As a homeowner, it is inevitable that your house will undergo wear and tear and will require the occasional upgrade once in a while. With the ever-changing decor trends and the evolving needs of your family, you will need to consider home improvements along the way. Because poor maintenance can bring down your property’s value by 10%, you must always look for any tweaks and repairs your home might need.
If you have a to-do list of jobs that need to be done around the house but are not finding the time to look into them, consider hiring a skilled handyman. The right handyman will help whip your house back into shape, but the trick is to find someone with the right qualification and skill set.
With so many options available, we understand how challenging it can be to narrow down your choices. If you’re in the market for the perfect handyman, here is everything you need to know about finding the best match.
Watch out for Word of Mouth
The best way to find a reliable handyman is through recommendations from friends, family, and neighbors. If you have recently moved to a new neighborhood or a part of a small community, you can likely find a suitable handyman through suggestions from your circle.
You can connect with your neighbors and ask who they call for repairs. This is an effective way to find the right person because you can even visit their house to see the quality of work firsthand and discuss their experience in greater detail. Another option is to pay a visit to your local hardware store and ask them for references. This is a simple and highly effective way to get leads and insights from the right sources.
You can also learn who not to call owing to poor ratings and customer experiences this way. So be sure to speak to your circle of friends and neighbors and ask plenty of questions to narrow down the right handyman.
Conduct Online Research
If you are unable to find good references through your friends and family, the best option is to conduct thorough research online. When you go online, you will find plenty of resources that will help you narrow down top choices.
Start from knowing how much it will cost to hire a handyman for the job you need to get done. The best way to do this is by going to websites such as MyJobQuote to look for the best handyman service in your area. You can post details about what you need done or scout the website for the best price quotes. This way, you get to compare several handymen to select the one that suits your needs and budget.
You can further investigate the handyman you pick by checking their ratings and work history online through different social media and review sites.
Take an Interview Before Hiring
It is often not enough to rely on recommendations or online research when hiring a handyman. To be fully satisfied with who you are hiring and paying your hard-earned money, we recommend arranging a meeting to discuss the job at hand.
Have an organized list of tasks you are looking to get done and discuss them in detail with the handyman you intend on hiring. Do not be afraid to ask as many questions as possible because you need to know their skills and ability before you hire the wrong person.
During the interview, be sure to ask for references of past jobs they have done. If they cannot provide strong references, then something is not right, and you should steer clear from them. Once they provide details, you should contact their previous employers to get a sense of their experience and reviews.
Take Cost Estimates and Timelines in Writing
Once you have narrowed the handyman you wish to hire, you need to be completely aligned on the project’s costing to avoid running into problems halfway through. They will either give you an estimated or fixed cost, but be sure to take this in writing, so everybody is on the same page. You should also ask if the cost includes tax or not to have a clear picture of the money you will need to spend.
Other details that you should take into writing include the timelines for the project. Decide how long it will take to complete the tasks and how many hours in the day will be spent working on them. Having a schedule will allow you to have a tentative timeline in your mind and to ensure that the handyman sticks to it.
Keep In Mind These Considerations
Because covering all bases is essential, here are some things to keep in mind before finalizing your handyman.
Never pay your handyman a large sum of money upfront. In most cases, you will be required to pay a small advance covering the cost of materials before starting the project. Therefore, do not pay your handyman in full before you are completely satisfied.
Always hire a handyman service that has acquired the right license, insurance, and permits. Check your local legal requirements when it comes to hiring contractors for home repairs and be sure to hire a service that is fully compliant with all necessary regulations.
Parting thoughts
While owning a home is a fulfilling experience, it can be very challenging to manage its upkeep.
To manage this aspect, it is always best to turn towards professional help.
A good handyman will help get your projects sorted in no time. If you are finding it challenging to select the right person, this guide will surely help.
