Have you learned to live with some of the quirks of your house, such as the sticky windows, leaky faucets, and the damaged drywall hidden behind that poster or piece of art? You don’t have to put off these repairs, with a handyman to fix things up and get it in top shape you can fully enjoy your home!
Not only will fixing things up making your life easier, but it will also improve the resale value of your home. If you’re ready to hire a handyman to take care of the problems in your house, then keep these essential tips to help you find a handyman in mind.
Plan a Budget and Project Outline First
The first thing you want to do is put together a budget and a project outline. What is it specifically that you need to do? Do you know how you want it to be done? Maybe you need someone to fix the ceiling in the kitchen and you want them to install a few doors while they’re there. Once you have a general outline of what needs to be done you can put together a budget. Knowing how much you have to spend on the project keeps your expectations realistic and helps you find a handyman who can do the job you need at a price you can pay.
Re-Hire a Handyman Who’s Done Work for you Before
One of the best ways to find a great handyman is to hire someone who has worked for you before. If you hired someone and they did a great job, then simply use them again. There’s no need to look for a new handyman if you’ve already got one in your phone book.
Ask Friends and Family for Suggestions
Don’t despair if you’ve never worked with a handyman before or don’t know any good ones yourself. Chances are that your friends and family will, and they’ll be happy to tell you about them. If you have someone in your life that just had some great work done, find out who did it for them and then look into that handyman for yourself. Personal recommendations are the top way to find a great handyman fast.
Search for a Local Handyman on the Web
Another top option when looking for a local handyman is to search the web. When looking online keep an eye out for ratings and reviews as well. You can see what other people who actually hired them to think of their work. Either way, between your own experiences, friends, and family, and the internet, you’ll be able to put together a shortlist of a handful of potential handymen candidates for your project.
Compare Costs to Stay on Budget
Different handymen will have different rates. As well as comparing the performance of different handymen, you want to take a look at what they charge. Any good handyman would be more than happy to provide you with a quote for your home improvement project whether you plan to update the kitchen or renovate a bathroom. This is one more reason that you put together the project outline earlier. A handyman can use it to determine how much it may cost to complete the work. Keep in mind that the cheapest solution isn’t always the right one. If they do shoddy work then you’ll have to pay more further down the line to fix it.
Ask for Reviews and References
If the handyman doesn’t have reviews and references up on their website, then there’s no harm in asking for them outright. If they aren’t willing to give references then this should raise a red flag. Take a little time to talk to their previous customers or read their reviews if you can and see the work they’ve done in the past. Reviews and references are a great way to get an example of what a handyman can do.
Create a Written Contract with Costs and Timeline
Once you’ve chosen a contractor and are ready to begin work, you want to make sure everything is in writing. Including the costs in the written contract ensures that everything is transparent and there are no hidden charges while having a timeframe written down gives you some idea of when the work will be completed.
Summary
If you are looking to find a handyman this begins with determining exactly what work needs to be done. Once you have an idea of that, you can ask your friends and family and search online for someone to get the job done. Find a few different options and compare them to get a good deal. Ask them some questions, make sure they know what they are doing, and get some examples of their previous work. Finally, ensure that you put together a solid contract with them to ensure the project goes smoothly for everyone involved!
