When you need a contractor or handyman, it can be a challenge to know where you start looking. We’ve all heard stories of people getting taken advantage of or getting sub-par service. However, there are some things around your home that you simply can’t take care of yourself. So when you need outside help, you’ve got to find someone you can trust. When working with someone you trust, you won’t have to worry about wasting your money on a bad fix. To help make finding someone easier, here are three tips for making a good financial choice with a contractor or handyman.
Seek Out Recommendations
If you’re new to the area and aren’t sure what contractor or handyman to use, the best place to start is to seek out recommendations. While getting a first-hand account from a trusted friend or neighbor is great, that isn’t always something feasible. So when you need to get outside recommendations, Alan Henry, a contributor to LifeHacker.com, suggests looking at websites like Yelp or Angie’s List. These websites can give you a lot of information about handymen or contractors that could be helpful in making a decision. And if all else fails, you can always go to your local hardware store and ask one of the customer service representatives if they know of anyone who could help you.
Protect Yourself With Licenses and Insurance
Even if you’re only having a small amount of work done, you’re going to want to make sure you use a contractor or handyman that’s licensed and insured. If something were to go wrong or there were to be an injury incurred, you could be on the hook for a long and expensive legal process if the person you hired isn’t adequately insured or licensed. According to Jim T. Miller, a contributor to the Huffington Post, either an approved contractor or tradesman license is what you should be looking for. If the person you’re considering hiring can’t produce these paper or proof of insurance, keeping looking for someone else who can.
Be Careful About Paying Upfront
To best protect your own financial investment, you’re going to want to ensure that you’re not paying too much money for a service that won’t be the quality you’re expecting. To keep this from happening to you, Elizabeth Weintraub, a contributor to TheBalance.com, warns that you never pay for services upfront unless you have a proven relationship with your contractor or handyman. While paying for materials and a portion of the project upfront can be customary, you want to ensure that the project is done to your satisfaction before you pay for the entire thing.
If you’re concerned about finding a good contractor or handyman, use the tips mentioned above to ensure you never get taken advantage of financially.