In the midst of a busy life it may be hard to find the time to complete home repairs and maintenance as required and so it may be quicker to hire a handyman. A handyman is a professional that can complete all basic maintenance and repairs and is often cheaper than a specialist such as a plumber or electrician.
Before hiring a professional it is important that appropriate research is conducted to gain an understanding of the average quality and costs of handyman services in the area. Further, it is important to ask friends and family if they do know of anyone to avoid and, preferably, someone who they know will do a good job.
Additionally, knowing the full scope of the work that needs to be done prior to hiring them is a good idea so that when the final job is done, there is a benchmark. If this can’t be achieved, work with the professional that is hired to gain a full understanding of the problem prior to work commencing.
Take a look below at some of the most important questions to ask a handyman:
Do you have public liability insurance?
They should have insurance that protects them in case they are injured on the job. It not only protects them, but keeps the homeowner protected from any potential legal issues down the track. Should they not have public liability insurance, do not hire them as it puts the homeowner at risk.
How much will it cost and can I get a written quote?
Regardless of how they charge, be it by the hour or by the job, it is important to get a quote before any work is done on the job. This ensures that there is no overcharging and that there is an understanding of what is expected. This should all be outlined in the agreement prior to the commencement of work. Also note how the cost is calculated to tick off any unnecessary charges.
Do you have any past clients I can use as references?
Asking for references is a great way to get a sound understanding of the overall quality of this handyman service based on previous work. If they are unwilling to provide references, it’s a pretty sure sign that they might not have completed the best work in the past.
Past clients are the best source of information having seen it first-hand. As stated earlier, family and friends are often the best references and will often provide more detail about the job that was completed.
How many times have you done (given task) before?
Gaining an understanding of the chosen professional’s experience is also a good step in not only providing expectations for the job but also how much they should be charging for the given task. If they are not experienced in the specific job, then the price should be lower than someone who is and it may be wise to question their hiring given the inclined risk. Obviously, this is dependent on the references received and who they are from.
How long will this job take to complete?
This question ties in with the scope of the job at hand. Gaining an understanding of how long the job will take helps to prevent overcharging and also the difficulty of the task at hand. Ensuring that the chosen handyman has a full understanding of the task at hand will enable them to provide an accurate timeframe for the job to be completed in and ensure that there is no overcharging due to delays.
Can you guarantee that you will fix this properly? Will you come back at no charge and fix any problems with your work?
A good professional will always guarantee his or her work so this information is a good gauge as to the quality of the service being hired. Ensure that there is a guarantee written in writing for any problems that arise following the initial (and hopefully final) completion of the job to be completed free of charge. It should be guaranteed that the initial work will be completed to a high standard and any resulting or ongoing problems related to this will be fixed at no extra cost.
Asking these questions and the subsequent answers should provide a good overall basis to make an educated decision when it comes to determined who will carry out the handyman services required. These questions should all be able to be answered and seen through by a professional and should they not be, it should therefore outline that they may not be the right person for the job.