SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Dave Beckwith, co-owner of D&T Enterprises, is changing the name of the home maintenance business and expanding the services it provides.

Dave Beckwith, co-owner of D&T Enterprises, will soon rebrand the company as 24 Handyman, expanding the services he and his team offer to include plumbing, locksmith services, and the willingness to tackle smaller jobs larger contractors won't touch. Here Beckwith is seen at a jobsite at 5405 Franklin Avenue on Wednesday, May 25. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL Photo

Starting June 1, his company will be known as 24 Handyman, offering night service, locksmith service, plumbing and the openness to tackle smaller jobs that larger companies won't do at negotiated rates.

This willingness to negotiate rates and tackle smaller jobs are two of the main things Beckwith says will separate 24 Handyman from other companies.

"I've talked to a few people over the last several weeks where they have a hole in the wall and have called a contractor and the job is not big enough for them and they won't do it," said Beckwith. "Where they are looking at jobs of $100,000, we will do jobs that will cost $100. "We did the odd one or two smaller jobs (as D&T Enterprises), but now we are wanting to let people know that we will be doing them more."

"I'm not out to make a million dollars. I'm doing it for employment," said Beckwith. "I mean, I could charge out $60, $70, $80 an hour like a lot of the contractors, but a lot of people can't afford that amount, so our rates are budgeted on the homeowner. So we go in and will fix a hole in the wall right up to building decks and additions and determine a cost that will satisfy the customer."

"So we will ask, 'what did you budget for this job?' And they say, 'well, I budgeted such and such' and I say 'well, let me work with the price and see if there's any way we can give you a better deal,'" Beckwith said.

However, the fact that 24 Handyman will negotiate with customers doesn't mean they don't have regular rates.

"Any time of the night I can go out and help you open the door ... all I would need is proof of residency like a government ID," said Beckwith.

He also thinks it is important to support the city he calls home by hiring locally.

"I'm not one to brag, but I've been in Yellowknife for over 30 years, we're 100 per cent Yellowknife- and Northern-owned. I don't hire other contractors or anything. I employ people from Yellowknife and if we do any contract work outside of the Yellowknife, we hire people from the community," said Beckwith.

Beckwith currently has three employees who each have 10 years of experience as handymen working under him, but is planning on hiring two more. He wants people to understand that he nor any of his staff are licensed contractors, but are home maintainers.

Beckwith is working on setting up a website for 24 Handyman, but until it is ready people interested in Beckwith's services can find information about what they will be offering on the D&T Enterprises website.

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