Assuming that you are like most of us, there are a several small home repairs you’d love to address, but can never seem to find the time to attend to. Unfortunately, many small home repairs are likely to turn into large service expenses if left unchecked. However, there is a solution! If you don’t have the time to bother with every minor repair on your list, hiring a handyman company is a terrific manner to get the job done without cutting into any of your spare time.
The Rise and Fall (and New Emergence) of the Handyman Company
Though it hasn’t always been true, very good handyman companies aren’t difficult to locate! In the course of the real estate boom of the eighties, many home improvement contractors wouldn’t take on a job worth less than $25,000. Handyman companies that used to concentrate only on small home repairs weren’t sought after, and so the handymen who worked for such companies started to work for larger sized contractors, thus stretching the available supply of quality handymen. These days, however, homeowners are focusing more of their home improvement buck on keeping the things they already have in the best condition possible; as the demand for small home repairs is again increasing, handyman companies are again becoming popular.
The Expense of Minor Home Repairs
It’s simple to presume that hiring a handyman will be more affordable than hiring a home improvement contractor, yet this assumption is only true in certain situations. Handyman companies hired to complete multiple minor home repairs are generally going to end up costing less than hiring multiple specialized contractors; however, if you have just one particular problem that is manifesting itself in multiple locations, the specialist is generally the way to go. For instance, if you have a stair that squeaks, a faucet that drips, and an outlet that sparks, hiring a handyman company is probably your best option to get them all fixed quickly as well as affordably. On the other hand, if you have a whole set of stairs that really should be replaced, low water pressure in each of your faucets, or a house filled with two-pronged outlets that need to be updated, you’re better off hiring a carpenter, plumber, or electrician.
The reasoning is simple when you consider it. Having multiple minor home repairs taken care of by a single handyman company (with a single “show-up fee”) is going to be less costly and less of a hassle than hiring 3 or 4 various specialists. On the other hand, if coping with a single severe or wide-spread problem, the specialized contractor will often have the equipment and experience that will enable him or her to more successfully make the repair. You should likewise keep in mind that if any “minor” home repair is valued at over $500, your state might demand that you hire a properly licensed contractor.
Write down ALL Small Repairs Even before You Call a Handyman Company
When you elect to hire a handyman company, it is an efficient idea to see to it that you have your list of small repairs at hand when you call them. Handyman companies aren’t going to be inexpensive in the event that they must bill numerous “show-up” fees; taking a close inventory of every minor repair will reduce the need for a number of visits. Additionally, lots of small home repairs entail a significant level of setup. For example, when repairing holes in drywall, you should first prepare some joint compound; since there is very little difference in preparing enough for 1 big hole and preparing enough for 1 large hole and 6 minor ones, making a list of these smaller holes enables you to basically have them fixed free of charge.
What Minor Repairs Are Handyman Companies Probable to Repair?
The beauty of the handyman company is that most are quite versatile when it pertains to defining what constitutes a “small” home repair. Of course, faulty faucets and sticking doors are handyman-friendly tasks, however in case you have anything a little more substantial or obscure, they’re likely to be equipped to take care of that, too. Going over your list before your handyman reaches your doorstep is important, however, if you want the most reliable and fastest repairs possible. While a handyman might be equipped to mend everything from a plugged shower drain to a rickety antique bed-frame, there’s a good chance that he or she won’t have every tool for every job in the van; that means trips to the hardware store while they’re still on the clock!