How To Hire The Right Handyman

Handyman services are companies that send out Jacks-(and Jills)Of-All-Trades to fix stuff in your home. These days, we can't all do everything we need to do around the house, and some of us work for a living, making it that much tougher. This is where a handyman service helps.

However, finding a good handyman service can be a pain. Once you find a great one that you like, you'll never have to worry about it again. When problems come up, you'll call on them, and it's out of your hands. Here are some tips for finding a good company to work with.

Make A Huge List And Narrow Down

Start contacting companies in your area. You can find them in the local yellow pages, or on the internet. Ask them for estimates on a particular job, whatever it is you need done right now. Make as big a list as possible, and then narrow it down. Find services in your area that offer their work at a price you like.

You'll need to give them full details on what you want done. Make a list of repairs and jobs, and make it as specific as possible. This will help them to give you an accurate estimate.

Interview Your Handyman

It's a good idea to narrow your list down to about 3 handypeople. You'll want to have a face to face interview with them. This is your chance to check them out and see what they can offer you. There are some key questions you should ask:

- How long have they been in the business?

- What kind of work have they done?

- What training have they received?

- Ask for references and follow up on them. Call them and ask if they were happy with the work.

- Ask to see pictures of past work in what you need done.

- Find out in detail about all fees for each job.

The company should offer this interview free, and if they ask for any advanced deposits, skip them immediately and go to another one.

Check For Complaints

Handyman services have a bad rap. It's not their fault; there are lots of fine companies doing great work at a reasonable price. But unfortunately, each metropolitan area is full of less-than-reputable companies trying to make a fast buck doing lousy work.

A great way to check up on each company you're thinking about, and you should check each one, is to check with the Better Business Bureau. They'll tell you if a complaint has ever been lodged against the company.

Once you've found a good, reliable helper service that you like, you'll never have to worry about repairs and house work getting done right again. Be careful when choosing a service, and if you're not happy with the work, drop them and find another.