Home maintenance is an unavoidable part of owning a home
You’ll have some maintenance or repair work that needs to be done. Home improvements are a frequent necessity. What if you don’t have the time, experience, or desire to do all that work yourself? Who can you call to help you with house repairs and honey-do lists?
You have a few options. Each one has its particular niche and benefits, as well as its disadvantages:
You can call a friend or relative.
Of course, you may not be getting professional-level quality work. And you may be stuck waiting on their busy schedule to lighten up. If there are really major projects that need to be done, having someone who is not a licensed professional may prove to become a legal liability.
This option is best left for smaller jobs if your friend or family member is very talented in the area you need help with.
You can call a handyman near you.
The best handyman service can handle a wide variety of small jobs and home repairs. Hiring a handyman is often a lot less expensive than calling in contractors or other specialists. A good handyman is usually not licensed but is very skilled in a lot of different types of work around the home. He can handle routine maintenance work and simple repairs.
You can expect a handyman to handle things like replacing broken door knobs or hardware, repairing or replacing a ceiling fan, patching up a hole in the drywall where a door knob went through, unclogging sinks and toilets, small paint or staining jobs, replacing doors, replacing windows, etc.
A handyman can identify when a higher level of service is needed and may refer a homeowner to a general contractor and other professionals for more difficult work
You can call a local general contractor.
A general contractor is licensed and can oversee a wide variety of large projects around your home. To compare a handyman vs. contractor—hiring a contractor is usually more expensive than a handyman. They can handle larger renovations or repairs.
If you need a bathroom remodel, an additional room built on your house, major kitchen renovations, or whole house renovations, a general contractor may be your best bet.
If they run into difficult or very specialized issues, they will bring in the additional licensed professionals required for the specific job
You can call a licensed professional to handle a specific problem.
Maybe you have a big project or problem and you need someone with a very specific area of expertise and licensing. Larger home services must only be done by well-qualified, experienced professionals who have all the proper licenses, permits, and who follow all the laws and regulations.
If you need a new electrical box put in or you need the electrical system in your home to be rewired, you need a licensed electrician.
If you need all the pipes in the house to be replaced or the drain pipe under the shower is leaking under the house, or you have an issue with the sewer line before it gets to the city line, you need a licensed plumber.
If your house foundation is shifting a lot and there are many cracks in the brick outside and cracks in the drywall above the windows and doors in your home, you may need to contact a house foundation specialist.
When you keep up with home improvements, it saves you money. It’s a lot easier to repair a small problem right away than to let it fester and go unrepaired for months or years until it becomes a major expense. Sometimes calling a handyman early can save you a lot of time, aggravation, and expense later.
Your time and peace of mind are priceless.
