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Gerardus Koetje

Handyman (faz-tudo) in Central Portugal

Not every job is a renovation. Sometimes you just need someone who can come round in a few days to rehang a door, put up a heavy mirror or shelf, or finally fix that wardrobe to the wall properly. In Portugal this kind of tradesperson is called a faz-tudo — literally "does-everything". That is me, and I come out myself. From Fundão I cover Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Belmonte, Penamacor and Sertã for exactly this kind of work.

You get the quote in English so there are no surprises about scope or price.

What does a handyman actually do?

The kind of work a full builder is too expensive for and a neighbour is too unsure of. A snapshot of what I do every week for expats in the region:

  • Doors and locks — an interior door that no longer closes because the building has settled, an exterior lock that needs replacing after lost keys, a screen door hanging crooked.
  • No electrical or plumbing work — in Portugal that is reserved for a qualified tradesman. I do not carry it out and I do not schedule it for you. You will find a qualified electrician or plumber through LocalTrades.
  • Furniture assembly — IKEA, Conforama, Leroy Merlin. You ordered it, I assemble it. Including wall-mounting when the supplied screws are useless for Portuguese concrete walls (which is most of the time).
  • Hanging and mounting — pictures, mirrors, shelves, curtain tracks, TV brackets. I drill into concrete without spreading dust through your whole house.
  • Small repairs — a hole in plaster, a cracked tile, a loose stair rail, a window that no longer closes properly.

How it works

Send a photo over WhatsApp of whatever it is. Within one working day you get an estimate. I work in whole days: a booked day is €250 excluding IVA, around seven hours on site, and one day is the minimum for any job on site. There are no half days, so it pays to bundle several jobs into one day. We book a time, I show up when I said I would, and you get a proper invoice with IVA.

Service area

From Fundão: Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Belmonte, Penamacor and Sertã. Further afield (Guarda, Idanha-a-Nova) on request. Travel is calculated from Vale de Prazeres at €0.46 per kilometre, return journey.

What does it cost?

A working day is €250 excluding IVA, excluding materials and travel. One day is the minimum for any job on site, so a single small job costs more per task than a list does. Got five small things? Put them on one day and you get far more out of it. I am honest about what is quick and what takes time, including telling you "you can do this one yourself, here is how" when that is the right answer.

Why Gerardus Koetje?

  • Dutch, English & Portuguese
  • Registered as a sole trader (trabalhador independente) in Portugal — NIF 309729211
  • Years of experience in Central Portugal
  • Honest and transparent — no surprises

Photos of our work

Custom staircase railing installedSmall pergola on terraceCombined carport and pergolaGarden bed finished for client

Service area

  • Fundão
  • Covilhã
  • Castelo Branco
  • Belmonte
  • Penamacor
  • Idanha-a-Nova
  • Sertã
  • Oleiros
  • Guarda
  • Sabugal

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can you come out?
For one-off jobs usually within 3 to 5 working days. Emergencies (broken lock, storm damage, a door that will no longer close) I try to handle the same or next day — call or WhatsApp and I will see what fits.
Will you come out for one very small job, or do I need a full list?
Either works, but one day is the minimum for any job on site, so a single job means paying for a full day plus travel. If you have a list, send it through — I get far more done in the same day and the cost per task drops sharply.
Do I get a proper invoice with VAT?
Yes. I am registered as a trabalhador independente (self-employed) in Portugal — NIF 309729211 — so every invoice is official and includes IVA (Portuguese VAT). Handy if you need to claim it through a rental company or company books.
Send photo and description via WhatsApp