Every now and then, you may need a little help with home repairs, restoration of your older home and maintenance issues.
You’ve probably heard about handymen who come to your home to fix things that you may not have the knowledge or ability to do yourself.
For the record, not all handymen are carpenters, electricians, or plumbers. Some confine their efforts to yard work, clearing brush, mowing grass, and general outdoor maintenance instead of indoor home repairs. Regardless, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a handyman who will be able to fix your loose hinge, paint your garage, or repair water damage to your lovely plaster walls.
So, how do you line up a handyman to come and take care of such things?
Here’s what you need to know, including the pitfalls and what you should expect if you hire a handyman to assist with things around the house…
Make a list of the work you need done. Take the time to list exactly what you want a handyman to accomplish before you contact one. Be upfront with what you expect, so the handyman can determine if your requests are within his abilities. Don’t throw in any surprises mid-way through the job.
Get good reliable local references. Nothing will ease your mind better than a glowing report from a neighbour a few blocks stating that a particular handyman was prompt, did quality work, and completely lived up to expectations. Handymen rely on word-of-mouth to build their businesses. One that’s worth hiring will easily be able to supply you with at least 3 good references.
Make sure your handyman is experienced, has a White Card (Work Health and Safety Training) and Public Liability Insurance. If someone working on your property should become injured, unless they have their own liability insurance you will be fully liable. Reputable handymen carry insurance for this purpose and to cover them if they should cause damage to your property.
Make sure you’re comfortable with how they price their work. For example, do they expect to be paid by the hour? Or are they willing to be paid by the job? This needs to be settled before any work is started and especially before any supplies or parts are ordered.
Establish a schedule for the work to be done. Determine how soon the work will be started, when it will most likely be finished, and a timeframe as to when your handyman expects to be on the job. Once the project starts, hold him to the schedule you’ve both agreed to. Sometimes, if a handyman gets a better offer on a project down the road, they will sideline yours in order to go work for the more profitable customer.
Get a contract in writing. With a written agreement there will be no confusion, miscommunication, or forgotten details. Not only will you be clearly defining what’s expected, but in the event that your handyman doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain, you will have documented proof.
What type of guarantee is provided? You want a handyman that stands behind his work. Guarantees or warranties of workmanship will vary depending on the type of work that’s to be done. If it’s in writing that your handyman will take care of quality issues or workmanship failures for a specified amount of time at no charge, then your level of protection and recourse is better.
Remember, when hiring a contractor, a handyman, or anyone to work on your property, you usually get what you pay for. If you accept an unusually low bid, there will very likely be problems (as corners will be cut).
As long as you’re prepared to pay an honest day’s wage for an honest day’s work, you should have no problem finding a handyman who can take care of your home maintenance and repair issues in a timely and professional manner.
Please contact me for any further questions or if you're interested in having some jobs done around your house.
Natan
Always here to help!
All Handy Inside and Out
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