When you need assistance in a home project, including work such as fixing metal cladding, you will want to consider how to hire the ideal handyman service. After all, if you’ve invested in high-end furniture pieces, you want to ensure the rest of your home is as upscale as the furnishings you love.
What is a handyman? What kind of services does a handyman provide? What qualifications do they have? Read on to learn what a handyman service is and how to find the ideal handyman service for your property’s needs.
What is a handyman service?
A handyman service company is one that offers basic to complex residential services, usually to upgrade or renovate a property. For example, you would hire a handyman service company to seal a deck, provide a timber feature wall in or around the home, or do other general tasks in and around your place.
A handyman may be a contractor who provides a wide variety of home interior and exterior work for clients or may be considered a ‘Jack of all trades’ to some. Before hiring any handyman, look at their portfolio of work, reviews from previous customers, and, if possible, recommendations from family and friends.
What kind of services does a handyman provide?
If a handyman is what you’re after, then the right professional for your home project will be able to meet most — if not all — of your home upgrade or renovation needs. In short, a handyman is someone who helps with all kinds of home and landscape remodelling.
Here are just some of the services a handyman can provide.
Exterior services
A handyman can do many of your outdoor projects. They can install a new deck, help you redesign an existing one, or lay down a timber sealer to keep your deck looking amazing.
A handyman can also paint, put in a timber feature wall, or provide other services to your home to increase its curbside appeal, all while protecting the wooden structures.
Interior services
You can hire a handyman for interior projects, such as repairing a staircase or upgrading a simple living space. This way, your beautiful interior and exterior furnishings and finishes will look stunning throughout your home — including themed designs like a coastal interior design.
Before hiring a handyman to take on your interior or exterior project, get a quote for your home project. Compare estimates from multiple handyman services before choosing the one you’re happiest with.
How to find the right handyman service
Now that you know what a handyman is and what they can do, it’s time to choose the right specialist for your home.
While it’s easy to find a handyman, give careful consideration to who you decide to hire. Being picky about who works on your home could mean the difference between having a home project completed with professional results, or one that looks like you tried to do it yourself.
You are investing time and money into a handyman service, so picking the right professional is something you should take seriously. Luckily, there are several ways you can find an ideal handyman.
Here are some things to consider when choosing the right handyman for your needs.
1. Areas of specialty work
Not every handyman provides a niche service, but if one does and it fits what you need, choose that handyman service company over another. For example, some will specialize in finishing wood and can show you how to oil a deck so it lasts. Others will have experience in design and furnishing, like coastal home interiors.
2. Licensing and accreditation
Before hiring any handyman to work for you, it’s important to know they are a professional operator. At the very least, a handyman should be licensed and insured. If they are doing more intricate tasks, such as installing appliances or electrical work, they should be certified in these areas so your home remains within the code and there are no warranty issues.
3. Experience and skill
We all know that you get what you pay for, and a handyman service is no exception. Choose a handyman with experience and skill — this is where viewing a portfolio and reading customer reviews is worthwhile, so you know you’re choosing a professional who will do the job properly.
4. Availability and reliability
The sooner you call a handyman, the sooner they can book you into their schedule. The ideal handyman service might be available in the near future from the day you call (allow a few weeks) and show up on time for your initial consultation.
If your handyman is late or misses a consult — or keeps rescheduling you without reason — take this as a sign that you need to hire someone else. You want your project completed in a reasonable amount of time and for it not to be a rushed job. That way you can enjoy the beauty of your newly improved living space.
5. Communication
A handyman should have reliable communication and be informative when explaining projects and their associated costs. They should also keep you informed about their schedule – if your handyman cannot get to you for a few days, they should tell you. You should always know what’s going on in your own home.
A handyman that’s unreliable, vague, or won’t explain their processes is probably going to be difficult throughout the entire process. They don’t necessarily need to be engaging and friendly (although it would be better if they are), but they should be open and informative to give you confidence in them.
Handy tips for your new handyman
Be prepared to get quotes from several handyman services companies as part of the hiring process. Ideally, you will do more than speak to them over the phone, but actually meet them in person. You need a ‘feel’ of who you’re potentially allowing to work on your home.
Once you have narrowed down your handyman options, a deciding factor should be your budget and what you can afford. A company’s reputation and ability to complete your home project in a timely manner is also important when making your choice.
One final tip for finding the right handyman service: get all quotes and work intentions in writing. An ideal handyman will have no problem meeting this request and will stand by their quality and values.