Just about every neighborhood has their own handyman. Well, okay, actually, every neighborhood has about a dozen handymen, and not all of them are incredibly handy. To clarify, every neighborhood has a handyman and eleven not so handy men who really don't belong anywhere near a bottle of wood glue.
So here's how to tell if you're hiring the right guy for the job...
Take a Look at Their Handiwork
If the guy has been in the neighborhood for a little while, there should be plenty to see. The key here is craftsmanship and durability. A new roof the guy put on just a month ago won't do, you want to look at something he built years ago and you want to see that it's still standing. The mark of true craftsmanship is durability. True craftsmanship can last for decades, and it's not only the mark of a great handy man, it's the mark of a great neighbor.
Talk to Your Other Neighbors
We're not talking about gossiping here. Well, okay, it becomes gossip if their work stinks. "So not only did he show up late, he somehow hooked the lights and plumbing up, so every time I flush the john, the power goes out!" Ask about the guy's attitude on the job, if he's polite, shows up on time, works in a timely fashion, etc. Make sure that the guy brings a professional attitude with him even when he's working for neighbors.
Ask Him For An Estimate
Hopefully you get a neighbor's discount, but bear in mind that the guy is trying to make a living here, so don't be taken aback if he's asking for parts and labor. In the end, it still beats going through the phone book to find the kind of pros you're looking for. It's a win win for both of you, even if he's only charging you ten to twenty percent less than you would pay going through someone else.
Be Particular
By this we mean that when you hire the guy, hire him because he's the guy for the job, not out of some old fashioned sentimental feeling about being neighbors. Lousy work is lousy work no matter who did it, but great work from your neighbor, and at a discount, is wonderful.
Nevertheless, it's never really a bad idea to help out the local economy. With the recession going on, the best way to help the economy is by starting in your own neighborhood. Giving some work to your neighbor isn't just a sweet deal for the both of you, it's also a way to earn some karma and a way to be a good neighbor.
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