Paul Kennedy, NYcitySTUFF
212-242-1800; nycitystuff.com
There’s nothing like waiting two weeks for a handyman to perform a seemingly simple job like installing a plasma TV, then getting left with anthill mounds of drywall on the carpet and unspackled tester holes in the wall. That’s what makes Paul Kennedy’s company such a relief. His workers consider sweeping up plaster crumbs and carting away packaging and boxes part of a job well done. And as a company with a general-contractor’s license (not a guarantee in the handyman world), NYCityStuff will take on most jobs, from hanging curtains (or plasmas) and building closets to gutting rooms, installing sinks, and tiling bathrooms. With a project minimum of an hour ($60 per hour or $90 with a helper) for Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, no markup for materials (you get the receipt), and low overhead (they rely solely on Craigslist and word-of-mouth ads), NYCityStuff’s prices match those of smaller—thought less reliable—operations.