Your home is one of the biggest investments that you have, so it’s important to hire a handyman who knows what they’re doing when it comes to fixing things up. You may be tempted to try out the job yourself, but when it’s the quality of your house on the line, it’s better to leave things up to a professional.
It can be difficult to know where to start when hiring a handyman, though, which is why we put together this article. It details five key tips that you should consider when hiring a handyman so you can feel confident and secure in the process—and get your house fixed up ASAP.
Make a list of your issues.
Making a list of what you need to get done is the best place to start because it allows you to get your thoughts organized. It also will get you the best deal because many handymen charge per task or per hour. No matter what, a straightforward list is the way to go.
Many handymen prefer to spend a whole day working at one location instead of spreading their time and workload out. So if you can, save up your tasks until you have enough for a handyman to work at your home for a full day. That way, it’s convenient for both of you.
Figure out if you need a handyman or a contractor.
Before you hire a handyman, you’ll want to make sure that the services they offer actually line up with the work that you need. If the tasks that you need help with relate to specific jobs like plumbing or electricity, you might need a contractor—not a handyman.
There are many different definitions of a handyman. Some have form training, and some are self-trained. Some have specialized skills; others keep a wider focus. There’s no one set mold that a handyman has to fit.
Handymen are likely to be less expensive than contractors because you only pay for the hours that they work or a set rate that you’ve agreed up. They also don’t have a crew that they need to hire in the way that contractors do.
Know your options.
There are plenty of resources that you can use on the internet to find a good handyman. You can check out HomeAdvisor or Angi (formerly known as Angie’s List) for great local options that include licensing verification, reviews, and background checks. If you’re more inclined to search on your phone, TaskRabbit and Handy are two great apps that you can use.
Word of mouth works too. You can ask your neighbors in person or check out your neighborhood Facebook groups to see what handyman service people are using. Once people find a good handyman, they’re most likely going to want to share their information.
Do your own research.
After you’ve narrowed down your search to your top choice, do some research of your own on this handyman’s background. Check out their website (if they have one), their social media profiles, or any public reviews they might have. Before you hire, you can ask around for references from previous jobs that they’ve done to get a feel of who they are and the work that they do. If a particular handyman doesn’t have references or any internet presence, that’s a red flag—you might want to choose your next option.
Get curious.
Before welcoming a handyman to work in your home, you’re allowed to ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable. Here are a few that you can start with:
How much do you charge?
Do you have any specialized areas of expertise?
Are there tasks that you won’t do?
How open is your schedule?
How long does it take you to finish a job like mine?
You should also ask questions that are tailored to your specific job—these options are simply a place to start.
One Man & A Toolbox has offered professional handyman services since 1997 and would love to work with you. Get in contact with us so we can make an appointment to review your project.