Small jobs are big work for Moses Lake handyman

Strnad finds accomplishment in fixing for people

MOSES LAKE — For Ron Strnad, the satisfaction comes from seeing smiles on people's faces.

"You get to meet a lot of different people," he said. "(The good thing), other than being able make a living doing it, is being able to fix things for people at a reasonable price. It makes you feel good that you've accomplished something."

Raised in Ephrata, and a resident of Moses Lake since 1967, Strnad resigned from the Moses Lake School District maintenance department after 25 years, and decided to open his own business, RJS Services, which opened in July.

"I've always wanted to do this anyway," Strnad said, noting that he had owned his own landscaping business for three years prior to working with the school district.

Business has slowed down in the winter months, with Strnad going from working eight to 16 hours a day to six to eight hours and even less during the holidays, but he said with confidence that it will pick back up again.

"I kind of emphasize the small jobs," he said. "Most contractors don't want to mess with a one- to two-hour job. I've heard that from so many people, there's a definite need in the community for somebody who's willing to go out."

Strnad said the smallest job he's had to do was probably fixing a leak under a sink.

"Normally, though, you get out on a job like that, you can go to just about anybody's home and if you look around long enough, you can find other stuff," he said. "If I see something, I'll let them know, and if they want me to fix it, fine."

Strnad is the business' lone worker, although he hopes his son will eventually join him, and if business picks up enough, he said, he may have to hire someone.

"I deal a lot with seniors — I kind of have a soft spot for seniors," he said, adding that he also does emergency calls in the middle of the night.

Strnad's area of coverage includes a little bit of work in Quincy and Ephrata, although he notes he charges mileage and said he has advised customers in those areas to find local workers first. Sometimes, though, customers have heard about him and request his services specifically, he said.

Some contractors get so busy that it's hard for customers to get ahold of them, Strnad said, and he hopes that doesn't happen with his own business.

"I want to emphasize the small person, the small jobs," he said. "I don't build homes at all. I build fences, storage sheds, additions and remodels, but I always want to remember the small jobs, the small people, and especially the seniors."