A general handyman who can do a little bit of everything is more important than you might think. If you get a leak in one of your pipes, the kitchen sink gets clogged up, your light bulbs begin to flicker, or even your gate post has started to wobble. These are all things a local handyman should be able to help you fix.
Many seemingly simply jobs require not just knowledge and hands-on experience. They also some times need specialist tools. Yes, there are many jobs you can do yourselves to save some money. However, getting the professionals in for some jobs is the best thing to do.
For example, you might decide you want to replace your old, worn out carpet with some beautiful hardwood flooring. This might seem pretty simple, however, if it’s out of your skill level, it would be better in the long run to get it done right first time.
Here are some of our top tips on hiring a handyman…
Don’t be intimidated
Whether you are male or female, young or old, you shouldn’t feel awkward about asking questions. If you have questions, simply ask, the good ones will be more than happy to answer any concerns you have regarding the work you want done.
Check their license and insurance
These days, there are quite a few people pretending to be handymen, thinking they can make a quick buck so make sure you do your research and go with a company who have all the right documentation. This will assist you a great deal if the handyman is injured while working at your home, or if something goes wrong with the work they have done later on down the line. It means you are both covered.
Ask for references
If this is some one you haven’t worked with before, you could ask them for references before hiring them. Or, if they are local to the area, perhaps you could ask around to see what other people have thought of their previous work. A legitimate handyman will have many past clients who’d be happy to vouch for him. If you ever ask for a reference and they say no, walk away!
Discuss the payment
Discuss the payment in detail before handing over any money or signing any renovation contracts. Most companies won’t ask for payment up front, however they might ask for part payment, especially if they are a smaller business so they can cover the cost of the parts needed. Do what feels comfortable to you and don’t be pushed in to something you aren’t sure of.
Put everything in writing
Although much of it could be agreed face to face, make sure you also get everything in writing as well. The contract, estimate, cost of supplies, time scale to complete – all of these are factors which should be covered in writing. This is to make sure both parties know what is expected of them and will cover you if anything does happen to go wrong down the line. A hand shake might be all well and good at the time but it won’t stand up in a legal sense.
Ask around
Make sure you ask around and get at least three quotes before you hire some one to help you with your home repairs. This will give yo a good basis of what to expect price wise. If one quotes you well above or below the others, you know to avoid them. If a handyman quotes far below market rates, it might signal subpar work, low-quality materials, or other concerns. Opting for a quote that falls in the middle range is usually wise unless you’ve heard exceptional recommendations about one of the others. For projects like vinyl cladding, this approach helps ensure quality results without unnecessary risks.
