• Ask for some references and then contact them.

It would not be a big deal if a handyman is recommended by family or friends. However, when you’ve been selected through an online ad, newspaper ad, or mail order, it’s crucial to ask for references since you’ll be working from home.

• Ask the maintenance staff questions about their experience and skills.

How long have you been in this line of work? What jobs do you specialize in? What are your favorite jobs? Questions should be straight to the point so owners know if this person is capable of doing other jobs. For example, if they like you to do a particular job, like putting up adjustable shelves in the garage, it’s important to know if the handyman is capable of other crafts. When homeowners feel comfortable with maintenance staff, they can assign other tasks, either the same day or later.

• Learn about licensing and registration…

The rules for licensing and registering home repair contractors differ from state to state and any handyman must follow them. Since “hand labor” jobs that cross other crafts are a bit small, the laws regarding builders and contractors may not apply to handymen in a particular area. For example, some rules depend on the average size of the job; others on the contractor’s annual income and there are states that require a license for each contractor, while some states do not require anything. The rules in some large metropolitan areas can literally vary from block to block. Other states agree to follow local governments. All of this can be very confusing!

For licensing requirements in a particular area, residents can ask their local city hall/building inspector.

• How does a handyman price his work? Do you offer estimates? Do you charge per hour/half hour?

This is an issue that may be partially regulated by state/local government. Some states require a written quote for jobs that cost more than a certain dollar figure. In this way, consumers are protected from dishonest contractors who submit an estimate and then manage to charge much more.

Many handymen charge by the hour with a minimum charge. Owners should take note of the hourly rates for a handyman. Some operators charge an hourly rate due to their popularity and overhead, to name a few.

In reality, there is little or no connection between the hourly rate and the skill of the maintenance staff. Most of the time, pricing is not based on an esoteric formula, but on what the market will be able to bear, as well as the rates of the competition.

It would be a little scary to give anyone an authority. If they like to spend more on the job listing, they should let their maintenance staff know beforehand. You can make them understand what is needed, what could go right and, above all, what could go wrong, what would make them go beyond their budget. When both parties are honest in their exchange of information, there will be no more surprises.