Choosing Mr. Right (Handyman!)
The right handyman, that is. Looking for the right handyman is a difficult yet necessary step. One look at the yellow pages and there you
have it – a multitude of handymen you can choose from. This leads us to the question, how do I
choose the right handyman? In home
repair, as in everything in life, we want to get a good, if not the best,
deal. That is why we have to carefully
choose the handyman who can do an excellent job repairing our homes without us
having to pay an arm and a leg for the repairs.
In choosing the right handyman, here are some handy
guidelines.
- Check
your coverage.
Ask yourself, “Is this covered?”. If your home insurance is picking the tab on
your home repairs, be sure to check the extent of the coverage. Before signing anything with your handyman,
review these with your insurance company first. This first step will save you a lot of time and money.
- Up
for Bids!
The time spent comparing estimates and bids is time
truly well spent. Get at least three
estimates. That way, you can, more or
less, get an idea of how much your home repairs would cost, given the extent of
the work the bidders propose to do. When
comparing bids, consider the quality of the materials they will use and the
extent of the detail each bidder is offering for the job. A word of warning, though. Do not immediately go for the lowest
bidder. Unusually low estimates may be a
red flag. Study the bids carefully but
also work with your gut feel. This step
may very well bring you a lot of savings – plus your peace of mind.
- Ask
for references
Call your prospective handyman’s past customers. This will give you vital information on the quality of the handyman’s work. Here are some important areas to look into:
the level of service the handyman provided, how quickly and promptly he completed
the job, the handyman’s ability to do the job according to specifications and
his willingness to redo the work if it was not. Ask the previous homeowners about their overall satisfaction with the
work done.
- Check
his coverage
Check to make sure that the handyman has the
requisite workers’ compensation and liability insurance. This is quite important as you will be held
liable for medical expenses in the event that the handyman injures himself on
your property. Check all documents
regarding his coverage. If the handyman
is not covered, your homeowner’s insurance policy may become his liability
coverage.
- Put
it on paper
Make sure that everything is put into writing. This includes a written estimate outlining
the details of the repair. Get this down
to the nitty-gritty of things – the quality and brands that should be used, how
much is to be used, the colors, sizes, everything. Do not generalize. You should also include the details
pertaining to how the materials will be stored during the project, and who will
clear, clean up, and reuse the debris. This estimate must be signed by you and
by your handyman even before the project is begun. Also, when the handyman approaches you with
changes to the original estimate, be sure to also have this put into writing
and signed by the handyman and yourself.
- Right
to cancel
The handyman should give you the option to cancel, if
you so desire. He should send you the
written notice of the right to cancel within three days after the estimate is
signed by both parties. If you cancel, be
sure to send the cancellation by registered mail, telegram or by hand-delivered
mail. Then, call to ensure that the
handyman received the cancellation. The
same handyman may still submit a revised estimate and it is up to you to
consider it and sign.
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