Hiring A Handyman: Tips That Work For You

Not every homeowner has the time, skill, or inclination to do household repairs on their own. If you fall into this category, you’ll want to procure the services of a good handyman to do those jobs for you. Of course, not all such workers are cut from the same cloth and there are more than a few disreputable, dishonest people in the field of carpentry and home repair. In order to separate the wheat from the chaff, here are some tips you can use to select and hire a good handyman for your house.

The first place to start is with your friends, family, and coworkers. Ask them if they know anyone they can recommend for these purposes. Try to separate yourself quickly if anyone pipes up that they would be glad to come over and do whatever jobs you need done. If you just need a new door going into the laundry room or you have a leaky faucet, that might be all right. But if you are planning a major job or just want to have someone handy who you can call when you are in need, you don’t really want your friend Joe in accounting to be that guy. If your friends hook you up with a good recommendation, make sure you ask some further questions. Ask them about the types of projects they have done and the general cost of those projects. You can use those parameters and research whether or not the guy they are recommending is charging a fair price for his work.

If your friends are a dead end, try going to your local hardware store. If there is a bulletin board in the store, any handyman with an ounce of marketing knowledge will have put up an advertisement. You can try calling the numbers you find on the wall, although these ads don’t give you a sense of how good or bad the contractor is likely to be. You might also try talking to some of the staff at the store to see if they know anyone they can recommend to you. This is more likely to work at a smaller hardware store than a place like Home Depot.

When you have the chance to meet a potential hire in person, trust your instincts. If the person shows up late for your first meeting, this is a really bad sign. Spend a few minutes talking to them about the projects you have in mind. Listen not only to their answers, but pay attention to their entire demeanor. You can tell a lot about someone just from talking to them. Trust your judgment, and you will be more likely to wind up with a handyman you can be proud of.