What to Consider when Choosing a Quality Handymen
Choosing a good local handyman can be quite tricky. However a few simple things can help you find a reliable local handyman. Before you decide on which local recommended handyman to go with, you need to be clear whether it is a handyman you are looking for, or a specialist in a trade such as plumbing, heating, tiling etc. The key difference is that a handyman often possesses a varied and broad set of skills across a range of trades, whereas a specialist tradesperson will have deep subject matter expertise in a particular area.
Generally, if your job is a complex one, then look for a specialist tradesman, not a local handyman. Similarly, if your job is an expensive one, it is probably worth looking for a specific tradesman.
However, if your job requires multiple skills (for e.g., a bit of tiling, painting and fixing some DIY stuff), is relatively inexpensive and low complexity, and does not require major qualifications, then you probably are looking for a good reliable handyman.
Some dos and don’ts while choosing handyman
Whether it is a local London handyman or a Glasgow handyman, there are some simple tips:
- Do not:
- a. Handover your keys and security codes unless absolutely essential
- b. Choose a handyman whom you are uncomfortable with
- c. Choose a handyman who is not insured for the job he/she is undertaking
- d. Agree to take on a handyman who is not qualified for the job (heating, plumbing, air-conditioning, roofing etc. require key qualifications which are important pre-requisites)
- e. Agree to pay the entire handyman quote or handyman price upfront – generally half upfront and half upon completion is a good compromise. If the job is an expensive one, you should pay lesser than half upfront.
Do :
- a. Make sure someone is always around while the handymen are at work
- b. Ask for an estimate in writing, including labour and material breakouts
- c. Be clear on how long the job will take, and whether post job clean-up is included
- d. Ask for start and end dates for the job
- e. Check local handymen rates in advance. Handymen rates vary from as low as £8 an hour to upto £40 for central London handymen
Choosing the right handyman for you
So, how do you find a quality handyman and choose him or her?
Finding handymen
There are many ways to find a list of local handymen – some easier than others.
- You could use search engines to get a list of local handymen and local tradesmen. The risk here is that you have no real knowledge of how good they are or what skills they really possess and it can be time consuming calling numerous tradesmen, having to leave messages asking them to call you.
- Another option is to use the yellow pages but again you have the same issues as using a search engine.
- A recommendation – this is arguably a better option than using a search engine or yellow pages but you are unlikely to have more than one recommendation which makes comparisons difficult
- An easy, hassle free way of identifying local skilled handymen is to use the service of a site such as www.xpertfind.com. xpertfind.com has a database of skilled handymen along with rating and feedback provided by customers like yourself for all their handymen across the UK. You simply post details of you job on the site and wait for suitably skilled, local handymen interested in your work to contact you. It is a quick and easy way for customers to find local tradesmen for a whole range of jobs and the website has national coverage. So, you can post your job online and let xpertfind.com do the hard work of finding 3 local quality handymen who can provide you with quotes. Who you go with is your decision.
Once you have 3 suitably skilled, local handymen how do you choose between them?
Ask for references
When hiring a handyman, don't be shy in asking for references on their work. You could even take the time to call these people and ask how the work went for them. It may even be wise to go and see the work that has been done. Seeing with your own eyes what the tradesman has accomplished is the best way to know what you are paying for.
Compare handymen quotes
Handymen services and prices can vary a lot, depending on whether it is a London handyman or a handyman in Bakewell. Handyman quotes and handyman rates also often depend on the material and supplies that are being used, so be sure you are getting a good range of quotes. Ask the handyman to break out the various supplies and labour costs. Ask for details of material used, and the level of finishing and post job clean-up they will do.
The written quotation should list materials, labour and VAT (if appropriate). It should also list any tools that the handyman may ask you to fund – doing all this will make sure you can compare costs accurately. You don’t want to be stung by a handyman cost/invoice which is 50% higher than you thought it would be!
Time to complete the job and where it will be completed
Be clear on how long will it take the handyman to complete the job. Finding a quality handyman who can work efficiently and quickly is beneficial - they will cost less because the hours will be less. Even if the cost per hour is more, if they work a third less hours than another tradesman, it will most likely be less money in the end.
Prior experience
It's all to do with experience! Ask what experience they have. Also, ask if they could bring a portfolio of photos with them so you can see the type of work they do. This is a sure way of assessing whether a handyman is experienced in your specific trade need.
Are they licensed or registered?
Another sure way of checking the reliability of the handyman is through licenses and registrations. Often, for smaller jobs you can use your discretion and not check for these. But, if the job is relatively large and complex, then make sure your handyman is adequately skilled. The www.xpertfind.com website will list license and registrations requirements for most trades, so be sure to check on the site before deciding on your handyman.
Click on this link to: Post a Handyman Job with xpertfind.com