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Should you hire contractor or do it yourself?
Americans are busier than ever, and that often means they are too busy to handle the simple home improvement projects a house requires from time to time. But before you go out and hire a general contractor to repair a hole in some drywall or paint a room, you should consider an alternative a local handyman or handyman service. With the boom in home remodeling, it's often difficult to
find a contractor who has time to do small projects. And often a contractor's fees to handle small projects can be prohibitive for most homeowners. |
A handyman makes a living from small home remodeling projects and often is a better alternative. Knowing exactly what your home project entails can help you make the proper decision when choosing, said Keith Paul, president of HandyPro Services.
There are a few good rules of thumb people can use to determine which way to go and what to expect once they decide to hire a handyman, Paul said. If they do a little homework, they can save themselves both time and money. Paul offers the following suggestions:
1.) Determine the scope of the project. You've probably heard that a handyman makes his living from small jobs. But what is considered a small job? A handyman service considers a small job something around a home that can be completed in one to three days, Paul said. If the job is going to take more than a week to complete, the homeowner should probably consider hiring a contractor If youre going to reside or re-roof your home , you probably need to find a reliable contractor who specializes in those areas of home remodeling. But if you just need to put in a new sink or faucet, or want to install a ceiling fan or a new mirror in the bath, most handyman services are fully capable of handling that kind of small job.
2.) How much does a handyman charge? Like any contractor, a handyman should provide you with a free no obligation estimate before tackling your home improvement project. A homeowner should never hire a handyman until knowing the cost of the project, including parts.
3.) How to find a quality handyman. Finding a handyman is much easier today because they usually advertise in your local Yellow pages or through coupon direct mailings. But once you find one or two names, you still need to do your homework before hiring one. You should first ask for references and call other homeowners, who have used the service to make sure they do quality work, and stand behind their guarantees. You should also check with the local Better Business Bureau, to determine if there are any complaints against the handyman. Once you have determined they are reputable, make sure they are licensed by the state of Minnesota, and are insured. If they aren't, do not use them because you could be liable to pay for anything damaged or injuries while the handyman is working in your home. 4. Make a list of all the small projects you need done. When you finally decide on a particular handyman or service, you should have a list of all the projects you need done around the house. We often tell homeowners we can handle their to-do list, Paul said. Once the handyman is on site. moving from one small project to another is cheaper than having them come back two or three different times |
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