Should You Hire Contractor Or Do It Yourself?

PLYMOUTH (Thursday, November 23, 2000) - Americans are busier than ever, and that often means they are too busy to handle the simple home improvement projects a house requires from time to time. But before you go out and hire a general contractor to repair a hole in some drywall or paint a room, you should consider an alternative – a local handyman or handyman service. With the boom in home remodeling, it's often difficult to find a contractor who has time to do small projects. And often a contractor's fees to handle small projects can be prohibitive for most homeowners. A handyman makes a living from small home remodeling projects and often is a better alternative. Knowing exactly what your home project entails can help you make the proper decision when choosing, said Keith Paul, president of Home Advantage Services in Plymouth. "There are a few good rules of thumb people can use to determine which way to go and what to expect once they decide to hire a handyman," Paul said. "If they do a little homework, they can save themselves both time and money." Paul offers the following suggestions: 1.) Determine the scope of the project. You've probably heard that a handyman makes his living from small jobs. But what is considered a small job? "A handyman service considers a small job something around a home that can be completed in one to three days," Paul said. "If the job is going to take more than a week to complete, the homeowner should probably consider hiring a contractor." If you're going to remodel a kitchen or bath, you probably need to find a reliable contractor who specializes in those areas of home remodeling. But if you just need to put in a new sink or faucet, or want to install a ceiling fan or a new mirror in the bath, most handyman services are fully capable of handling that kind of small job. 2.) How much does a handyman charge? Like any contractor, a handyman should provide you with a free estimate before tackling your home mprovement project. A homeowner should never hire a handyman until knowing the cost of the project, including parts. Typically, most handyman services charge an hourly fee of $35-$60 for labor. 3.) How to find a quality handyman. Finding a handyman is much easier today because more and more general contractors and home remodeling referral services also have a handyman division .And both handyman services or the local handyman usually advertise in your local Yellow pages or through coupon direct mailings. You can also call the local Chamber of Commerce to find members who are listed as a handyman. But once you find one or two names, you still need to do your homework before hiring one. You should first ask for references and call other homeowners, who have used the service to make sure they do quality work. You should also check with the local Better Business Bureau, (248) 644-9100, to determine if there are any complaints odged against the handyman. Once you have determined they are reputable, make sure they are licesned by the state of Michigan, (900) 555-8374, and are insured. If they aren't, don't use them because you could be liable to pay for anything damaged or injuries while the handyman is working in your home. 4. Make a list of all the small projects you need done. When you finally decide on a particular handyman or service, you should have a list of all the projects you need done around the house. "We often tell homeowners we can handle their to-do list, Paul said. "Once the handyman is on site. moving from one small project to another is cheaper than having them come back two or three different times."Home Advantage Services was founded in 1993 and is the parent company of Home Advantage Handyman Services and Home Advantage Contractor Referral Service. The company is headquartered in Plymouth, (800) 9-HANDY-4, and will begin franchising nationally in February.

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