With the help of instruction and demonstration on YouTube videos a homeowner may find he is able to do some basic home repair and DIY around the house himself. Sometimes, though, a project is beyond the typical homeowner’s comfort level where a seemingly simple job actually requires some extensive knowledge and experience, not to mention specialized tools and spare parts. If you find that the time that you’ll need to take to learn how to complete the project, determining and spending money on the tools that you will need (that you may never use again) is more than you’d like to spend, it’s time to call a handyman. Here’re some tips when hiring one:
Ask Questions. Don’t be intimidated when a project is beyond your scope. Ask for more information about the process or steps that are necessary to get the job done.
Make sure that they are licensed and insured. Doing so will help to safeguard you, and them, should they get hurt while working on your house.
Get a few estimates, and remember that the lowest doesn’t always mean that it’s the best. If a handyman is asking way below market rates, there may be something more to it than the wish to win the job. They could use shoddy material, the quality of their work may not be that great, or there may be something questionable about the handyman’s reputation itself.
Ask for references. If past customers have been happy with a handyman’s work, they’ll vouch for him.
Discuss the payment plan in detail. Will you be paying by the job, or by the hour? Are credit cards OK to use for payment?
Don’t pay in advance. Aside from a small percentage for supplies, you would expect to pay once the job is completed.
Get the required permits. If your project requires permitting because you’re doing more extensive work, make sure that they can get them.
Discuss a timeline. How many other jobs is he working on? You don’t want to be surprised to find that you’re waiting for weeks or months for your job to be started while you wait for him to finish up elsewhere. Keep in mind, too, that limited supply of materials and weather can also factor into the timeline of your project.
