After having Terry in to do approximately 10 hours of handyman services, I now have him on speed dial. There was nothing Terry could not do--he installed curtain rods and blinds, cleaned impossibly high windows, hung pictures and mirrors, installed a towel rail, refreshed the grout in the bathroom, fixed a broken drawer, installed a cat flap (perfect job!), patched holes in walls, fixed sticky doors, changed a faulty door lock and just generally made the whole house more functional. He can also change fly screens, fix leaky taps, and patch holes in walls. He worked tirelessly on the three occasions he was at my home and was extremely knowledgeable about all things maintenance related. I hope this review generates more work for him--it would be certainly be well deserved.

Approximate cost: $50

I had Wanneroo Glass install a new semi-frameless shower screen and mirror in both my main bathroom and my ensuite. As the shower screen in the main bathroom was being installed, I noticed that the safety stamp and logo for Wanneroo Glass that had been printed on the shower door panel was not only at eye level but had been printed upside down. I asked the installer whether the stamp could be removed as it was very unsightly (and made my shower look like a billboard for Wanneroo Glass!). At first he told me that the stamp was meant to appear that way. After I pressed the issue, he admitted that the guys at the factory had accidentally made the panel upside down (the stamp should have appeared discretely in the lower corner of the panel). I told the installer that this was not acceptable and the company (after some to-ing and fro-ing) agreed to replace the panel. This set my renovation back by a week. The company then came in to install the shower screen in my ensuite. After the installation was complete I noticed a dark black mark the size of an eraser head in the middle of one of the panels. The mark could not be removed. When I called the company out to look at the mark, they confirmed there was a flaw in the glass that had not been picked up in their quality control process. Once again, the panel had to be replaced. Whilst the work was competitively priced, and the company was willing to rectify the problems mentioned above at their own cost (which I appreciate), it would appear that they have some issues with quality control. For this reason, I would not recommend them.

Before starting my first property renovation project, I scoured the internet for a renovation coach in Perth. Unfortunately, the only one I could find wasn't interested in my business unless my renovation budget was at least $100,000 (mine was $40K - $50K). Then I found Hotspace. The fact that Jane was based in Bribane was no impediment. I sent her approximately 100 photos and after an in-depth telephone conversation, I received an incredibly detailed renovation action plan. The plan set out everything I needed to know--paint colours, what fixtures and fittings to use, which lights to replace, etc. More importantly, it set out a total budget breakdown for the project. Upon completion of the project I had my property re-appraised for more than $100K more than my purchase price. An amazing return on investment. I highly recommend Jane to anyone wanting to renovate for profit. She is an absolute pro!

I called Drains Plus to sort out a problem with my bathroom drain. Due to the nature of the problem, a couple of regular plumbers had recommended I call a specialist drain cleaning service. When I asked for a quote on the phone, the fellow I spoke to advised me that it generally cost $200 to $250 depending on the problem. I assumed that this was based on a couple of hours of work. After clearing the drain, the plumber presented me with an invoice. It cost $275 for one hour's work! That is more than double the cost of any other plumber I have used in Perth. Beware of this company--while their work may be satisfactory, their prices are absolutely exorbitant!

Neil is well known around the Butler area for doing very good quality work. His price wasn't the lowest ($50 per hour) but the work was very good quality. After attempting to do the work myself (a total disaster), I called Neil in to salvage things. I knew from the moment Neil's employee John started painting that I should have called them right from the beginning. After seeing the difference between my own work and that of a professional painter, I would never DIY a whole house again.

Stuart is a semi-retired tiler who now takes on only those jobs that suit him. After years of quality work, he no longer needs to advertise. He tiled my ensuite (floor to ceiling), laundry, main bathroom and kitchen splashback. I was very pleased with the quality of his work and he was tremendously accommodating. During the course of my reno, a number of other tradespeople also commented to me that the tile work had been done really well. I would not hesitate to recommend Stuart--a genuinely nice guy and skilled tiler.

Ron and his son replaced almost all of the light fittings in my entire house (which included dozens of fixtures and fittings). I couldn't have been happier with the work. He and his son were very hard workers. Most importantly, they were honest (a quality that is sometimes rare when it comes to renovation service providers). I would recommend Ron and his son to anyone.