Move-In Handyman in Newcastle

Moving house is exciting, but the first few weeks bring a long list of small jobs. Curtain poles and blinds to put up, flatpack beds and wardrobes still in boxes, a TV that needs mounting, doors that stick, and the odd thing the previous owners left half done. It is hard to settle in when the hallway is full of cardboard.

Andrew helps people moving into homes across Newcastle, Gosforth, Jesmond, Heaton and North Tyneside get properly set up. You send him your list, and he plans the visit so as much as possible gets done in one go. That might be fitting blinds in every room, building bedroom furniture, mounting a TV with tidy trunking for the cables, hanging mirrors and pictures, putting up shelves, adjusting doors, changing locks or fitting smoke alarms.

It works just as well for first-time buyers who do not own a drill as for families moving across the city who simply want the job done quickly. Andrew is happy to work around unpacking, deliveries and children, and leaves each room clear and ready to use.

Typical move-in jobs

• Fitting blinds, curtain poles and curtain tracks
• Assembling beds, wardrobes, desks and other flatpack
• TV wall mounting with surface trunking for cables
• Putting up shelves, mirrors, pictures and coat hooks
• Easing and adjusting sticking internal doors
• Changing door locks or cylinders for peace of mind
• Fitting battery smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Fitting door stops, hooks and bathroom accessories
• Small repairs and fixes left by the previous owners

Putting your list together

The more detail you send, the better Andrew can plan the visit and the more he can fit in. A good move-in list includes:

• Each job, with the room it is in
• Photos of the wall or space, especially for TVs, blinds and shelves
• Measurements and product links for blinds and furniture you have bought
• Anything you are unsure about, such as whether a wall will hold a mirror
• Your priorities, in case something has to wait for a second visit

Andrew will then come back with one quote covering the whole list, and an idea of how long it will take. If the list is long, splitting it into a first visit for the essentials and a later one for the nice-to-haves often works well.

First jobs worth doing in a new home

Some jobs are easy to put off but worth doing in the first week. Changing the lock cylinders on external doors means you know exactly who has a key. Testing and, where needed, fitting smoke alarms on each floor, and a carbon monoxide alarm near any fuel-burning appliance, is a simple safety step.

It is also worth finding your stopcock and making sure it turns, so you can shut the water off quickly in an emergency. Andrew can show you where it is and check it moves. For anything involving gas or fixed electrics, such as moving sockets, use a Gas Safe engineer or a qualified electrician, and Andrew can let you know if he spots anything that needs their attention.

What affects the price

• How many jobs are on the list
• Number of blinds, poles and shelves to fit
• Amount and size of flatpack furniture
• Wall types and any heavy items such as TVs or mirrors
• Whether materials are supplied by you or by Andrew
• Access, parking and floors involved