How should a handyman price jobs with high uncertainty?

Q: How should a handyman price jobs with high uncertainty?

Direct answer: Bid higher on risk-heavy jobs by adding a visible 'unknowns' line item instead of hoping nothing goes wrong. Practical steps Identify risk drivers: Hidden damage, access, age of home, and code unknowns. Add contingency explicitly: Price a risk allowance rather than hiding it in labor. Require approval gates: Stop at discovery points and re-price before continuing. Next step: Use the calculator to confirm your baseline, then add a contingency line for the unknowns.

Question

Accepted Answer

Direct answer: Bid higher on risk-heavy jobs by adding a visible 'unknowns' line item instead of hoping nothing goes wrong.

Practical steps

Identify risk drivers: Hidden damage, access, age of home, and code unknowns.
Add contingency explicitly: Price a risk allowance rather than hiding it in labor.
Require approval gates: Stop at discovery points and re-price before continuing.

Next step: Use the calculator to confirm your baseline, then add a contingency line for the unknowns.