I run an add that says "Quiet, Organized, Meticulous, Clean". It lets people know how I operate and what separates me from the others.

True. And you know how fickle people are. I run into people that say, "Oh, are you still working?" I never really quit, just backed off from advertising replacement windows and doors. But I did lots of other things along the way and did all kinds of things before that 25 year career like building stores, restaurants and room additions. I've gotten along with all the people (despite their kids and dogs ;):D) except the real cheapskates.

So, you have to reinvent yourself from time to time. And since I won't be building any more stores or carrying patio doors, I need a new market. I only want to work 20 hours a week with the required background work that pushes it to 30 or so.

Taskmaster

Property Maintenance Services.

And all you need to do is have your home/business phone switched through to your mobile so calls are answered and you turn up when you say you are going to turn up.

You already have the skills.

There used to be a guy down in south OC called Meticulous Mort. He charged 39.95 to come out for anything. That was back in the late 80's. He ran a crew of about 7 different guys separately that could do a lot of different things. AFA I could tell he was raking in the money. Of course he had a platinum card to the Leisure World gate and paid off the security and office folks.

(LW is a large, wealthy retirement community to you folks out of the area.)

I learned that 40 years ago. Show up when you say and do what you say. (And don't kick the dog :D)

There's a bit more to this. I can't run any ads. There are a number of reasons for that, but the main one is economics. You don't run ads when you only intend to work part time. My ads that I ran for 20 years ran at about a cost of 135 dollars for each new customer. Keep them and get referrals and the cost per job goes down. But it's still pretty expensive.

What do you plan on doing? Making cards and mailing them to your existing customers, then ask them to pass on your card?
Drop them off at Ganahl or other places with card boards?
Put them on doorsteps?

I run an add in one of those throw away free Long Beach papers. Every house in a specific zone gets it, I think 40,000 homes twice a month. Most times you see them outside for days and a lot of people don't even read it.
It costs me 1400.00 bucks a year. I don't think it goes on your side of the airport. But I did think about running one in the paper over there, I would like to get more work in Bixby.

It has basically just paid for itself for years, so it was free advertising. The last 2 years it did really well. One 5000.00 one 7000.00. I was shocked.
I'm actually working on a bid right now from that same Ad.
Sometimes people read the local paper, and when they do they like to deal with local people.

iFixThings

iFix
uPay
OK?

Do you have a list of recent clients? Contact the happy ones and tell them you are semi-retiring and you're looking for selected clients to do limited work for and would appreciate referrals. Heck, a lot of people would be grateful for someone they trust who could refer big job contractors who are reliable and would give you a referral fee. You could be the local Angie's List!

On a side note, you get crazy people from Ads. The worst is Angies list, I've never received a call from a normal person from Angies list, mostly lookie loos.
This is funny. I get home from work yesterday at about 4. There is a message on my home machine. It is some guy who saw my add in the local paper. He says "Hi this is Lou, I live """" and saw your add in the paper. I would like some painting done, call me. Today if possible".
So I check the time stamp on the message and he called at 3:30 in the afternoon.
I call him back at 4 and talk to him. I ask him what he wants and what he meant by today? A bid I assumed.
He said " You won't believe what happened. My painter was deported back to Mexico today and if you and I can agree on a price, you can start today". I started laughing and told him it was 4:00 in the afternoon, I don't start work at 4, I'm busy for a few weeks anyways and if he just waits his guy will probably be back by then".

Oh, people are funny!

That works. I keep files on all my customers. When things are slow I go back through my files and make calls.
Somebody always has something they want done. If you tell them you are slow or have a hole in your schedule, good customers will help you fill it.

I, too, have drawers full of customers and have thought about mailing a could dozen a week. More or less depending on response. Since I haven't had a business card for over 2 years it's just enough for the moment to get that part done. How I circulate it won't really be a problem.

Frankly, I'd rather people find me rather than the other way around. You know the old adage, chase them until they catch you. Well, if I get into a conversation at the local coffee stop and someone says they'd like to call me, chances are they won't. But they certainly won't if I don't have something to give them.

One other thing I have is a list of addresses of where I've worked. One day I drove the streets of the local posh neighborhood and jotted down every address where I had worked at one time or another. Not always the same owners there, but I must have worked on at least 2 houses on every street and sometimes a lot more than that. Almost anyone in that neighborhood can walk out their door and see a house where I've worked.

Man, when you do that you can see how saturated this neighborhood is with my services. I have that list somewhere, but I could do it again inside an hour. Would you hire a guy that has worked on over 10% of the total number is houses in a district?

But then again, most of this work was construction related. I want to move somewhat away from construction. I don't want to in any way compete with the people in construction today. I don't have the right skin color.

"Rent A Hubby" (or Husband)

That covers it all. ;)

Back in the late 80's when I owned a company called the French Door Connection I had a referral service that Angie based her model on. I never sold one job out of that service. I don't know what kind of people that sort of thing attracts, but I want to be at the opposite of the spectrum.

And this gal wanted 10% of my gross! That turned out to be 50% of my net profit. F that.

Another good idea is friends or customers with businesses. Ask if you can put your cards on their front desk.
I have a friend who owns a Pilates studio, I always keep a stack of cards on her table. I have received calls from her clients. It's one step up from cold advertising because at least they know her and she is referring me.
I just helped her fix up her new studio for a discount rate and 'card privileges'. She thought that was funny.

Yeah, you know, if you mailed out cards along with an explanation of what is happening. You could probably get a good start up.
Explain you are semi retiring, switching from building related things and moving into more of a handyman type of service.
That's a good idea and stamps are cheap.

Having this conversation makes me think I should get more cards out there.

Send me a few. You know where I live.

Yeah, that's why the best advertising is a referral. Let your customers do the work for you.
Pay advertising has it's pros and cons.

Yeah, but I don't have the address. I'll give you a call soon and we can figure it out.
Let me get my car out of the shop, I'm getting some work done.
Maybe next week.

What do you mean you don't have the address? It's in the alley. :D

I've seen a friends business get basically ruined because of one bad review on Angies list.

I cut back on the amount of advertising I used to do. Spent way too much money for the little return I got through it. I think I got more work from leaving cards and fliers around, plus word of mouth and referrals.