While you may use your handy next-door neighbor or friend to help you get the small things around your home fixed, did you know that they are not a professional? Or, are you working with a contractor referred to you by a person, but you do not see information about them online? Then, they are most likely not a professional handyman.
One of the biggest issues many homeowners have is differentiating between a run-of-the-mill handyman and a professional handyman. To help you out, we created this guide that gives you a thorough breakdown.
Insurance and License
Did you know that businesses can get insured and licensed? Did you know that you want to work with contractors who are? Now, you may be wondering why. First, let’s go over the meaning of an insured and licensed company.
When you are a skilled laborer working professionally, you need to go through the state to get a general contractor’s license. Your state may also require a minimum education and work experience to get a license. And to go even further, some states require the contractor to get an insurance policy and a bond before getting their license. Once they have a license, then you know that they legally can and understand what goes into contracting. You can look up Illinois and Missouri licensing requirements for further details of what it encompasses.
Written Proposal and Guarantees
When working with a handyman, you want to have written proposals and guarantees. These are contracts that you and the person you work with can look back on in case anything happens. There are two proposal formats you may see. The first one is a set price or hard estimate. This is where the contractor will give you a specific price and time estimation of your project. Prices can change on hard estimates if you add new projects, supplies run more or days added.
The second proposal format is an hourly rate. The contractor will charge you by the hour. We like to view this option more like you are writing an open check. You may not necessarily know when the handyman will finish the job, making you pay more and more every time he comes over. And, businesses that are not ethical may even try to take longer to get more cash out of you.
Guarantees and warranties are those additional things that help sweeten the deal for customers. Many people like having guarantees and warranties in case anything happens before, during and after the project. An unlicensed handyman will not offer you these extras. Instead, if anything happens, you are liable.
At Valor Home Services, we offer you hard estimates, so you know how much you are spending. We also provide many different warranties and guarantees. For example, we have a Money-Back Guarantee and warranties that last for many years. If you want a full breakdown of everything we offer, contact us today.
Business Registered
For someone to be a professional handyman, their business needs state registration. Registered companies pay taxes and follow all the state’s regulations. Non-registered businesses do not file taxes and instead, keep all profits to themselves. Check out these sites to see if your contractor’s business is registered in Illinois or Missouri. Try searching for Valor Home Services, and let us know what you find.
Verifiable Online Reviews
Another thing that a professional handyman will have over a person who considers themself a handyman is verifiable online reviews. Your neighbor who is good at fixing things around the house will not have any reviews online unless you and his family rave about him on a social post. A professional handyman will have multiple platforms for reviews, like social media, Google and other third-party apps. From there, you can see their past projects, how they work, how efficient they are and so on. At Valor Home Services, we have many ways for you to leave or check reviews — Facebook, Google, our website and much more!
Overall, if you are looking for a professional handyman in Belleville, O’Fallon, Edwardsville or the surrounding areas, look no further than Valor Home Services. We have everything listed above — plus, we offer stress-free experiences, better communication and budget accountability. Get more information today by calling.
