Handyman or Contractor?
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
When to use a handyman
April 1999
Since I use many different service providers to do work on an apartment building I thought I would pass along some advice. Handymen are great for the right jobs. Their prices are cheap (usually $20-$25 an hour) and they are willing to do work that is usually not desired by a general contractor: Things such as installing a light fixture, fixing a phone jack or light plumbing. My experience has been that their attention to detail is somewhat lacking and I don't use them to do anything that requires precision work (laying carpet, laying tile, carpentry, etc.) I know there are handymen that have these skills but this has been my experience. Precision jobs require people that have specific skills and expertise and they will charge accordingly. My advice for using a handyman if you haven't before is to first have them do something rather simple in order to test their competence and skill. As you get to know them over time you'll discover what they are best at and where their weaknesses are. If they botch a simple job you can mark it up to experience and continue your search for someone with the right skills for your job. -- Kathy
I liked Bakari for similarly sized tasks:
https://www.veggiepoweredhandyman.com/
Congratulations on owning a house! You may have realized now that buying a new house is expensive--not only because of the price of a house (in SF too! eek!) but also because of the maintenance. My realtor told me that the rule of thumb is to set aside 1% of the price of the house EACH YEAR for home maintenance. If you don't spend it, save it, because there will be larger ticket items that come up later.
As for your question, it's hard to find a handyman/contractor, and you are not alone. Even people who have owned a house for decades have a hard time finding a good handyman. Especially right now everyone is stuck at home and doing home improvements, so it's almost impossible to get a contractor. A good place to start is to ask the realtor who sold you the house to recommend people. Realtors have to make repairs all the time, and they are usually happy to share their referrals with their clients. Next, ask all your neighbors, friends, and relatives, and check on nextdoor (dot) com for recommendations within your neighborhood. Keep a list.
I have also had VERY good experiences working with TaskRabbit for smaller jobs. I usually pick the Elite ones, and often if I have a choice, I pick women. They have all been excellent. TaskRabbits cost more than hiring a handyman directly, but it means someone will commit to coming out to your house even for a very small job, which many contractors won't do. If you really like the TaskRabbit often they will give you their card and you can hire them directly, but be aware that TaskRabbit covers damages if the handyman breaks something in your house. Most handymen don't offer that kind of assurance. So if you are totally new to this game, I'd stick within the TaskRabbit network for the first few jobs.
As for your jobs, definitely pick your battles. If you can still close the French Doors, leave them. They will unstick when the weather changes again. Your shower sounds like a very expensive problem that you'll need a contractor for, and be warned, when they open up the floor and the wall I'd bet they will find more problems and it will cost more. For now, maybe get a TaskRabbit to recaulk and seal off the tub so the problem doesn't get worse. Then ask around for a contractor referral to fix the wood around the area, just be ready for some sticker shock. You should also see if your home owners insurance that you bought when you purchased the house will cover some of the water damage. Good luck!
Hi, If you're looking for a good General Contractor I would happily recommend Emanuel with BuildMark. They did an amazing job on my kitchen and bathroom remodel, very happy with the outcome. I do live in Berkeley area, so I am not sure if he works in the city, but doesn't hurt to contact him and ask. His phone number is 510-484 5765 or email emanuel [at] buildmarkinc.com
Hope this helps!