Handyman in RV parks, etc.?

[HandyMAtt]

Hi everyone.  I am a handyman with RV experience (80% electric) and I travel and tent camp for much of the year.  I have recently thought about trying to make money while I travel by doing odd jobs for RVers.  I though I'd ask you here if this is a good idea.

Is $25/hour a fair price?

Is there enough work in RV parks for someone to make money?

Do RV park owners allow this sort of thing or frown on it?

How would you go about doing it?  Just hand out business cards in the RV parks, just walking around and meeting people?  Keep in mind that I would not be a guest in the park, unless I buy a slide-in camper (which I will do if I make enough money as an RV handyman to afford it. ;  )

Thank you!

 

[SoulRaven]

Prices I'm not too sure about, but I know handymen who live on the road and work on houses and such and seem to do pretty well for themselves.

I also know a couple of people who do pre-purchase RV or vehicle inspections for $100, and seem to be successful too.

By your description, I believe I would advertise on Craigslist, and perhaps put up flyers in the laundry rooms of the RV parks, or wherever else they allow flyers. I don't know whether or not you might need permission.

Good Luck!

 

[karl]

Seems like a viable service income if set up and managed well.
Thoughts that come to mind;

What exactly are you offering for service, what are you NOT providing
are you planning on a network of RV parks?
How will you be contacted?
How will you obtain parts and supplies, will you carry an inventory?
Will you provide 24/7 service?
How will you be paid? cash, checks, credit/debit?
Will you be insured?
How far and will you charge for travel?
How are you at record keeping?
Will you need licensing or permits for any of your services?

Is $25/hour a fair price?
- Possibly, depends on the service and area.

Is there enough work in RV parks for someone to make money?
- depends on what you consider making money, how many hours do you want? Will you be making money on materials/supply's?

Do RV park owners allow this sort of thing or frown on it?
- Again, depends on the park, some (all?) want NO chance of noise, disruption, strangers/liability.

How would you go about doing it?
-I would start by interviewing park owners, how you present yourself to them can make or break your plan.
Professional and confident (sans arrogance)answers to any concerns, have a professional looking business card (Vista free cards are fine) or some sort of flyer listing your services and a contact number ready to hand out at each greeting.

The more experienced and established you appear the better your chances for being taken seriously

Good Luck!

 

[Canine]

What Carl said.

 

[Patrick46]

Yes...Karl asks some really good questions. Good stuff to take into consideration.


...but don't forget references!! Good references can go a long way towards building a good reputation, and that's exactally what you're gonna need. Handle yourself lke a professional, and you'll get treated like one.


Good Luck! I think it would work.

 

[ZoNiE]

Rate is fair. RV places charge $90-120

To be legitimate:

Get a sign for your van
"Mobile RV Repair"
 (123) 456-7890
-www.yourcompanyname.com-

Print Free business cards at vistaprint.com.
Get a liability insurance policy for say, $10K-$25K.
Print "Insured" on your cards and van.
File an LLC with the local State.
Get a Business Account.
Pay your Taxes.

Carry common spares:
-Electrical parts
-Plumbing fittings
-Valterra drain parts
-Parts for appliances

Offer AC unit cleaning and other similar services for a fixed rate.

 

[compassrose]

You are aware that if you are not a customer (renting a site) in a private park, then you are trespassing if you go into the camping section. I know this because the RV park that my daughter was living in was the ones who pressed charges for trespassing against her stalker.

Also some parks are very picky about the idea that someone in the park, besides them, might be making money. I have seen parks that do not allow business signs on the RVs and tow/towed vehicles. I know of one person that was told to leave due to painted on business graphics (non-RV business too).

Get a paypal account and do not take checks of any kind. If you have a smart phone, you can take credit cards via a Paypal app and a swiper thingy.

You need to look into the liability business insurance needed for a job like that.

If you are in a static location, you might try seeing if the local RV parks will let you put cards out. This sounds more like a good idea if you are traveling in a very small area and it is probably best for a concentrated tourist spot.

 

[SoulRaven]

I think this will really vary by location. I have stayed in parks where people set up seasonally and a couple of the guys got permission to do minor things. Washing of RVs was particularly popular if allowed by the park. Just odds and ends more than repair. I have seen RV park ads where they hire people for odd jobs or projects and pay wages (nothing great) and give a site/hookups, sometimes just site/hookups. Seems in the RVing world, everything varies just as much as anywhere else. It just depends.

I have seen ads allowed on bulletin boards in the office or laundry room of an RV park/campground for services in the area. Prices vary by area.

 

[westriver]

The parks I winter in tend to have a short list of well vetted mobile RV repair services that they allow in. A common service call would typically include a flat fee that covers the first hour, and rates tend to be about half the shop rate of a big dealership/repair facility. For $65-75HR I want to see a trained, experienced tech. who knows what he is doing, and can get it done quickly and right the first time. Typically I see them driving a fairly large utility truck, or box truck, that's pretty well stuffed full of parts and tools.

 

[cyndi]

No RV park is going to pay their handyman $25.00/hour

Some of the more plush RV resorts offer RV tech services. But,to the best of my knowledge, you're not paid by the RV park and are called in when work is available.

I would try negotiating for FHU with limited handyman/maintenance work and RV repairs on the side.

 

[compassrose]

No RV park is going to pay their handyman $25.00/hour

I think the OP is looking to be a mobile repair person. The customers would be paying him, not the park.

 

[compassrose]

Do a search online for mobile RV repair.

http://www.rvbusiness.com/2009/06/rv-lifestyle-evolves-into-mobile-repair-business/

 

[HandyMAtt]

Do a search online for mobile RV repair.

http://www.rvbusiness.com/2009/06/rv-lifestyle-evolves-into-mobile-repair-business/

I've seen that article, thank you. It doesn't relate in any way to my OP, though, if you noticed.

 

[HandyMAtt]

I think the OP is looking to be a mobile repair person. The customers would be paying him, not the park.

Indeed, I am not looking for employment in an RV park. I am surprised that they wouldn't pay $25/hour, though. I would have thought they'd pay $40/hour, and charge $75. But this is all new to me, so I believe you when you say that they don't pay $25/hour. Still, since I don't want to work for an RV park, it's a non-issue.

 

[Goshawk]

Maybe a flat fee list one page? If I saw a list of flat fees on a laundry room cork board for businesses, I might take them up on it and ask for a service to be done.