Handyman Vs a Contractor, Who Saves More Money?

Occasional maintenance or renovation is inevitable. We often love to believe it can be a simple DIY, especially since plenty of helpful online information is accessible to everyone!

But if you don’t have the time, do not feel comfortable, or have already tried and it did not work out, the next realistic thing that jumps into your mind is hiring a multi-skilled handyman who charges less than a specialist!

The question remains: is hiring a handyman over a contractor a money-saving strategy?

Who is a handyman?

A handyman is a person who possesses some skills and expertise to perform various tasks and small jobs. They can be either licensed or unlicensed, but the key factor is their flexibility and versatility. Nowadays, it’s no secret the term “handyman” has become a trademark that some contractors use to attract clients seeking affordable assistance.

Is the handyman skilled or unskilled labor?

If they are skilled, it’s essential to know a handyman’s primary expertise because they may only be skilled in one or two specific types of work and may not be as good at doing other tasks despite their willingness to do it.

Does a skilled handyman charge less than a contractor?

Fees estimation must be evaluated against the scope of work. While a skilled handyman can charge less than a general contractor, they usually do a limited particular part of the job. A general contractor is still responsible for the permits, overall project, coordination, logistics, applications warranties, etc.

Conclusion:

A good, skilled handyman can qualify for your project and provide affordable services. Many times, however, they charge as much as a specialized contractor. A contractor, on the other hand, may give a reasonable estimate while not having the right skills for the project. You should seek multiple fee estimations against the exact scope of work and evaluate skills, resources, and commitment.

My advice is not to rush with your choice based on the fees offered! Many homeowners do, and then soon after starting the work, they realize that their hiring choice is wrong but are already stuck and have to work it out. They can quickly end up paying as much as they would have paid to someone specialized while getting lower-quality results despite the simple nature of the job, or even worse, paying more to fix the damage and redo the work!

That is why the best money-saving strategy should focus on more than “a handyman vs. a contractor.” It should consider other factors. Agreeing on a clear scope, fees, and payment schedule is another crucial thing to help get better results.

For more details and information on the subject, please read our helpful articles.

4 Important things to agree on with your contractor

5 Amazing Tips for Hiring the right contractor or Handyman

How to define a scope of work?

How to negotiate your remodeling work timeline

Bathroom Remodeling Agreement Template

Copyright © 2023 by TAYARA HOME LLC . All rights reserved. No portion of this POST may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author.