I was working for a company full time and helping friends and family on my days off. The calls kept coming — people who’d talked to someone I helped, or seen work I’d done — until there was more work than a weekend warrior could handle. Talking it over at home, I realized what I enjoy is working with people directly: meeting new customers, and solving each project the way that customer wants it solved. I gave notice, and I’ve been on my own for ten years since. Most of my work still comes by word of mouth, and the customers I like best are the ones who call me back for the next thing.
Three things I hold to, and they cover most of the job: honesty, reliability, integrity. The estimate you get before I start is the number I hold myself to. If something turns out bigger than it looked, you hear it from me while there's still a choice about it — not at the end.
The two things people mention most are that I'm easy to have in the house, and that I leave it tidy. Drop cloths down, dust cleaned up, offcuts hauled out. You shouldn't be able to tell where I worked, except that the thing works now.
Someone I can build an ongoing relationship with. Most of my work still arrives by word of mouth, and the customers I like best are the ones who call me back for the next thing — the sticky door this month, the tile in the spring, the dishwasher whenever it finally goes. It's easier for both of us once I know the house.
And everywhere in between. If your town isn’t listed, just ask.