Ten Important Questions to Ask When Hiring a Handyman

March 12, 2023

If you have a minor repair issue in your home or business, hiring a handyman might be just the right solution. A handyman is experienced in various repair and maintenance tasks, so they provide a flexible way to deal with home repair and installation issues.

Unfortunately, several handyman service providers offer less than legitimate services. As Lincoln’s trusted handyman company, our Honest Lee Handyman Services team understands the importance of hiring trustworthy and reliable professionals. Below are ten questions to ask when hiring a handyman to guarantee a pleasant experience and positive results.

1. What Type of Work Do You Perform?

The main difference between a handyman and other contracting professionals is a handyman performs several different tasks rather than focusing on one. A handyman can take care of various minor repair and maintenance issues, such as drain cleaning, drywall installation, or minor electrical work. Depending on the company, your handyman service might offer more specialized repairs.

A handyman is good for smaller repairs, but you should leave major work to experts. For example, incorrect electrical work can be dangerous, so you should call a licensed professional for those jobs.

2. Do You Have Insurance?

A handyman does not need a special license in California but should have insurance. If someone sustains an injury in your house, you can be on the hook for medical bills. Liability insurance protects you from litigation and can cover any unintentional damage to your home.

It is critical that your handyman have insurance to cover you in case something goes wrong. If a handyman service can’t provide proof of insurance, it is a major red flag, and you should look elsewhere.

3. Do You Have References?

Many handyman services rely on word-of-mouth advertising and references to meet clients. An experienced and qualified handyman should be able to produce local references from clients they’ve previously worked with. You can also search for online reviews from past customers, but make sure you also look at reviews on third-party sites and not just those on the service’s official website.

Lastly, look up the company on the Better Business Bureau to see if they have any customer complaints. Note that a company not having a BBB page doesn’t necessarily mean they are unreliable. However, it helps to know what, if any, customer complaints a company has before hiring them.

4. How Much Do You Charge for Work?

A handyman can charge either an hourly rate or a flat rate depending on the type of job. Knowing how the handyman service charges are useful because you can compare those figures to quotes from other contractors. The typical handyman charges anywhere between $60 to $70 per hour, though some handyman services might charge over $80 an hour for specialized services.

5. Do You Provide Quotes Upfront?

An experienced handyman should be able to assess your situation and give an accurate estimate of the cost of labor and materials upfront. Asking for quotes is a good idea if you are comparing handyman services, as you can see which one offers the best value for the dollar.

Many handyman services offer free quotes with no commitment, so you can choose another contractor if you want to pay a lower price. Additionally, you can refer to a written cost estimate if there is a discrepancy between the quoted price and final costs.

6. Do You Offer Workmanship Guarantees?

One of the most important questions to ask when hiring a handyman is about warranties. Although your handyman company should be professional, accidents happen, and even professionals can mess up sometimes. Workmanship guarantees protect you in the event something goes wrong from bad repairs or installation.

For example, a company with a one-year labor guarantee will fully replace any work that does not last for at least one year. Handyman services might offer different workmanship guarantees on labor and materials, so make sure you inquire about warranties.

7. Do You Have Photos of Your Work?

A qualified, experienced handyman should also be able to produce photos of previous work. Many handyman services have a portfolio section on their website, where they show previous projects they’ve completed. Comparing photos between handyman services can help you find a company that has experience with the kind of style you want in your home or business.

8. Will It Be a Single Person or Multi-Person Job?

Depending on the size of the job, you may only need one handyman or an entire team. You need to know how many people will be in your home because it could affect foot traffic through your house and the cost of the job. If a handyman has to bring extra contractors in for work, they should be on-site at all times to supervise the other workers.

9. How Many Projects Do You Currently Have?

A local handyman service could be extremely busy and juggling multiple projects for clients at once. You want to ensure your handyman has enough time in their schedule to devote to your issues. You don’t want your handyman coming late or leaving early because they have other projects on their schedule. Alternatively, a lack of any other projects could be a negative sign about their work quality.

10. How Long Will Work Take?

Lastly, inquire about how long the handyman thinks the project will take. You need a rough timetable so you can plan your and your family’s schedule around having workers in the house. Depending on the scope of the issues, projects could take between a few hours and multiple days.

Handyman Services in Sacramento County

As long as you stick to these questions to ask when hiring a handyman, you can find an experienced candidate. At Honest Lee Handyman Services, we have served homeowners in California for five years. As a top-rated handyman service provider, we offer a one-year warranty on all work and offer a superior level of professional service.