Collecting and comparing price points is one of the most important pieces of information you’ll receive during your search for the right handyman. You want to make sure you’re getting the best quality at the best possible price, but prioritizing price over quality can be a risky approach.
While some may not believe that low pricing automatically means low quality, there’s some truth to the logic behind such pricing. An experienced local handyman might not be the cheapest, but the price he or she quotes is backed by years of work, dozens of positive reviews and most importantly, the knowledge necessary to complete your job correctly the first time. Hiring an inexperienced handyman – or even a friend of a friend who “does stuff around the house” – may appear to be the “wallet-friendly” option, but the potential risks associated with lower pricing can translate to spending more money to fix the problem down the road.
How does a cheap handyman do more harm than good?
Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. A price that comes in significantly lower than other estimates you received doesn’t necessarily mean that you struck a bargain.
It’s well known that fast food is cheap but not very good for you. The same goes for handyman services. By choosing the cheapest option or someone posing as a professional who has no documented experience, you may invite a whole lot of trouble in some unsuspecting ways:
- The handyman may cut corners to preserve profit. Rock-bottom prices don’t happen on their own. If a handyman is charging an unbelievably low price, you should think about how he or she can meet those prices. Chances are, it’s because cheaper materials, parts and hardware are being used – items that won’t last long in your home and will inevitably need replacing sooner than its higher-quality counterparts.
- They may not pay for insurance, which could leave you holding the bag. Insurance, well, ensures that your home and the handyman are both sufficiently covered in case something goes wrong. A cheap price might indicate that he or she isn’t paying for the extra (and even legally required!) protection necessary to secure your hard-earned money. If the job isn’t completed to your satisfaction or a worker is hurt on the job, you could get stuck with the bill with fewer options for legal recourse.
- You risk the project being completed incorrectly. Perhaps this potential cheap handyman is quoting lower prices because he or she is first starting out and wants to build up a portfolio or some good reviews. However, is that something you really want to risk, especially for more complicated projects? Paying more for experience means that you’re paying more for the security that comes with it.
Avoiding these headaches isn’t difficult. Receiving quotes is an essential part of the handyman vetting process, and fair and transparent pricing is an indicator of an honest and reliable home maintenance professional. Your home, safety, and budget are all potentially compromised when you hire “just anyone,” so if an estimate falls well below the normal range, think twice before you consider giving that person your hard-earned money.