Handy tips when looking for a handyman

Handymen are often referred to as jacks of all trades. When it comes to home renovation and improvement jobs, a handyman can do it all for you. Need someone to mount your new TV, fix a broken lamp or replace that broken banister? In a way, you can think of them as the glue that keeps the house together.

How to know if you need a handyman or a contractor

It depends on the scope of the work that needs to be done. A handyman is your best choice for simple and routine tasks that you can probably do yourself but don’t have the time for. If you need to have your whole house rewired, you obviously need a professional electrician to do the job. For simple jobs such as installing a light fixture or a new appliance unit, a handyman can definitely take care of that for you.

Tips when hiring a handyman

1. Word of mouth – Great work gets around, and this is how honest and reliable tradies get their livelihood. They rely on repeat customers and referrals.
2. Read customer reviews – There are instances when none of the people you know can recommend anyone. This is especially true if you just recently moved and don’t know a lot of people around the neighbourhood yet. The next best thing is to do a little research and read comments and feedback left by their previous customers.
3. Do an initial interview – Even though a handyman has received great reviews, it’s still best to talk to them first, discuss the job and take it from there. Don’t just schedule jobs without talking to them first. This is also the best time to ask for references. Honest tradies who have nothing to hide will be happy to hand over a list of their past clients.
4. Compare quotes – Price is still a huge deciding factor. There is certainly nothing wrong with shopping around and finding out how other businesses are charging for the same job. However, don’t always go with the lowest bidder. When discussing the price, it’s important to get it in writing.
5. Inspect the work – Once the job has been completed, it’s important to give it a thorough inspection before handing in the payment. Ask yourself, “Is this what I have in mind, and am I happy with how the job turned out?” Most handymen will be glad to make some final revisions because they want their customers to be satisfied.

Hiring a handyman that you can trust can be tricky. But once you’ve found the right tradie, home improvement and simple repairs will definitely become a lot easier. Most importantly, a reliable handyman can keep your house from becoming run down by making sure that everything is in proper working order. Check out the top local handyman services on our site.