When you look around your home maybe you see a list of jobs that have been on the ‘to do’ list for week, months or even years! Maybe the list includes hanging pictures, installing those new blinds, oiling the deck, fixing that leaking guttering, painting the garden shed or having a new deck built – well, maybe its time to employ a handyman to get the jobs done. Our huge range of handyman services is likely to able to address virtually any problem you may need attending to, in terms of your home maintenance (or even your rental property or business for that matter).

So What To Look For In A Handyman?

Here are a few pointers we think are valuable in assessing a potential handyman to work on your property.

1. Is he a ‘genuine’ handyman? This may sound strange, but when you look at many listings for a handyman you will see them offering all sorts of services like plumbing, electrical work and we have even seen a handyman offering car maintenance services – this could possibly ring an alarm bell. The ‘bread and butter’ of a handyman’s work generally does not include plumbing and electrical work. These trades requires licencing and an unlicensed person doing electrical wiring or plumbing in new appliances could be a recipe for disaster.
2. Is the handyman insured? It is well worth taking the time to ask if the handyman you are considering hiring has adequate and correct insurance. You can ask him to send you a copy of his current insurance policy. In the unlikely event that damage occurs as a result of some unforeseen accident, it is important that the handyman you are using has the appropriate insurance cover.
3. What experience does he have? Most handymen worth their salt will be more than happy to discuss with you their experience – not only their general experience but the experience related to the job or jobs you need doing. For example, if you need a handyman to paint a room in your home, exactly how much experience does he have in painting. If you need someone to hang pictures in a particular pattern on a wall, for example, does he have the skills and tools to achieve a professional result? Likewise, if you need a handyman to build some custom bookshelves, does he have experience in carpentry and the correct tools to complete the work?
4. Does he provide a written quotation? It may seem obvious, but it is very important to get all quotes in writing. The old adage ‘if its not in writing it does not count’ certainly applies to handyman services. You need to discuss your jobs with the handyman and then request a written quotation from him. This will not only confirm the agreed price, but should also detail the exact nature of the work agreed to so there can be no misunderstandings after the work is completed. The quotation should, preferably, be detailed and outline separate jobs (painting, fixing a jammed door, replacing a broken tile, concreting a pathway etc) and the price applicable to each job. Where materials are to be supplied, ensure that the quotation clearly details the brand (say of paints to be used or deck finishing products) as well as the quantities required.
5. Can the handyman provide references? It is often worth asking for references from people and clients that the handyman has worked for before. If the handyman has a good track record of service behind him (or her!), they will only be to glad to offer them up. You can call these referees and ask them about the work that was performed and how happy they were with the work done. You could ask, for example: Was the work performed on time? Was it performed to the quoted price? Was the quality of work good?
6. Is the handyman local? Whilst not always a ‘critical’ factor when choosing a handyman, it can be very convenient to employ a local person to do the work. It means that if there are any issues or if further work is required then it is easy for the handyman to come back to your property. With Sydney’s increasingly bad traffic problems it also means that ‘travel time’ will be less of a factor in any prices quoted. If a handyman has to travel for 1 hour to reach you he will need to factor this into his quotation!

If you have any questions or require handyman work performed at your property please contact us for helpful assistance.