Bend fix-it guide · checked October 13, 2026
Who to call for the punch list, what has to go to a licensed electrician or plumber, and how to get it all done in one visit. 14 local pros, read on their own websites.
Step 1
24 jobs Bend homeowners ask about most. Search yours, or filter by who should do it.
Classic handyman work. Ask for texture matching; Bend homes often have knockdown or orange peel.
Fine for a handyman. Ask that it be anchored into studs.
New wiring is electrical work. Call a licensed electrician.
Quick, cheap handyman work. Bundle it with other small tasks.
Dry winters and freeze-thaw shift doors here. A handyman can plane, shim and adjust.
Good handyman job. If joists or posts are rotted, get a deck builder.
Structural and often permitted work. Hire a licensed contractor.
Worth doing every fall in Bend. Needles in gutters are a wildfire ember risk.
Handyman work if anchored into blocking or studs. Ask what they anchor into.
In Oregon this is electrical work. Use a licensed electrician.
Needs a licensed plumber and usually a permit.
Minor repairs are often fine. Replacing piping or moving fixtures is plumber work. Ask.
Cheap, fast and prevents water damage.
Big comfort win before winter. Pair with a door sweep.
Some handymen rekey (Bend Handyman Service lists it), or call a locksmith.
Springs are under dangerous tension. Call a garage door company.
Call a roofer. A handyman can clean gutters but should not do roofing.
Structural and permitted. Hire a general contractor.
Good handyman work. For a whole house, compare with painters.
Handyman-sized. A new fence line is a fence company job.
Many handymen do straight swaps. Moving the drain is plumber work. Ask before booking.
Exactly what to add to a handyman visit.
Doors are easy. Walls and glass take more skill; ask first.
Call a plumber, then a water restoration company. Act fast to stop mold.
Not on the list. Describe it to a licensed handyman and ask if it needs a permit or another trade.
Step 2
Every fact below is from the company's own website. Look up the license on the CCB site before work starts.
14 shown
Handyman A long mixed punch list in one visit
ServesBend
Handyman Rentals, honey-do lists and urgent fixes
ServesBend, Redmond, Sunriver / La Pine
Handyman Posted price range, veteran-owned
ServesBend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver / La Pine
Handyman After-work appointments
ServesBend, Sisters, Sunriver / La Pine
Handyman Rekeying locks after you move in
ServesBend
Handyman Booked appointment times and a written warranty
ServesBend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver / La Pine
Handyman Repairs and maintenance in Sisters
ServesSisters
Rentals Short-term rental hosts who live out of town
ServesBend, Sunriver / La Pine
Rentals Landlords who want a maintenance plan
ServesBend, Redmond, Sisters
Exterior Sunriver decks, painting and HOA fixes
ServesSunriver / La Pine
Accessibility Grab bars, walk-in showers and stair lifts
ServesBend
Plans A monthly handyman membership
ServesBend
Plans Quarterly checkups on a 14-point list
ServesBend, Redmond
No pro matches all of that. Clear a filter.
Step 3
One well-written list gets you one visit, one minimum charge and an honest quote. Add tasks, then copy the list into a text or email.
Your list is empty. Tap a task above.
New in Bend
A growing number of Bend companies sell handyman time by the month or the season, the way a gym sells memberships. Here is who offers what.
Monthly membership with set handyman hours
Quarterly, twice-yearly or yearly checkup on a 14-point list
Weekly, monthly or quarterly maintenance contracts
A dedicated rental specialist on a monthly plan
Emergency and scheduled tiers for vacation rentals
The small stuff
Garage racks, torn screens, broken springs, wildfire prep and more. Who to call for each, with a local tip.
Who to callHandyman or garage storage company
Racks must be lagged into ceiling joists, not drywall. Leave clearance for the garage door and opener.
Who to callHandyman
A classic Bend request. Anchor into studs and hang bikes by the wheel to save floor space.
Who to callGarage door company
Springs hold enough tension to injure you. Let a garage door tech handle springs, cables and openers.
Who to callHandyman
A new bottom seal keeps out snowmelt and mice. Cheap and quick.
Who to callScreen shop
Drop screens off at a shop for fast turnaround, or book an on-site visit. Pet mesh holds up to dogs.
Who to callGlass company
A foggy pane means the seal failed. A glass shop can replace just the glass unit, not the whole window.
Who to callHandyman
Hardware is often available by brand. Take a photo of any label in the window frame.
Who to callTint company
West-facing rooms in Bend get hot fast. Ask about low-E films that keep winter heat in.
Window tinting guide →Who to callHandyman or yard crew
Embers land where needles pile up. Clean in late spring and fall.
Gutter guide →Who to callYou or a handyman
During FireFree events, Deschutes County takes yard debris free at transfer stations in Bend (61050 SE 27th St), Redmond and Sisters.
Who to callHandyman or home hardening contractor
Bend now requires wildfire hardening on new homes under code section R327 starting May 15, 2026. Existing homes can borrow the same fixes.
Who to callSnow service or plan
Kaufman's posts $155 for a one-time shovel and $600 for an October to March plan.
Snow removal guide →Who to callIrrigation or landscape company
Do it before the first hard freeze or cracked pipes show up in spring.
Sprinkler blowout guide →Who to callLight installer or handyman
Installers bring lift gear and take everything down in January.
Christmas light guide →
Who to callMailbox company or handyman
Mail theft happens here too. Locking boxes must be USPS-approved.
Who to callHandyman or pressure washer
Go gentle on cedar and composite decks. Soft washing is safer for siding.
Pressure washing guide →Who to callHandyman
Battery models are handyman jobs. New hardwired circuits need an electrician.
Who to callHVAC company
Some systems need a common wire or have quirks with heat pumps. HVAC techs know which.
Heating and cooling guide →Who to callHandyman or plumber
Parts swaps are easy. New drains or supply lines go to a plumber.
Toilet repair guide →Who to callVent cleaner
Lint fires are real. Clean the dryer vent yearly if you dry a lot of ski gear.
Dryer vent guide →Who to callHandyman
Gates anchored to studs at stair tops, cabinet locks, anchored dressers and outlet covers.
Who to callHome watch company
Some insurers expect regular checks on empty homes. A visit after a cold snap can catch a burst pipe early.
Real life
What to ask for, and who to call first.
Rekey the locks, hang everything at once, mount the TV, fix what the inspection flagged as minor. Send the electrical, plumbing and roof items to those trades.
Patch, paint, fix sticking doors and replace worn hardware. Buyers notice small things on the walk-through.
Paint, drywall, flooring and fixes between tenants. A make-ready crew saves days of vacancy.
Hidden Gem LLCPolit & Son Handyman ServicesRentalRiff Central Oregon
Hot tubs, smart locks, frozen pipes and guest emergencies. Look for fast callbacks and photo reports.
Basalt Property ServicesPolit & Son Handyman ServicesReasonable Handyman Inc
Grab bars anchored into studs, brighter lighting, railings on both sides of stairs and removing trip hazards.
Deck rails, paint and equipment screens are common HOA fixes. Send the notice to the handyman with your photos.
The rules
"Handyman" is not a license type, and the exemption is much narrower than most people think.
Source: ORS 701.010(4). The exemption "does not apply to a person who advertises or puts out any sign or card or other device that might indicate to the public that the person is a contractor."
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint. Sanding or scraping painted surfaces needs a contractor certified for lead-safe work. Ask before they start.
Photo: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0Year round
High desert homes deal with hard freezes, heavy snow, pine needles and smoke season. Tick items off; your list stays on this device.
Before they show up
Questions
Almost always. Oregon law only exempts work under $1,000 per project that is casual, minor or inconsequential, and the exemption does not apply to anyone who advertises as a contractor. So any handyman with a website, sign, truck lettering or ad needs a Construction Contractors Board license. Check it free on the CCB search.
Only very limited work. Swapping light fixtures, adding outlets, replacing water heaters and moving plumbing are licensed electrical or plumbing work. Hire an electrician or plumber for those, and use the handyman for everything else.
Most bill by the hour with a minimum visit charge, and some bill travel time and supply runs. The Maintenance Man, for example, says most of its visits land between $150 and $750. Ask how they bill before they come out, and group small tasks into one visit so you only pay one minimum.
They can be if you always have a list. Deschutes Concierge Handyman sells monthly memberships with set hours, and Kaufman's Home Maintenance does quarterly checkups on a 14-point list. If you only need help once or twice a year, booking one-time visits is usually cheaper.
Most handymen can, and garage storage companies like Bend Garage Storage, Webfoot Home Improvements and Concept Closets specialize in it. Racks must be lagged into the ceiling joists and kept clear of the garage door track and opener.
It varies by season. Fall gets busy with gutters and winter prep, and spring fills up with decks and fences. Book early in those seasons, and ask about after-hours or emergency service if something cannot wait.
Some companies specialize in short-term rentals and offer fast callbacks, emergency response and photo reports, like Basalt Property Services in Bend and Sunriver. Polit & Son also offers 24-hour weekend and emergency service.
NeighborImpact runs a free home weatherization program for income-qualified households in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. Call 541-548-2380 to ask about eligibility.
Provider details come from each company's own website, read in October 2026. License rules come from Oregon statute (ORS 701.010) and the Construction Contractors Board. Time estimates in the punch list builder are typical guesses, not quotes. Photos belong to the businesses named in each caption unless credited to Wikimedia Commons.
