Home improvements are those little jobs that would make your home more enjoyable and beautiful to live in but may not be essential. Because of this, there isn’t always enough motivation to do them on your weekends off.
So, you put them off for another day.
This means you might be left looking at dated cabinets you hate, and walls that you’d like to paint, but just can’t seem to get motivated to do it. Hiring a handyman to complete these projects can go a long way to helping you enjoy your home.
Here are the pros and cons of using a handyman and how you can find a good one.
A. Pros Hiring a Handyman
A good handyman can do a lot of different odd jobs around your house. From painting to repairing deck boards, you can get a lot done when you use handyman services.
Here are some of the pros to using a handyman.
1. They Have Skills You Don’t
Sure, you can change out a light bulb, but do you know how to change out a light fixture safely, or install new faucets or sinks? While you could easily learn these skills, that takes time you may or may not have.
Hiring a handyman who already has these skills, means that you can easily get the work done without investing the time into it. Plus, they have skills far beyond that of someone who only specializes in one thing.
They may be able to change light fixtures, swap out your toilet, and give you a new sink to easily update your bathroom.
2. Saves You Money
Hiring a contractor is expensive and they often have longer timelines. If you’re doing updates so you can sell your home, you don’t necessarily have time to wait. You might need someone who can paint your walls this weekend.
Contractors don’t have that flexibility, but handymen do. Plus, their rates are often lower than a contractor which means big savings for you.
3. Gives You Back Your Time
The truth is, you don’t want to spend every weekend completing big projects around the house. By hiring a handyman, you can get back more time to do things you enjoy, and still make your house more beautiful.
B. Cons Hiring a Handyman
There are some downsides to hiring a handyman that you should watch out for. It’s important to look for reputable people who know what they are doing before you hire them to do the job.
1. Work Might Not Be to Code
Make sure you know about code issues that could come up in a house inspection and that you hire a handyman who knows the codes as well.
Some less experienced handymen may not do work to the current building codes and that can cause problems for you if you ever decide to sell your home.
2. Could End up Costing You More if Done Incorrectly
If the work is done wrong, you’ll pay more than double to fix it. It’s critical to hire a handyman that you know has the experience needed to complete the work you’re asking them to do.
Don’t pick someone to put new tile on your bathroom floor if they’ve never done it before. They should have the skills and equipment to complete the jobs you need them to do.
C. Tips to Help You Find a Good Handyman
1. Ask for Referrals
See if your friends or acquaintances can help you find a handyman. They may have friends or family who freelance their skills outside of normal work hours to make extra money.
It’s best if you know they are running their side business legally, and if you’re not sure, you can always let them know how to apply for an ITIN number to ensure they report their earnings accurately to the IRS.
This is especially helpful to know if you live in an area with resident aliens who help complete home projects.
2. Make Sure They Have Insurance
Getting liability insurance isn’t that expensive, but every handyman should have it. Some policies are as low as $30/month and can protect them and your home in the event of an accident.
In the event an issue arises when they are doing the work, this policy will cover them.
Use these tips to help you find a handyman to help your home look even better than it does right now.
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