Every household has a list. A broken chair in the garage, an old TV unit waiting to go to the tip, a curtain rod that needs hanging, a door that sticks, a few panels of fence to take away after a repair. None of these jobs is big enough on its own to call a specialist, but together they take up a weekend you would rather spend doing something else.

We take on odd jobs and small rubbish removals for homes, rentals and small businesses across Cranbourne and the surrounding suburbs and semi-rural areas.

Odd jobs we do

• Working through a list of small repairs in one visit
• Moving heavy furniture within the home
• Taking down old shelves, brackets, blinds and fixtures
• Replacing light globes in hard-to-reach fittings (non-electrical replacements only)
• Changing smoke alarm batteries
• Fitting door stops, hooks and small hardware
• Assembling and disassembling furniture
• Putting up and taking down outdoor shade sails and festoon hooks
• Clearing gutters on single-storey homes
• Fixing sticky doors, drawers and gates
• Swapping handles and knobs
• Sealing small gaps and draughts

Small rubbish removal

We remove small loads of household and garden rubbish that fit in a trailer, such as:

• Old furniture and mattresses
• Packaging and boxes after a move
• Green waste from small garden clean-ups
• Timber, fencing and offcuts from repairs
• Garage and shed clean-out items
• Broken outdoor furniture and play equipment

We sort items where possible so recyclable materials, e-waste and items suitable for donation are not just sent to landfill. We take waste to licensed transfer stations and recycling facilities.

What we cannot take

For safety and legal reasons we do not remove:

• Asbestos or materials suspected to contain asbestos
• Chemicals, paints in large quantities, oils and solvents
• Gas bottles
• Medical waste
• Large amounts of soil, concrete or bricks

The City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Council run hard rubbish collections and detox events for some of these items, and there are dedicated facilities for chemicals and gas bottles. Check your council website for details.

Asbestos warning

Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos in places such as eaves, wall sheeting, bathroom linings, vinyl floor tiles and old fences. Older homes in central Cranbourne, Cranbourne South, Lang Lang and Koo Wee Rup, and older sheds and outbuildings on rural blocks, are more likely to have it. If we suspect asbestos, we stop and advise you to have it tested. Asbestos removal must be done by licensed removalists.

Garage and yard clean-ups

Garages fill up quickly, especially in new homes where they double as storage. We can help clear out unwanted items, take rubbish away and install shelving or hooks so the space works better. See picture and shelf hanging and carpentry. In yards, we can remove small piles of green waste and old structures such as broken cubbies or small sheds.

How a list visit works

The best way to get value from a handyman is to group jobs into one visit. Before booking:

1. Walk through the house and garden and list every small job.

2. Take photos of each.

3. Note any parts or materials you have already bought.

4. Send the list through our quote form.

We will tell you what we can do, what needs another trade and how long we expect the list to take. Our guide on planning a handyman visit has more tips.

Making the most of a list visit

A list visit works best when it is planned. A few tips:

• Write everything down. Walk through the house and garden with a notepad or your phone and note every small job, even ones that seem too trivial.
• Add photos. A photo of each item helps us bring the right tools, fixings and parts.
• Prioritise. Mark the jobs that matter most so they are done first if time runs short.
• Have materials ready. If you have bought a light fitting cover, curtain rod, shelf or hooks you want installed, have them on hand. We can also bring common fixings.
• Clear access. Move items away from the areas we will be working in where you can.
• Group by area. Jobs in the same room or outside area are quicker to do together.

Typical odd jobs around Cranbourne homes

Some jobs come up again and again in homes across the area:

• Hanging mirrors, artwork and shelves
• Fitting curtain rods and blinds
• Assembling and anchoring furniture
• Fixing sticking doors and loose handles
• Replacing door stops
• Adjusting cupboard doors and drawer runners
• Fitting hooks in garages for bikes and tools
• Installing letterboxes and house numbers
• Patching small holes in plaster
• Resealing around sinks and baths
• Fixing loose fence palings and gate latches
• Clearing gutters on single-storey homes
• Fitting child safety latches and gates
• Replacing flyscreen mesh
• Putting together outdoor furniture and storage boxes

Furniture anchoring

Tip-overs of furniture and televisions injure young children every year in Australia. Tall drawers, bookcases and TV units should be anchored to the wall with straps or brackets. In homes with plasterboard walls, anchors need to go into studs or use suitable heavy-duty fixings. We anchor furniture when we assemble it and can anchor existing furniture. This is one of the most worthwhile small jobs you can do in a home with young children.

Moving and lifting

Moving a fridge to the garage, lifting a heavy couch upstairs or rearranging a room is easier with an extra pair of hands. We help with moving items within the home and property. We do not provide removalist services between homes, and we do not move pianos, pool tables, safes or other specialised items, which need specialist movers.

Seasonal jobs

Spring

• Clean gutters and downpipes
• Pressure wash paths and patios
• Fix flyscreens for summer
• Tidy and reseal outdoor timber

Summer

• Check outdoor furniture and shade sails
• Repair gates and fences
• Clear storage areas for the holidays

Autumn

• Clear leaves from gutters
• Check draught seals on doors
• Take away garden waste

Winter

• Fix sticking doors swollen by damp
• Check for mould around windows and wet areas
• Work through indoor jobs

Garden waste

We take small loads of garden waste such as prunings, branches and bagged leaves. Larger green waste jobs, tree removal and stump grinding are best left to arborists and garden services. Casey and Cardinia councils run green waste collection services and hard rubbish arrangements that can help with bulky items; check your council’s website for current options before booking a removal, as it may be the cheapest way to dispose of some items.

Recycling and responsible disposal

Where possible, items we take away are separated for recycling, donation or proper disposal rather than all going to landfill. Metal, cardboard, e-waste and some furniture can be recycled or donated. Items such as paint, chemicals, gas bottles, tyres and batteries have specific disposal requirements and are not taken in general loads. Council transfer stations and detox your home events accept many of these items.

Before you sell or move

Preparing a home for sale or a move often involves a long list of small jobs: patching, touch-up painting, fixing doors, replacing broken fittings, tidying the garden and clearing out the garage. Getting it all done in one or two visits saves you time when you are already busy with the move. We can work with your real estate agent’s checklist if you have one.

Help for older residents

Some older residents in Cranbourne and nearby towns find smaller jobs harder to manage, such as changing smoke alarm batteries on high ceilings, clearing gutters or moving heavy items. We take time, explain what we are doing and leave things tidy. Family members can arrange visits on behalf of a parent and we can report back afterwards.

Small businesses

Shops, offices and clinics also have odd jobs: hanging signs and noticeboards, fixing doors and handles, assembling office furniture, removing old fixtures and taking away small loads. We can work outside business hours where needed.

What we do not do

To keep things clear, we do not do:

• Electrical work, including new power points or light fittings
• Plumbing or gas work
• Asbestos removal
• Structural work
• Large demolition
• Work on roofs of double-storey homes

Where a job needs a licensed trade, we will tell you.

Semi-rural properties

Larger blocks around Devon Meadows, Botanic Ridge, Lang Lang and Koo Wee Rup often have sheds, stables, chook pens and long fence lines, and their odd-job lists are different from those of a suburban home. Common jobs include repairing shed doors and latches, fixing gates that have dropped, replacing damaged fence rails, building simple shelving in sheds, and taking away old timber, broken outdoor furniture and accumulated rubbish. Travel time to these properties means a planned list visit is especially worthwhile.

Safety on the job

We use the right equipment for each job, including ladders rated for the work, drop sheets to protect floors and personal protective equipment. We check for hidden pipes and cables before drilling into walls, and we do not work at heights beyond what is safe for single-storey access.

Where we work

We do odd jobs and small rubbish removal across Cranbourne, Cranbourne South, Devon Meadows, Clyde, Lang Lang, Koo Wee Rup and our other service areas.

Frequently asked questions