Tips for Hiring a Handyman

[Larry Towner]

Hey Y'all,

I work as a professional handyman and have several rentals in the Northern Suburbs of Atlanta.  I see many posts on hiring handymen and contractors.  This is an area that is difficult; good contractors (and Handypersons) are hard to find.  Successful contractors and handymen are in such high demand, they get a bit jaded and become very particular in whom they choose to work for.  

Critical Considerations:

1). Professional handymen/women have a large talent stack and understand a property as a series of systems.  They have the ability to repair any of the systems, but generally, will not do portions that they are not comfortable with.  These talent stacks are rare (I did not believe that until I became a handyman). 

2). A professional handyman/woman wants, like all people, to be treated with respect.  They want to be treated as a part of the team (having a competent handyman on your team is as important as finding the right deal!).  They take pride in their work and want to be recognized as doing a good job.

3). Professional handymen/women run their operations as a business.  They have a concept of profitability and accountability.  They have a system and know their numbers (just like a real estate investor).  They understand their liabilities and have a warranty policy, insurance, are ethical, and prefer to not "patch" things (preferring to repair the root cause, thus reducing call backs).  They want to treat their customers with respect and work in their best interests.

Like all business people, handymen/women like to have fewer customers (such as rental property owners).  It's easier to develop long term relationships with smaller groups, and the smart handyperson can anticipate the needs of the property and the client.

4). Good handymen/women "own" their work.  Already said, but pride of work enables warranty, insurance, and responsibility.  In a long term relationship, the handyman feels as though he "owns" the property and wants to care for it as though his/her life is dependent upon it's smooth operation.

5). Professional handymen/women have decent communications skills.  Speaking for myself, I rarely answer the telephone when I am on a job, thus, if you call at 9:30 AM I will not respond until I am free.  I do not feel it is my place to be "selling" new work on the clients time. 

A professional will respond in a timely fashion, usually with a large number of questions: Who, What, Where, When, How, Why, and at what rate are you expecting.  Basic sales qualifying questions, but so critical operationally.

Expectations for success in hiring:

1). Pay a professional rate.  In most areas (as of this writing) expect to pay a minimum of $75 an hour. 

2). Be respectful, develop the relationship, remember the Chinese Proverb "dig the well before you thirst".

3). They will be busy (if not, you need to reconsider hiring them), be considerate.

4). You should be "selling" them on why they should work for you.  Do not expect them to "need" the work, they don't!

5). Be grateful, "thank you" goes a long way!

Good Luck!