Home Repair Services: 6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Handyman

August 30, 2017

home repair contractor in Palm Desert, CA

When you have minor repairs and projects to complete at your desert home, you want to find a reliable contractor to do the work. A handyman service company can perform small repairs and routine maintenance at your home, including running toilets, leaking faucets, painting, and drywall repair. They can also troubleshoot problems with your HVAC system, appliances, and other home systems.

But how do you choose the right handyman?

Like choosing a house cleaning service, selecting the right maintenance company to come into your home and make repairs is an important task. You want to find a team that you can trust and have the confidence that they will perform the repairs safely the first time.

Protect your home and your family by asking these 6 questions when you are selecting a home repair contractor.

Six Questions to Ask When Hiring a Handyman

  1. Can you do the job?
  2. Create a list of the projects you’d like and ask the company if they can do the work. If they cannot, ask them for who they would recommend. Ideally, you’d find a handyman company who can accommodate all of your projects, no matter how small.

  3. Are you experienced doing this work?
  4. You don’t want a handyman learning on the job, using your home as practice. Experienced handymen are skilled at identifying problems and knowing the right solution, which will save you time and money. Inexperienced or unqualified contractors can create more issues, leaving you scrambling to find another contractor to fix their mistakes.

  5. How long will this take?
  6. A good handyman will be able to give you a time estimate for the work and be able to schedule the work within a reasonable time. They should also be able to quote how much materials and supplies will cost. During this stage of the process, make sure to ask for a quote or estimate in writing; this will help set expectations for both parties.

  7. Do you carry insurance?
  8. Handyman and maintenance contractors should have liability and workers compensation insurance, which will protect you from liability in case a team member is injured at your home. We strongly recommend not hiring a handyman who does not carry liability insurance, as the risk is too great.

  9. Are you licensed?
  10. Ask your potential maintenance contractor if they are licensed to do business in California. A handyman with a business license ensures they are registered with your local city, and are not a side business run by someone out of the back of their pickup truck. A license is a trust symbol you should look for in a contractor that will be entering your home.

  11. Do you have references?
  12. Ask the company for references from past clients, especially homeowners that had a similar project to yours. By talking to these references, you can learn more about the handyman service, like their cleanliness, level of communication, and punctuality. Online reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp are a great way to learn about a service company before you hire them.