Looking for a trustworthy, affordable pro to handle tasks around the house? Here’s how to locate great candidates, hire wisely—and get the jobs done.
For repairs, moving heavy furniture, and quieting that squeaky door hinge, it’s great to have the right person on speed dial.
By Ellen Seidman
How many homeowners does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Just one, but when the fixture hangs from a 12-foot ceiling, it’s no joke. Even if you’re the handy type who’s always clambered up ladders and wielded tools, there comes a time when the risk outweighs the reward. What if you lose your balance? It’s just not worth it.
But you can’t exactly call an electrician to change a lightbulb, a contractor to de-squeak a single door hinge, or a mover to haul an armchair to the curb. Dozens of tasks fall into this category: relatively small yet requiring strength or skill—and, in some cases, involving risk. Ladders, for example, are a prime cause of ER-treated injuries for adults, according to a Consumer Product Safety Commission report released in January.
Steven T. Haywood, MD, an emergency medical physician at Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth, Miss., and a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians, has treated broken ankles and ribs from tumbles off ladders, back injuries caused by moving heavy furniture, and severed fingers from power tool mishaps. “People think something is just a quick task they can handle, but a mistake could lead to months in a cast or major surgery,” he says.
Fortunately, there are more options than ever for taking care of small jobs without taking chances.
Handyman or Specialist?
“For any work that could cause a fire or flood or involves structural changes, you definitely want to hire an experienced and licensed tradesperson,” says Joseph Truini, author of eight home improvement books and a former contractor and custom cabinetmaker in Roxbury, Conn. That means a roofer for major roof repairs, an electrician for wiring, a plumber for projects involving pipes inside walls. For smaller tasks, you can often turn to someone we’ll call— for the sake of simplicity—a general handyperson.
There’s no formal training for these pros, so skills vary. But some states and municipalities require licensing. “The value of a license is if something goes wrong, you have a governmental body you can go to,” says John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications, and fraud at the National Consumers League, an advocacy organization. “And if someone is supposed to have one and doesn’t, that’s a red flag.”
Regardless of licensing requirements, anyone you hire to do repair work should have general liability insurance. Then, if they damage your home or cause an injury—say, you trip over a tool belt—a homeowners insurance policy won’t be the first or only coverage, says Michael Richmond-Crum at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
Before your handyperson arrives, clear the area where they’ll be working, so they’ll have easy access.
Illustration: David Doran
Finding Good Help
There’s nothing like a referral from a friend or neighbor—or, if you’re an apartment dweller, hiring someone in the building (say, the super). If those options are dead ends, experts suggest asking local real estate agents for recommendations because they often hire help to fix up homes for sale. You can also get referrals from contractors and carpenters who have done projects for you in the past, says Aaron Enfinger, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Or maybe there’s a contractor working on a nearby home whose work looks good. Here’s advice for looking farther afield.
Home Service Marketplaces
These allow you to browse a large pool of pros for free, but the onus is on you to evaluate them. Workers self-report license and insurance information, so vet anyone you’re considering and read reviews on these sites (and online). A few examples:
Taskrabbit is geared toward one-off chores like furniture assembly and TV mounting, with hourly rates displayed. Same-day booking is possible. You’ll pay a service fee (a percentage of the total price of a job) plus something called a “Trust & Support Fee.” (Details aren’t disclosed on the site, and Taskrabbit declined CR’s request to share further information on its fees.) If a job isn’t done right, you may be out of luck. The site’s “Happiness Pledge” mentions property damage, bodily injury, and theft, but not shoddy work.
Angi lists specialists in plumbing, electrical work, and construction management, as well as handypeople. It lets you request job quotes from several candidates with a couple of clicks. But first it requires you to submit your number and email address, and agree to receive texts and calls, which means you might get hit with a barrage of messages.
Thumbtack is similar to Angi. It offers more details, like a pro’s average response time, specifics about the work they do, and photos of past projects.
Fix-it Franchises
These businesses—Ace Handyman and Mr. Handyman are two national options—vet and insure their staff. “They have a name and reputation to protect, so they want you to have a good experience,” Enfinger says. Hourly rates might be on the higher side and come with additional service fees; ask about those. Also ask what happens if the pro exceeds the estimated time.
Social Networks
If you post a request for a handyperson on Nextdoor or in your local Facebook group, you’ll probably get responses—and might even land a recommendation from someone you know. With strangers, be cautious. Users can set up fake accounts to leave reviews, Breyault says.
Junk Removers
When you have to get rid of heavy furniture, companies like the Junkluggers and 1-800-Got-Junk will usually send a truck, give a price on the spot, and offer to do the job right away. They typically charge by how much of the truck your stuff fills. The average cost for half a 1-800-Got-Junk truck is $360.
You might be able to get rid of the piece for free by posting in a local Buy Nothing Facebook group. Be clear in your post that the recipient needs to be able to move the piece themselves; confirm this point before pickup. The Salvation Army will also pick up certain large pieces in good shape, like couches, armoires, and cabinets.
Concierge Services
There’s a new generation of businesses that manage house repairs and maintenance for homeowners on an ongoing basis. A subscription gets you a manager who schedules appointments with trained staff or vetted external pros as needed.
Some companies charge a flat monthly or annual fee for a set number of hours; others have separate hourly rates. Honey Homes, a 4-year-old company that serves the San Francisco Bay area; Los Angeles; Dallas; Austin, Texas; and Chicago, offers clients a dedicated handyperson and 42 service hours per year for an annual up-front fee of $3,540, which breaks down to $295 a month; if you cancel during the year, you get a prorated amount back. To find a similar service in your area, search “handyman concierge near me.”
Virtual Home Repair Experts
The Frontdoor app, which launched two years ago, offers video chats with handypeople and with plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and appliance experts. For a $149 annual membership, you get unlimited sessions. You can try the service for free, no credit card required. This might be appealing to DIYers—and expert supervision can be safer than random videos on YouTube.
A Consumer Reports writer gave Frontdoor a whirl to fix a retractable deck screen that had come off track. The congenial pro enabled a flip-camera view to assess the situation and offered a series of solutions for manipulating the screen. Twenty minutes later, the door clicked into place. When the bottom dragged a bit as it closed, the expert suggested sliding a bar of soap over the track for better glide. Perhaps an on-site worker would have done the job faster, but the price was right and the satisfaction, priceless.
Take Some Precautions
No matter how confident you feel in the person you’re hiring, a few simple steps can help keep you safe and ensure you’re satisfied with the results—and increase the likelihood of getting your money back if you aren’t.
Get it in writing. Whether the document is a handwritten estimate or a digital contract, it should list every task and the hourly rate or project fee.
Settle the bill after, not before. It’s not unusual to be asked for a deposit, but if a pro wants more than 10 percent, move on, says Allen Lee, a handyman in Roseville, Calif., who coaches other pros. “And beware if they say they need money to buy materials. Any reputable business owner should have the funds for that.”
Pay with plastic, if possible. “A credit card is the safest way to pay, because you can dispute the payment if something goes wrong with the job,” says Ira Rheingold, executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
Know the scams. Beware of anyone who knocks on your door and points out problems they can fix cheaply or offers roof repairs or driveway sealing because they were “in the area” and have “leftover materials.” “It’s not unusual for burglars to pose as odd-jobbers looking for work so they can get into homes,” Breyault says.
Communication is key: Check the work once it’s done, and share any concerns or requests immediately.
Illustration: David Doran
Be a Good Client
Top-notch handypeople can be in high demand, so do your best to be a customer who’s easy to work with. “Have respect, communicate, and be considerate,” says Larry Towner a handyman in Atlanta who co-hosts the “Handyman Pros Radio Show” podcast. A few more pointers:
Grab the appointment. If a pro lets you know they’re free the next day or calls because of a cancellation, jump on it. If you’re difficult to schedule, it may be hard to get someone over.
Keep a running to-do list. Jot down repairs as they crop up, or hunt around your house to compile a list. If you can offer a half day’s work, you’ll be more appealing than a client with fewer tasks. And it could be more economical for you.
Tell and show. Walk through tasks together. Hanging wallpaper? Specify which direction the pattern should face. Installing art? Indicate the height you want. And stay nearby so you’re available for questions.
Prep the space. Clear clutter so that the pro has room to work, and make sure your pets are in another room with the door closed, Truini says.
Check the work. If the pro doesn’t talk you through what they’ve done, take a look yourself. Immediately address concerns and requests; there’s no guarantee they’ll be available to come back soon to fix a problem.
Post a great review. Positive public feedback is invaluable, Lee says. If you received wonderful service, let people know.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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