Rosie on the House: Tips for hiring a handyman

A: It sounds like you are in the market for a good handyman. Establishing a relationship with a reliable handyman can be very helpful in keeping your home in good repair.

Q: Are there rules in Arizona that govern how a handyman works?

A: Yes, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors has a special exemption clause for handymen. Under the handyman exemption clause, a handyman who does work under the amount of $1,000 — including labor and material — does not need a license.

Q: What if the work that needs to be done at my home exceeds $1,000?

A: If the scope of work is more than $1,000 it will need to be performed by a licensed handyman. This license is titled R-62, Minor Home Improvement, at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. The handyman working under the R-62 category can perform a job that does not exceed $5,000, including labor and material. A handyman or handyman company with this type of license can perform remodeling repairs and improvements to existing structures. They cannot do structural work to concrete or carpentry that is load bearing. They are not allowed to work on things that require a specific license like electrical, solar, air conditioning or plumbing. For a complete list of licensing requirements, visit roc.az.gov.

Q: When is a job too big for a handyman?

A: If the job requires structural work, like moving load bearing walls, or exceeds $5,000, choose a contractor to fit the job. If more than one trade is involved a general contractor or remodeling contractor is a good choice.

Q: What are the steps to vetting a good handyman?

A: The internet is a great tool for vetting everything under the sun. There are lots of ways to find a company and determine if they are a fit. Referrals by friends and neighbors can be a good starting point.

Here are some things you can do to vet your future handyman:

Are they registered at the AZROC? Being licensed, bonded and insured is more than just a marketing claim and are must haves for work that requires licensing. Arizona licensing, bonding and insurance companies vet applicants. Licensing gives the homeowner a necessary level of protection from shoddy workmanship to fraud.

Testimonials and reviews — check review sources for reviews. Check to see if the reviews are recent. Are there issues mentioned? How was the issue handled? Did the contractor respond and were they concerned about providing a resolution?

Experience — How long has that person or company been in business? Have they completed similar jobs?

Interview — Before hiring a handyman service, have a conversation with them. Set an appointment for the interview and see if the person shows up on time. Explain your project and ask them for samples of their work.

Ask for referrals — Talking with their past clients can provide you with great information to help in your decision-making process.

Rosie’s Consumer Guide — these guides provide more information for choosing a contractor at tucne.ws/1mek.

Q: What kind of tasks can a handyman perform?

A: There is all manner of small projects that a handyman would be handy for.

Changing smoke alarm batteries. With cathedral and higher ceilings, this is not a small task. Having the right ladder and being able to climb it can be a challenge, but not for most handyman companies.

Maintenance projects are popular, from cleaning gutters, small painting projects such as touching up baseboards, to flushing out the water heater tank. You can use your imagination.

Aging in place projects. This can be as simple as adding grab bars to your shower or tub to reworking a base cabinet to allow for wheelchair access. Widening a door opening may exceed the $1,000 for an unlicensed handyman, but the $5,000 limit for a licensed company would cover some of the aging in place projects you might need.

Common requests for a handyman are to fix something that is not working like a door or window not closing properly, or things that are out of kilter. A handyman needs to be a skilled enough craftsman to identify the problem and resolve it.

If it doesn’t work, a qualified handyman can most likely fix it.

Q: How do I prepare for a handyman visit?

A: There is a fact gathering process most handyman companies use starting with the first phone call.

Have as detailed a description of the work you want done as possible. Just saying “I need to have a ceiling fan installed” is not always enough. Telling them how high the ceiling is, or if there is an existing fan or light fixture electrical box there, (if not, unless they have an electrical license, most handyman companies can’t do that). Also, do you have the fan or do you want them to purchase it for you and do you want the handyman to dispose of the old fixture? Being detailed in your work description can save you money by saving the handyman time.

Taking pictures with your phone and sending them to the handyman is helpful. A picture is worth a thousand words, and maybe some dollars, as well.

If you are wanting something built, such as display shelving, a photo from a magazine depicting the style you are seeking can be very helpful.

Let the handyman know if you are supplying materials or are willing to. Be sure you have all the materials to perform the task or if not, let them know what they need to supply. Also make sure you have enough to complete the task.

Be sure to ask them about their pricing. Some handymen will have a trip charge. If that is the case it is a better value to have a couple of things taken care of on one trip.

Using licensed, bonded and insured handyman and contractors for any trade is a must. These minimal requirements are designed to protect you from many things including shoddy workmanship and fraud. As with all licensed companies, a two-year warranty of the work performed is an Arizona law, and handyman companies are no exception.