Hiring a Handyman

So I have a tale from the other side of the home repair spectrum. I get these calls all the time. Usually the call starts out with the husband explaining what he thinks his repair(s) are. It's funny because at this point the husband is usually minimizing the damages and the wife is in the background saying, "#$^&#$"!

Now that I set the mood lets go back to the beginning.

You hire your neighbor bob to install your hardwood floor.That is what he does for a living so you are sure that he will do a great job. Plus since he already has a job he is doing the work cheap. He doesn't have insurance but you trust him since you have known him since he was a little boy.

Day 1 starts, your old flooring get's removed and over half of your new flooring is down by noon. The job looks great so far... You are so pleased with Bob you decide to order pizza for lunch.After lunch Bob continues to install the hardwood flooring. Click Bang, Click, Bang, Click, and sounds like it is going great so far until right? Click, bang, gush! Oh no Bob has driven a hard wood flooring nail through the floor and into a water line. At this point the home owner's new floor is flooding and bob is not a plumber. By the time the water is shutoff the new floor has been ruined. This is when I get the call. Husband explaining how he needs a couple of planks replaced in his floor. Jobs like this happen every day. It was not bob's fault the nail hit the plumbing, the plumbing was installed too close to the decking and a metal plated should have been installed to protect it. This is the homeowners fault for hiring someone without insurance.

It is extremely important to pre screen whomever you decide to hire to perform your home repairs. You need to make sure that they completely understand what you want and put it into a written contract. NO EXCEPTION

Details such as payment terms, exact scope of work, material choices, and patterns should all be in writing. This protects both parties.

Obtain proof of liability insurance as well as work mans' comp insurance.

Remember do your homework, who you hire matters. I don't want to scare you that much but this story I am telling you did not end well for the homeowner. I was hired to remove the new waterlogged hardwood flooring, patch the water lines, remove drywall and carpet in the basement, treat mold, and reinstall the wood. Their insurance would not cover since it was an unlicensed worker, and they didn't want to sue bob anymore after I explained to them that they wouldn't win.

This news article is brought to you by COOKING MAIN-COURSE - where latest news are our top priority.