Perhaps this is familiar. You drive down to see your mum or dad, and within five minutes you've spotted the smoke alarm blinking on the sideboard and a dozen small jobs that used to get done without a second thought. You spend half the visit on the list instead of sitting down with them.

What families often worry about

The small jobs are piling up. Bulbs aren't being changed. There's something dripping somewhere. The garden gate doesn't close. Every time you visit there's more on the list, and you live too far away to pop in on a Saturday.

You want someone local you can trust in the house, who'll tell you if something seems off.

What I do

I'm a one-man handyman based in Cirencester. I visit older homeowners on a regular schedule and work through whatever has come up. Small repairs, bulbs, batteries, furniture, grab rails, errands, the tip run, a bit of shopping if needed. I sit down for a cup of tea. I don't rush out the door.

What I do not do

I'm not a carer. I'm not CQC registered. I don't do personal care, medication, or anything clinical. If your parent needs that level of support, the right call is to a regulated home care provider. My work sits alongside formal care, not instead of it.

Will you notice if something is wrong?

Yes. If the house looks different from last time, if post is piling up, if the fridge is nearly empty, if your mum or dad seems more confused than usual, I'll tell you. That's part of why having the same person visit matters. I'm not a clinician and I won't diagnose anything, but I'll raise it with you so you can decide what to do.

Updates after each visit

If you want, I'll call or message you afterwards. Quick update: what was on the list, what got done, how your parent seemed, anything I think you should know. It doesn't have to be long. Just knowing someone was in the house on Tuesday and everything was fine is often worth the cost of the visit on its own.

Setting it up from a distance

You don't need to be in Cirencester. Book by phone or email, pay the invoice yourself, give me your parent's number and address. I'll introduce myself on the first visit and I always carry ID. I'm DBS checked. Your parent never has to handle money.

The first visit

I arrive at the agreed time. Introduce myself properly. Walk round the house with your parent, looking at the obvious jobs. I don't start drilling on day one. I write down the list, give you a realistic time estimate and suggest how often a visit makes sense. Then I ring you so you and I can agree what happens next.

Pricing

The first hour is £55 and includes getting to you if you're within five miles of Cirencester. It's the minimum charge, so it's worth saving up a few small jobs for one visit. After that it's £35 an hour, charged in half-hours. Got a longer list? A half day (4 hours) is £125 and a full day (8 hours) is £230. A monthly visit costs the same. Further out, I charge 45p for each mile beyond the first five, there and back, and I'll tell you the total before you book.

Get in touch

Call me on 07803 176290 or use the contact form. I'm happy to talk it through first, before anything is booked, so you can ask whatever you need to.

Help for parents living alone