a handyman advertises his abilities and expertise to perform the work you need, he should have every basic tool necessary to do the work. Good handymen will exhibit reliable behavior, arriving promptly at an appointment to discuss the job.

They will pay close attention to the details you provide, taking notes to enable them to remember all information. Good handymen will show a quiet confidence in their skills without appearing overbearing or pushy, and will carry any relevant licenses and insurance required by your state. There may be some signs that you’re considering a bad handyman. Recognize signs of a bad handyman before you hire one to save yourself headaches. For best results, hire a handyman with several years of experience. Although you may be able to save some money hiring a less experienced handyman, this poses some risks. A novice handyman won’t have the same level of experience and expertise to bring to a home improvement project. Other signs of a bad handyman include one who shows up to an appointment late or who does not conduct himself professionally as you speak with him. Handymen should be able to articulate their experiences to help give you a complete idea of their qualifications and why you should hire them.

Not all states require a license to operate as a handyman, but be wary of any provider who cannot produce proof of liability insurance and any licensing that is required where you live. Most handymen offer a wide variety of services, but some of their most common projects include carpentry and repair work. Most handymen are very versatile and can handle a wide range of projects, from repairing a sprinkler system, installing appliances, or hanging drapes to replacing a garbage disposal, installing weatherstripping, fixing window screens, and servicing a garage door. Handymen typically charge by the hour for their services, and though labor rates vary by location, it’s common for these pros to charge $25 to $40 per hour. Like other types of pros, some handymen charge a minimum fee for each visit that may be equal to two or three hours’ worth of labor, or may have set fees for common tasks that are fairly predictable. In most cases it is cost-effective to have a handyman take care of several tasks at one time, rather than make multiple visits.