Hiring a Handyman vs. a Contractor

By: Daniel Hernandez

All of the suggestions in my last post will help you weed out the good from the bad as far as hiring a handyman/contractor, but it won't help you determine whether you need a contractor or a handyman to complete your job. The biggest piece of advice that I can give, based on my experience as a handyman and a licensed contractor, is that, as a consumer, it is best to go into the hiring process with some education and idea of what you want to accomplish. There is often confusion about the differences between a handyman and a contractor, when it is appropriate to hire one over the other, but there are several distinct differences between the two services.

A handyman can only do $500 worth of work per job, per day. So, if your job is going to be big, hire a contractor. In fact, if you are doing any kind of specialty project, I recommend that you hire a contractor. For example, if you need new outlets put into your walls or are going from a gas to electric stove and need a 220-watt outlet put in your kitchen, it is best to hire an electrician. The same goes for major plumbing, carpentry or sheetrock work. Only contractors can get permits for remodels and additions.

However, if your jobs are detail oriented and vary greatly in size and skill, a handyman, who has a broader scope of skills and will pay more attention to detail, is probably the best choice for your work. Handymen are flexible and don't have a large crew, so you can get your work done with less foot traffic in your space. There is no need to have more people working in your house than absolutely necessary. Sometimes the work will take longer to complete, but it will generally be less expensive in the end because there are fewer people to pay.

Handymen will also do the small stuff that contractors won't or don't like to do. Because these jobs are undesirable for contractors, the cost of a small project is inflated to make it worth their while. But since this is the kind of job handymen specialize in, the cost will generally be a lot less.

If your job requires a variety of tasks, you can hire a handyman, just use one company/handyman service for all of the work rather than using several specialized companies. Having several contractors can also get expensive, so if your job isn't very big, but requires several different skills, a handyman is the way to go.

Whether you decide that a handyman or a contractor is best suited for your project, make sure you keep some of these tips in mind. Keep the lines of communication open between you and your contractor/handyman, and don't wait until the job is done to express a concern you have had for days or weeks. The clearer you are about what you want, with yourself and the company you hire, the happier you will be with the work you receive.