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Skilled Trades and Industrial

How to Become a Handyman

Whether you want to be more useful when it comes to household repairs or want to start your own home repair business, becoming a handyman requires education, preparation, and planning. Learn how to take the first steps toward becoming a handyman right here in the Student Life Blog!

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Penn Foster

A handyman is a person equipped with the skills required to handle home repairs and minor renovations, either in a professional setting or when the need arises at home. Whether you are a self-taught repairman looking to turn your hobby into a career or simply someone who would like to improve their usefulness when faced with a home repair issue, becoming a handyman requires education, preparation, and planning. Here’s how you can get started: 

  • Educate yourself. Depending on your goals, educating yourself can range from spending a few hours watching YouTube videos and reading home improvement magazines to going to school and learning a specific skilled trade. It is important to learn the proper techniques and safety protocols before trying to tackle a project for the first time. While educating yourself on simple home repairs may be as easy as watching a professional perform those tasks, there are several programs available – including those in carpentry, plumbing, and home remodeling and repair – for those looking to make a career of their handiwork.
  • Have the necessary tools. While you don’t need to break the bank stocking up at your local hardware store, having the right tools for the job is a necessity. Not sure what tools you need to get the job done? Here is a list of essential tools for any type of DIY project. 
  • Make a plan. Experimenting with new techniques and unconventional solutions might work for home vanity projects or familiarizing yourself with different tools, but professional handymen should never start a repair without drawing up a plan. Take into account how much time you will need, what tools you should have ready, and what safety precautions will be required. A few extra minutes of planning can save you a few days of trying to fix a home repair gone wrong, and in a professional setting your reputation will depend on knowing the best way to solve a problem in an efficient way. 

Regardless of whether you are looking to take up a new hobby, improve your ability to fix things around the house, or take your knack for handiwork to a professional label, education, preparation, and planning are key to becoming a handyman. If you are serious about learning a skilled trade to improve your skills around the house in your free time, consider an online program to help you get started!

Sources
Handyman Training: Becoming a Handy Man | Handyman Startup
How to Build the Essential Toolbox for Every Level of DIY | Lifehacker

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