What You Should Know Before Hiring A Handyman

1. Be Prepared
Know what you want to have done before your handyman arrives. It is easy to get caught up with additional work if the work is not carefully thought out and written down. If possible have sketches, photos, clippings, etc. on hand to illustrate what you want done and the look you are trying to achieve.

2. Interview the company
Find out about the company and their experience and select a knowledgeable, experienced, and established company who will take a personal interest in the outcome of your project. Make sure the handymen are pre-screened and have police background checks performed, after all, you are letting these people into one of your most prized possessions - your house.

3. Hire a reputable company
Don’t be victimized by someone making a door-to-door presentation offering to do repair jobs or home improvements "on-the-spot". While there are a number of small independent handymen available, be sure to hire one that is backed by a larger company. You want to make sure that if something should go wrong, or the handyman fails to complete the job, that you have the company to go back to. While one never plans to have to call upon the warranty for repairs, you will want to make sure that the company will still be in business should you ever need to go back to them.

4. Verify the company's history
Check for consumer complaints against the company by going to the Better Business Bureau's website to see the company's history dealing with customer concerns.

5. Contractor Insurance
Though the job size may be small, a little mistake can turn into a major disaster. Your handyman should carry enough liability insurance coverage to ensure they can cover any mishaps, should they ever occur. Also make sure that your handyman contributes to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (formerly known as workman's compensation). Ontario law requires employers to contribute an amount in excess of 10% of their employee's earnings to this insurance fund and provides a mechanism to cover the handyman should he or she be injured while performing work on your property.

6. Written Estimates
For small jobs, it is not economically feasible for a handyman to provide written estimates, however, the company can still provide you with their hourly rate and pricing related to materials. For larger jobs, a written quote should be the norm and should contain as much detail as possible to ensure that both parties understand what is required as part of the agreement.

7. Payment
For smaller jobs, most reputable companies will only require payment once the job is completed. For larger jobs, the requirement for a downpayment is common practice, however, anymore than 50% of the price should be questioned.