By now, most people have a whole contact list dedicated to “fix-it” people – one for every problem.
“One day my kitchen had a problem, and I thought to myself – how do I get this fixed easily?” Mohamed Shakir, a former oil and gas professional, recalled.
“So I went online, found a place offering handyman services, and the guy came but kept upselling the charges. That’s when I thought, there must be a better way – something more transparent and affordable.”
And that moment sparked the idea for Handibee, the subscription-based handyman service Shakir launched in 2022 to take the hassle out of home maintenance.
Instead of scrambling for help each time something breaks, Handibee offers certified technicians, reliable scheduling, and transparent pricing – all under one plan.
“You pay a membership fee, and we sort out everything with a fixed hourly rate,” said Shakir, 40.
Members pay only for the man-hour, no matter the type of job. Basic parts like screws, piping, or fittings are included, while aesthetic upgrades can be supplied by the customer or sourced through Handibee.
Subscription prices range from RM99 to RM495 a year, depending on the level of coverage.
The basic plan covers only plumbing and electrical systems, while the most premium plan includes plumbing, electrical, cooling systems, pest control, gate systems, and roof management.
Yearly subscribers also enjoy free man-hours – meaning the first few service calls are on the house.
What really sets the service apart, Shakir said, is its transparency.
“With most handymen, once they arrive, they start adding charges as they go. You end up paying RM250 or RM300 and have no idea what for. With us, there’s no upselling – you only pay by the hour, that’s it.”
Even the timing is kept fair. If a handyman estimates two hours but finishes in one and a half, customers pay only for that time. If the job takes longer than promised, the rate stays capped at the agreed duration.
Still, convincing Malaysians to pay a subscription for handyman services wasn’t easy at first.
“It took a lot of hustle and muscle. It also required a lot of education on the customers’ end,” Shakir admitted. Many homeowners were used to calling repairmen only when something broke, not thinking about preventive care or convenience.
To build trust, Handibee initially targeted more affluent neighbourhoods such as Bangsar, Kota Damansara, and Damansara Heights.
The team focused on reliability, promising arrival within 24 hours and ensuring every technician was professionally certified through TVET in plumbing, electrical work, or air conditioning.
“From the start, we wanted customers to feel confident that the people coming into their homes were competent and trustworthy,” says Shakir.
This emphasis on professionalism became one of Handibee’s key differentiators from typical freelance or online handyman services.
The turning point came when property developers began partnering with Handibee, introducing the service to new homeowners. With developer endorsements and word-of-mouth referrals, the concept started gaining traction.
But what truly cemented people’s trust were real stories of savings and reliability – like one sceptical homeowner who decided to “test” the service.
“I told him, ‘Try us for a year. If you don’t like it, we’ll refund you.’ Then, in the second month, his roof started leaking,” Shakir recalled.
The homeowner compared Handibee’s quote with several third-party technicians and was shocked to find that Handibee was about 40% cheaper. “He’s now in his second year with us!”
In the long term, Shakir hopes to take Handibee into home improvement and renovation – from festive touch-ups to full-scale remodelling. But beyond business, Shakir hopes to change the way Malaysians think about their homes.
“It’s about moving from a reactive to a preventive mindset,” Shakir said. “The microwave mindset wants things fixed fast; the cooking mindset takes time to prepare and preserve. That’s the kind of care we want Malaysians to have for their homes.”
Find out more about Handibee here and follow them on Instagram.