What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Handyman Services

What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Handyman Services

While perusing websites for handyman services, there are various factors one should consider, including service area, scheduling, services offered, and customer support. Ahead, learn more about these and other important factors.

Service Area and Scheduling

The first step in choosing a handyman service is finding one that serves the area a customer lives in. While most national handyman companies have their locations spread fairly evenly across the U.S., there won’t necessarily be one in every city and town. Most services have an online location tool that allows homeowners or renters to see if their home is in the company’s service area. A homeowner can also call the handyman service directly.

Handyman services typically offer two ways to schedule service. Some allow the customer to schedule service online or even via a handyman app on their smartphone. Others require their clients to call a toll-free number to schedule service. Those who value person-to-person contact when scheduling work in their home should choose a handyman service that offers clients a toll-free phone number for scheduling.

Services Offered

While most handyman services include assembly, carpentry, installation, maintenance, painting, remodeling, and general repairs in their list of services, many also offer services that set them apart from their competitors. These specialties include more advanced electrical and plumbing work, landscaping, fence installation, and deck repair. When vetting a handyman service, homeowners should look at their service offerings and choose one that matches the job that needs to be done. To avoid going through the vetting process again when choosing a service, homeowners should also consider what other household jobs will soon require a handyman.

Quotes and Pricing

Not all handyman services price their work the same way. Some charge by the hour, while others charge by the job. While there’s nothing wrong with either billing method, it’s important to consider how a handyman charges as it pertains to the size of the job. It makes sense to charge hourly for small jobs that may only take a few hours to complete, such as a minor plumbing repair or a shelf installation. For larger multi-day projects, it’s better to go with a handyman that will charge by the project, eliminating the need for the homeowner to monitor the crew to make sure they aren’t taking too long to complete the work. A good handyman service should also be able to give its clients a quote before performing the work.

Insurance and Licensing

When looking for “home repair services near me,” a homeowner should always check to see if the service is insured and if its technicians have the proper licensing to perform work in the state. Many states require the handyman to have some type of license. For example, in Massachusetts any handyman performing structural work or more extensive renovations must have a contractor’s license. Any handyman working in Maryland must have a home improvement license. Some states base their licenses on the value of the renovation. In Arizona, for example, any work over $1,000 requires a contractor’s license. Certain types of electrical and plumbing work also require licenses in most states. With this in mind, a customer should ask the handyman service if it has the licenses necessary to do the job before hiring it.

In addition to having the proper licensing, a good handyman service will also be insured. This is crucial given that homeowners insurance likely won’t cover work done by contractors, nor will it provide medical coverage should a technician be injured on the job. A good handyman service will have an insurance policy covering any accidental damage to the home and any injuries its technicians might suffer while on the job.

Guarantee

Many handyman services stand by their work with guarantees, but not all guarantees are the same. Some services guarantee their work for up to a year, while others may only do so for a few days. Since handyman services guarantees can vary, the customer will want to ask during the vetting process how long the company stands by its work.

Customer Support

Being able to get in touch with the handyman service when there are questions about the job or if something goes wrong is crucial. Since handyman services vary in how they offer customer service, it’s a good idea for the homeowner to choose one that works with their preferences. Those who like to interact with a live person should choose a service with a toll-free customer service phone number, while those who’d rather trade messages with a representative online should choose a service that offers a chat option.

A handyman service with limited customer service hours can be more frustrating to work with, so it’s also important to consider customer service hours. Some handyman services also offer other features designed to improve customer service, such as text alerts that let the customer know when the technician is on the way.