Projects

Our Process

Thinking about working with us? Please keep the following guidelines in mind.

Project request guidelines:

I do not generally do on-site assessments unless it is a larger or more complex project, so please provide as many details in your request as possible.
I have limited availability for jobs less than 4 hours in duration; if possible, please bundle jobs to be at least 4 hours in duration.
I'd love to redo your bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, etc. in late September/ early October - if this is you, get at me ASAP!
I'm totally here for a practical project like drywall repair, but also love a fun and creative project!

Submitting a request:

Whether you know what you want and about how long it will take, or just have an idea and want to talk it through: Submit a job request form with as many details about your project as possible and your desired sliding scale rate. (What's a sliding scale?)
Our team will respond within a few days (usually on Thursday or Friday) either requesting more information or sharing a quote.
Approve the quote, approve date/time, and pay 30% non-refundable deposit. Then you will receive a booking confirmation.

Job Day:

You will receive an ETA update when we are on our way.
We will walk through the job process with you, making note of any supplies that need to be purchased.
We make a supply run and then complete the project.

Payment:

Invoices are generally sent from the job site upon job completion.
Payment is due upon job completion and can be made via cash, credit/debit card, or Venmo. Tips are appreciated and can be made through the payment app!

Full terms and conditions for working with us can be found here and at the bottom of your quote.

Past Work

What's a sliding scale?

In keeping with our mission of providing affordable services to community members, we offer a "sliding scale" of service pricing. The idea is that the cost of the service is proportionate to a client's means: clients with greater means pay a higher rate, which helps subsidize services for clients with less means who pay a lower rate. You may indicate your desired rate in the request form; there is no income verification - it's purely an honor system. Please keep in mind that in order for this model to be sustainable, there must be clients at all price points and scheduling will be done accordingly.

Full Terms and Conditions (as of August 12, 2024):

Quotes are valid for 30 days, after which values may be subject to change. By signing a quote, you agree to pay the final invoice upon receipt, and acknowledge it may differ from the quote provided (+/- 20%). Changes in cost and scope will require a revised quote which should be signed before additional work is done or materials are purchased.

Deposits:

Deposits are non-refundable in accordance with local requirements. Please notify us of a cancelation or rescheduling request within 48 hours of the scheduled start time. Jobs must be rescheduled within 30 days of the original start date, dependent on contractor availability. If a job is not rescheduled during that time frame, the deposit is forfeited.

Existing conditions (Renovations):
In renovation work, it is impossible to know all existing conditions. Should I run into an existing condition that changes the scope of my work, I will contact you regarding those changes and discuss how to proceed. Discovery of new elements not explicitly stated in the agreed-upon scope of work will result in a change order that will need to be signed in Jobber before work can proceed.

Job site access:
On work days, I require guaranteed access between the hours of 9am and 5pm, unless otherwise agreed. Guaranteed access may take the form of sharing a keypad code, a physical key, leaving the door unlocked, access through a back door, or something else.

Markup Disclosure:
Materials are marked up at 25% and subcontractors are marked up at 20%. These markups are included in the cost indicated on quotes and invoices.

Safety:
The safety and comfort of our Handy Humans is of utmost importance. Our team members reserve the right to cancel a job if they feel unsafe or disrespected in any way, at any time, at risk of the client's deposit being forfeited. In cases, like extreme heat, the job will simply need to be rescheduled.

Factors that could result in deposit forfeiture include (but are not limited to):
- Transphobia, repeated misgendering, homophobia
- Racist speech, behavior, or belongings*
- Aggressive pets*
- Biohazards like cat pee, mold, asbestos, or battery acid*
- Physical hazards (unstable stacks of boxes, floors caving in, etc.)
- Anything that makes a Handy Human feel in physical, mental, or emotional danger

*These factors must be disclosed ahead of time. Some of us are comfortable with aggressive dogs. Some of us can deal with throwing out your uncle's box of Confederate memorabilia. Some of us are fine cleaning cat pee. But we must know ahead of time what we’re getting into.

Media Release:
I hereby grant Rocko Handy Services and its partners permission to use photos and/or video of me, including my image, likeness, and voice. I understand that Rocko Handy Services may publish the material I approve in any manner the organization deems appropriate in order to document or promote the work of Rocko Handy Services and its partners. This includes brochures, websites, email messages, social media, educational materials, and any other publication whether printed or electronic. If you’d like to be tagged, please share your social media handles. If you do not consent to this or have any caveats to this policy, please let us know.

Material Disposal:
This quote does not include material disposal or material disposal fees, unless otherwise stated.

Maryland Home Improvement Commission Guaranty Fund Notice:
Each contractor must hold a current Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) license, and anyone can ask MHIC about a contractor. The address for MHIC is 1100 N. Eutaw St, Room 121, Baltimore, MD 21201. The telephone numbers are 410-230-6231 and 1-888-218-5925.

MHIC regulations require that the contract contain the following notice:

1. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission administers the Guaranty Fund, which may compensate homeowners for certain actual losses caused by acts or omissions of licensed contractors; and

2. A homeowner has the right to purchase a performance bond for additional protection against losses not covered by the Guaranty Fund.

DC Buyer's Right to Cancel:
If this agreement was solicited at or near your residence and you do not want the goods or services, you may cancel this agreement by mailing a notice to the seller. The notice must say that you do not want the goods or services and must be mailed before midnight of the third business day after you signed this agreement. The notice must be mailed to:

Rocko Handy Services
3636 16th Street, NW
Apt A723
Washington, DC 20010

If you cancel, the seller may not keep any of your cash down payment.