The Handyman: For When You Don’t Have the Time
As a homeowner, you probably don’t have the time or the expertise to do every repair yourself. That’s what a professional handyman is for. Before you take on a job that’s too big for you, consider hiring a professional. It can make life much easier.
Being a homeowner comes with many benefits and many responsibilities. If you’re new to owning your own home after renting an apartment for years,
it will come as a bit of culture shock the first time a repair is needed and it can’t be done for free by the landlord. You’ll either have to do the repair yourself or call a professional. For small repairs, it sometimes pays to become an amateur handyman, versed in tools and ready to do little fix-it jobs around the house. But for bigger jobs, or if you’re not carpentry-inclined, it may be best to call for help.
Twenty years ago, you couldn’t get a handyman out to the house for less than $10,000. This was when real estate was booming and contractors had more work than they knew what to do with. Today, things have changed. Competition in the field is immense and it’s a buyer’s market. Instead of focusing exclusively on larger jobs, today’s contractors are more than willing to spare a worker or a team for small repairs and minor remodeling work. Even better for the customer, there is no shortage of independent carpenters looking to take on work. These individuals usually charge much less than the larger companies and will often do a better job.
If you’re planning to go with a larger handyman contracting company, it helps to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you make the call. Most companies will charge a consultation fee just to come out to the house. You’ll want to make a note of everything that needs repaired so you can bring it to their attention right away. It will cost more and be an inconvenience for everyone involved if you bring up further repairs once a quote has already been made and the work is already underway.
The great thing about living in the information age is that you may not have to call around to a bunch of places to find out if they do the repairs you need. Most modern handyman companies are going to have their own website, which should outline their basic services. It doesn’t hurt to look around until you find one that mentions the basic repairs or the category of work you want done. Don’t forget to look at online classifieds such as Craigslist, which is where you’ll be more likely to find the independent guys.
