Two ways companies price the same work
Home service companies usually price small jobs in one of two ways. Some charge by the hour or by the session, so the bill depends on how long the work takes. Others give a fixed price for a defined job, such as assembling a wardrobe or painting a room, whatever the time it takes.
Both can be fair, and both can surprise you if you do not know what sits behind the number. This article explains what each model usually covers, where unexpected costs tend to come from and how to compare an hourly offer with a fixed one. For general advice on lining up quotes, the handyman guide explains how to choose a company.
What each pricing model usually covers
Hourly or per-session pricing
With hourly pricing you pay for the worker's time. It is common for cleaning, where a part-time cleaner is often booked for a set session, and for handyman visits that cover a list of small tasks. The rate normally covers labour only. Materials, cleaning products or parts may be included or charged on top, depending on the company.
Fixed price per job
With a fixed price you pay for an agreed result. It is common for clearly defined jobs such as furniture assembly, mounting a TV or painting a room. The price is set before work starts, based on what you describe, so the company carries the risk if the job takes longer than expected. The catch is that the price only holds for the job as described.
Where surprises come from
Unexpected costs often come from a few familiar sources. Ask about each one before you book.
- Minimum hours or a minimum charge: some hourly offers have a minimum session length, so a short task costs the same as a longer one. Fixed-price jobs can also carry a minimum job charge.
- Travel and call-out charges: some companies add a charge for travelling to you or for attending at all, separate from the hourly rate or job price.
- Materials: paint, fixings, cleaning products and parts may or may not be included. Ask who supplies them and how they are charged.
- Overruns: on an hourly job, extra time is extra cost. Ask how time is counted, whether it is rounded up and whether the worker will check with you before going past an agreed limit.
- Scope creep: on a fixed-price job, anything outside the agreed description, such as an extra wall, a damaged surface or a heavier item, can be priced as extra work.
Hourly and fixed pricing at a glance
The table below sums up the general trade-offs. Companies vary, so use it to frame your questions rather than as a rule.
| Hourly or per session | Fixed price per job | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Time spent on the work | An agreed result |
| Who carries the risk of overruns | Mostly you | Mostly the company |
| Common surprises | Minimum hours, rounding, travel, slow progress | Extras outside the agreed scope |
| Flexibility on the day | Easy to add small tasks | Changes usually need a new price |
| Suits | Routine cleaning and lists of small tasks | Clearly defined jobs with a known outcome |
NEXT STEP
See handyman companies with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their rating sources.
Compare handyman companiesHow to compare them fairly
An hourly rate and a fixed price cannot be compared directly. You need to turn both into a likely total for the same job.
- Describe the job the same way to everyone: what needs doing, the size of the room or item, the wall type and who supplies materials.
- Ask hourly companies for a time estimate: then work out the likely total, including any minimum session and travel charge.
- Ask fixed-price companies what the price includes: materials, preparation, clean-up and what counts as extra.
- Compare totals, not headline rates: a low hourly rate with a long minimum can cost more than a fixed price for a small job.
Published rates are a useful reference point. These are each company's lowest published painting rate, with the source and the date it was captured. They are advertised rates with conditions, not quotes, and they use a mix of units, so check each source and compare like with like before drawing conclusions.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published painting rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published rates from 6 companies run from S$50 to S$250. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a market average or a quote.
See 8 published painting rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handy Expert SG | HDB & condo painting - Subsequent Hour | S$40 to S$60 per hour | handyexpertsg.com |
| Herofix.sg | Major Paint Peeling + Putty | S$50 to S$300 per job | herofix.sg |
| My Handyman SG | Professional Painting & Wall Touch-Ups | From S$120 per job | myhandymansg.com |
| Arshinogor Pte Ltd | Nippon Paint - Standard Emulsion | S$150 per job | arshinogor.com |
| Repairhome.sg | Painting (room, HDB, condo, move-in or handover) | From S$150 per job | repairhome.sg |
| Home Fix SG | Painting Services | S$200 per job | homefixsg.com |
| Handyman AZ | One-room painting | From S$250 per job | handymanaz.sg |
| Tuba Engineering & Renovation Pte Ltd | Painting package, 2-room | S$500 to S$900 per package | tuba-eng.net |
When each model suits
Hourly or per-session pricing tends to suit routine cleaning, where the work repeats and the time needed is predictable, and handyman visits with a list of small tasks that would each carry a minimum charge if booked separately.
A fixed price tends to suit jobs with a clear outcome: assembling a known item, mounting a TV on a known wall or painting a set number of rooms. You know the cost before work starts, which makes quotes easier to compare.
If you want a shortlist near you, area pages such as handyman companies serving Tampines list the companies that name your town on their own websites.
NEXT STEP
See cleaning companies that publish part-time cleaning rates, with their sources and conditions.
Compare part-time cleanersQuestions
Is a fixed price always better than an hourly rate?
No. A fixed price gives certainty for a clearly defined job, but an hourly rate can work out lower for routine cleaning or a list of small tasks. Turn both into a likely total for the same job before comparing.
Why does a short hourly job cost more than I expected?
Usually because of a minimum session length, a travel or call-out charge, or time being rounded up. Ask about all three before you book, and agree a time cap where you can.
Can a fixed price go up after the job starts?
It can if the work goes beyond what was agreed, such as an extra wall or an item that turns out to need more work. Agree the scope in writing and ask the company to check with you before doing anything extra.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and capture date.