Two policies shape every invoice we send: how parts and materials are handled, and what happens the moment we find something nobody could see when the job was quoted. Both are written out here in plain language, so nothing on your final bill is a surprise.
Written change orders, always No markup when you supply parts Serving Oakland County, MI
Every service price, hourly rate, flat-rate menu item, and package we publish covers installation and service labor only. Hardware and materials are never folded into those numbers — they are handled separately, so you can always see exactly what you pay for labor and exactly what you pay for parts. That leaves you two straightforward options on any job.
Option A
$0materials markup
Have the parts on site and ready to go, and we simply install them. You pay for labor and nothing else. Confirm the exact make, model, and specifications before your appointment so nothing stalls the job mid-visit.
Option B
20%supply markup
Skip the store run entirely. We shop, select the correct part, transport it, and warranty it. Materials are billed at cost plus a standard 20% supply markup covering sourcing time, vehicle use, and the liability we take on for the parts themselves.
The one real difference: materials we purchase under the 20% markup are covered by our workmanship warranty. Customer-supplied parts are not covered — we stand behind our installation either way, but we cannot warranty a part we did not select or source.
Neither option is cheaper by default — it depends on whether you would rather spend the time or have us carry it. Here is how the two compare on jobs we book most often around Oakland County.
| Scenario | Option A — you supply ($0 markup) | Option B — we supply (+20%) |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen or bath faucet replacement | Good fit when you have already picked a finish and model you want. Have the faucet and supply lines on site. | We match the part to your sink and existing valves, and the faucet is warrantied alongside the install. |
| Ceiling fan or light fixture swap | Common choice — fixtures are a design decision. Unbox and check for missing hardware before we arrive. | Best when you want a like-for-like replacement and would rather not shop for it at all. |
| Smart lock or deadbolt install | Fine if the lock is already bought, but confirm it fits your door thickness and existing bore. | We verify compatibility with your door prep first, which is where most customer-supplied locks stall. |
| Drywall patch and paint touch-up | Ideal when you still have the original paint — an exact match beats anything we could buy. | We bring compound, tape, primer, and a color-matched paint, billed at cost plus 20%. |
| Emergency or same-week repair | Workable only if the part is already in hand. A store run on your end can cost a day. | Usually faster. We source on the way, so the repair happens in a single visit. |
| Part turns out to be wrong or defective | The return and the reschedule are yours. Labor already performed is still billable. | We handle the return and replacement, and the corrected part is covered under our warranty. |
Labor pricing itself does not change between the two options. See the full rates and flat-rate menu for what the labor side costs.
Your quote reflects the conditions we can see when we price the job. Open up a wall, a fixture, or a component and a house sometimes has other ideas — concealed rot, mold, damaged wiring, or old work that never met code. When that happens, the three steps below run every single time, without exception.
Step 1
Work in the affected area pauses immediately the moment concealed damage, rot, mold, or a code violation turns up. Nothing further gets done while you are still in the dark about it.
Step 2
The condition is documented and photographed. We walk you through what we found, what it means for the job and the timeline, the options for repairing it, and what each option would cost.
Step 3
No additional work proceeds and no additional charge is incurred without your explicit approval through a written change order. Say no and we finish the original scope and bill only for that.
A change order is a written amendment to the original scope of work. It is not a verbal “while I’m in here” conversation, and it is never assumed from a nod in a hallway. Before any additional work begins, you get it in writing and you approve it.
Every change order spells out
What never happens
Concealed conditions such as code violations, structural rot, mold, or damaged wiring fall outside the initial scope of work. The full wording is in Section 4 of our Terms of Service, and the workmanship promise behind it is on our Guarantee page.
A quick note on payment timing: Labor-only projects require payment upon completion. Projects where AAA Handyman sources materials require a material deposit prior to starting work, with the remaining balance due upon completion.
The questions homeowners ask us most about parts, markups, and what happens when a job turns out bigger than it looked.
We would rather answer it now than have it come up on an invoice. Reach out and we will walk you through exactly how your job is priced — labor, materials, and all.
See our full rates and flat-rate menu
Serving homeowners across Oakland County, Michigan.
