Finding a good handyman can help you tremendously as a landlord. Your plate is already full as it is. You have to manage your properties, ensure good relationships with your tenants, prepare yourself always for the possibility of California eviction, and so much more. Do you really want to deal with all of the hassle of handling repairs and property maintenance? Of course not.
That’s why it’s such a good idea for you to hire a handyman—someone you can turn to for help whenever your rental property is in need of some work.
Of course, not all handymen are the same. You’ve probably heard horror stories about shady, fly-by-night handymen who rip off clients to the tune of thousands of dollars. You certainly can’t afford to have that happen to you!
If you follow these simple tips, hiring the right handyman will be easy.
Know your needs—Not all handymen are the same. When you think of the word handyman, you probably envision a jack of all trades. While it’s true that handymen can often handle many different types of jobs, few can do everything well. That’s why you need to first make a list of your needs. What types of projects will you be asking your handyman to do? Make a list, and then focus on finding someone with experience performing these jobs..
Build a list of handymen prospects—The internet is a great resource for finding handymen in your area. You can start with a simple search on Google, or turn to a reviews website, like Angie’s List. Spend a little time reading up on the different local handymen, and make a short list of potential candidates.
Get references—Always, always, always get references before hiring a handyman. Of course the handyman is going to say he’s great at what he does, but if he really is good at his job, he’ll have no problem giving you several references of satisfied clients. If your handyman has no references, hire someone else.
Learn about the handyman’s experience and skill level—Ask the handyman how long he has been taking on jobs. Learn about what types of specific jobs he typically handles and what he feels he is most skilled at. Then, compare this against the list you made earlier of the type of projects you need completed on your rental property.
Ensure proper credentials and licensing—Every state has different licensing requirements and credentials that handymen must possess. Make sure you do your research and hire a truly professional contractor.
Negotiate rates—Finally, you need to come to an agreement about the rates you’ll be paying your handyman. Since you will be using his services on an ongoing basis, it’s certainly a good idea to negotiate to try to come to terms that everyone is satisfied with. Remember, your goal is to build a long-term relationship with a reputable handyman—not to get the cheapest service provider you can find.
Stick to these tips, and finding a good handyman for your rental property will be a breeze.