You’re all too familiar with the seemingly endless process when working to find a local handyman, contractor, plumber… really, any home maintenance professional who you need to rely on for dependable, affordable service.

The last thing you want to do is endure the long vetting process each time you need a project completed in your home. The trial and error cycle is exhausting – not to mention risky — and we don’t blame you for not wanting to go through it each and every time a drain clogs or your doorway needs to be repainted. You especially don’t want to have to conduct interviews and compare estimates when something goes seriously wrong and an emergency repair is needed.

However annoying the process may be, there’s no question that it’s extremely important to find a local handyman through this rigorous process. And at the end of the day, you should have a long-term relationship with a reliable handyman or a responsible contractor- someone who will be there next week, next month, and even next year. The question for homeowners is how to cut through the clutter and find a local handyman worth your time, money, and trust in the first place.

Why is it so damn hard to find a good local handyman?

You may have finally found a handyman or contractor who you may think is OK, only to be burned by a job done wrong or a project left incomplete. Many of us have heard contractor or handyman horror stories from family and friends or we’ve experienced them ourselves. Tales of unfinished jobs, overblown budgets and even malicious behavior can haunt us while we look for that trusted, long-term home maintenance partner.

The voice in our head telling us to be cautious is loud and demanding – for good reason. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of fraud out there, so that voice is 100 percent correct to tell us to conduct a proper, lengthy search before hiring someone to work on our homes. Yes, it’s important to scour the internet, post in Facebook groups and call your neighbor who may have mentioned a good handyman one time a few years back. It doesn’t make it any more fun – or any less difficult – but it’s essential in order to screen out the scammers.
Our “cheat sheet” will help guide your search process, inform your questions and show you some telltale signs that you’re dealing with a fraudster.

Need a local handyman? Start here

• Always check for license and insurance. Licensure varies from state to state. In Connecticut, home improvement professionals must be licensed by the state. In New York, handymen and contractors are regulated at the local level. Even if those regulations don’t require them to have insurance, they still should: an insurance policy is a sign of professionalism and a good layer of protection if something does go wrong.
• Look for transparent pricing. Home maintenance professionals should be up-front about cost when you request a quote. Some home maintenance service professionals will even list pricing on their website (here is HomeSquare’s FlexPlan pricing). Whether they share pricing with you through a thorough estimate or with pre-packaged pricing, it’s an indicator that he or she stands by their word.
• Consider investing in a small checkup. When trying to find a handyman, you want someone you can trust and with whom you can establish a long-term relationship. By conducting a “home checkup” with a potential candidate, you knock out multiple birds with one stone. You can gauge a good handyman’s work ethic and job quality during the process, plus you reap the benefits of a quick check of your home’s major appliances and components. You can avoid a major breakdown, a costly emergency repair and dodge working with a total stranger in the future, all in one fell swoop!

Be wary of these red flags

• The handyman won’t share references. There’s a reason – and not a good one – if your prospective handyman or contractor is reluctant to share testimonials from happy customers. If the candidate doesn’t share positive feedback, it’s time to find a handyman who will.
• A pattern unfolds in the less-than-favorable reviews. If a contractor or handyman has one or two bad reviews, those can be read with a critical eye. However, if you see more and more two and one-star reviews, all of which address the same theme such as lateness, inaccurate prices or a general rude demeanor, move on.
• High-pressure sales tactics are dead giveaways of scams. Reputable contractors and handymen know that homeowners take their time and do their due diligence when considering an offer. If the handyman tries to speed up the process with a promise to do work quickly or an offer to cut prices if you confirm within 24 hours, he or she may cut corners.

At HomeSquare, we believe in the importance of building these long-lasting relationships with our customers. We believe in the peace of mind provided through maximum precaution through insurance, permitting and licenses. Most importantly, we believe in the power of word-of-mouth. Our business model is built on the idea that you can call the same company for a routine HVAC inspection, a last-minute emergency repair or a kitchen remodel and know that you’re getting a qualified professional each and every time.

Don’t let us tell you that, though. Read the testimonials left by our satisfied customers throughout Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, N.Y. and decide for yourself. Then, go ahead and give us a call!