There are lots of home renovations that are beyond the expertise of the majority of homeowners, in those cases a homeowner often turns to a general contractor to deal with these upgrades and repairs. When choosing a handyman it’s important to do your homework to ensure you are dealing with a reliable handyman that will deliver the services that you’re spending money on. By doing a bit of research and homework now, you are able to avoid home improvement scams.
Signs that you may wish to choose a different handyman:
- The contractor does not show up for your meeting when he says he’s going to.
- The business doesn’t have references that you can check.
- The cost is way under any other estimates you have received.
- Payment needs to be made up front, paying some is okay, but not all.
- The business doesn’t have liability insurance.
- Contractor won’t put the estimate in writing.
What you should consider when searching for a contractor:
- Experience, you want a handyman that has been around for some time, never hire someone who happens to appear on your door step trying to find work.
- Professional and polite. You are going to be working closely together and it’s really essential that you can get along.
- Proper licenses required for your state.
- Willingness to take the time to explain what’s going to happen and also to answer the questions you have about your home improvement project.
- Liability insurance. Without it you may find yourself paying for injuries or damage.
For home improvement projects it is a wise decision to get at least three estimates. Make sure that each handyman provides you with a written estimate. Go over every aspect of the project. Make sure that the handyman is going to take care of getting all of the needed permits. Be clear on who takes care of clean up. Remember that everything should be written down. This is likely to be especially important in the event the contract is written out. If it’s not in writing, it will be hard to prove later if something fails and you end up in court.
It’s a wise decision to use an experienced handyman for your home improvement needs. If you know of friends, neighbors or family members who have had work done, you could potentially call to get names and numbers. A seasoned handyman (this one, for instance) will have familiarity with permits, license requirements and building codes. They will likewise have local references for you to check. They will have no problem giving you written estimates. It can give you peace of mind knowing you’re dealing with a handyman that has been around for some time, instead of one just starting out.
Your general contractor should spend some time to answer any and all questions that you have. They should be on time and ready to work whenever scheduled. Don’t feel pressured to choose someone you are not happy and comfortable with. You will be working together on this project and it’s really important that you feel you can work together.