Looking for an East Nashville Handyman? Here are the Top 10 Questions to Ask!

Finding a trustworthy, reliable, and expert Nashville handyman can be a challenge. A quick “handyman near me” search on Google will give you an excellent starting point to source contractors in your area. But there are a couple of other steps to take to narrow down your list of prospects.

Your home is precious. It’s your refuge at the end of a long day at the office, the place you get to watch your children grow, and a space that’s entirely your own. Naturally, you only want the best for it, which is why it’s imperative to choose your Nashville handyman wisely.

After scrolling through Google’s suggestions, you’ll likely land on two or three that look promising; perhaps they’re highly rated or have excellent online reviews and images of completed work.

After completing your research, the next step is to interview a couple of your options. Although most Nashville homeowners know to gather estimates and inquire about availability, there are a few other questions you should ask to get to know the company better and see if they’re a good fit for you.

That’s where this blog comes in handy. To help you find the best contractor near you, the team at Mr. Handyman of E. Nashville and Hendersonville put together this guide. Keep reading to discover what you should ask while interviewing for handyman services.

1. How Much Experience Do You Have?

During your home maintenance or improvement job, you’ll easily be able to tell an experienced contractor from one that’s still green. A seasoned service professional will be able to effortlessly and efficiently tackle all the items on your to-do list, while maintaining excellent work quality during each task. Alternatively, an inexperienced handyman might take longer to finish his or her work, make a mess of your home, or may not even know how to complete a certain job.

At Mr. Handyman of E. Nashville and Hendersonville, each of our service professionals has years of experience in the trades. Our owner John Gentry—who runs our location with his wife Sarah—is a licensed general contractor and highly committed to providing outstanding service to his community. John only hires the best technicians to join our ranks. Take for example: Cory Meier. Cory is a highly accomplished service professional in both commercial repairs and residential improvements, and skilled at a range of both interior and exterior repairs.

When you book our services, you can have peace of mind knowing you’ll receive top-notch craftsmanship, professionalism, and customer service. We are truly invested in serving the Nashville community and always treat others how we wish to be treated: with courtesy, respect, and kindness.

2. What is the Estimated Project Timeline?

How many home repair tasks you need completed will influence the job length. That said, it’s important to communicate clearly with your handyman of choice. This includes confirming when he or she will arrive and how long they expect to be. Being on the same page as your contractor is important so you have a clear idea of what to expect. For instance, jobs like furniture assembly, power washing, and gutter cleaning shouldn’t take more than a few hours. But if you’re remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, the renovation can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Any time a service pro is in your home, your daily life is affected. While professional contractors like those at Mr. Handyman treat your home with respect and do their best to limit this disruption, you still need to know how long they’ll be in your home. You have to plan to be there when your handyman arrives, take time off work if needed, and arrange to take care of other responsibilities—like driving your children to school.

3. Can I Get that in Writing?

When you ask your handyman about how long it will take to finish the home repair to-dos on your list, also inquire about job details. Don’t just get a rundown of the basics, but ask for the specifics in writing. A contract is a key communicative tool that helps you and your Nashville handyman stay on the same page. A written agreement also ensures the work you agree to is honored.

There are a few items that should be included in your contract, such as:

• The names of all the handymen working in your home
• Estimate for job completion, including the date
• Any materials, tools and machinery used in the house
• Any relevant state laws and regulations
• Proof of licensing and insurance
• Authorization (signatures of both parties)

4. Is There Anything I Should Do Before You Arrive?

Depending on what job you want done, you might have to prepare for your contractor’s arrival. This is another example where maintaining open lines of communication with your handyman is important. Some technicians will move furniture, paintings, and decorative items out of the way on your behalf. However, other contractors will ask you to prepare the area they’ll be working in as much as possible. Clearing away personal items will help the service professional get to work quicker. If the handyman is doing work in your kitchen or bathroom, you should remove toiletries, groceries, and crockery before they start. If you have trouble lifting heavy items—like a sofa or hutch—see if they can move it for you.

5. Who’s Responsible for Materials?

When you ask if there’s anything you should do to prepare for your contractor’s arrival, double check what materials you need to supply. The service professional will bring all the tools he needs, but you will likely have to supply some materials. For instance, if you need your backsplash tiled you have to make sure your tile of choice is ready to go for the technician’s arrival.

6. Can I See Your References?

Do not hire a Nashville handyman without first looking at his or her references. As we mentioned earlier, while researching contractors you should check online Google reviews. Your research should give you a good sense of a contractor’s work quality, and possibly their level of customer service. (Check to see if the company responds to community feedback. Are they polite and understanding? Do they take time to thank clients who leave a review? If so, it’s a strong indication they care about giving customers a positive experience.)

However, it’s still important to acquire references from the handyman company or contractor directly. These references should also contain before and after images of the work completed. Try to get photos related to your specific job, so you can have an idea of what to expect when the contractor handles your repair.

Some handymen might provide contact information for over-the-phone references. In this case, you’ll have the opportunity to chat with a past client. If so, we recommend preparing a few questions so you get the information you need while also respecting the reference’s time. A few questions you could ask include:

• What kind of work did the handyman do for you?
• Did they communicate clearly with you throughout the job?
• Were they on-time for your appointment?
• Did you check his or her credentials?
• What was working with the technician like?
• Did the company honor your estimate?
• Did you get the results you expected?
• Would you hire the contractor again?

7. Do You Have Proof of Licensing and Insurance?

Do not hire a Nashville handyman who isn’t licensed and doesn’t provide proof of insurance. In the State of Tennessee, contractors are required to be licensed with the Board for Licensing Contractors. You can verify if a technician is licensed on their websiteLink opens in a new tab.

When you ask the contractor about insurance, you’re looking to see if they have General Liability and Workers’ Compensation. Required in Tennessee, General Liability covers the cost of lawsuits related to property damage, personal injury, or bodily harm caused on the job site—in this case, your home. Workers’ Comp protects homeowners from being liable for medical fees, lost wages, and legal fees that are a result of injury to the contractor while working in your house.

At Mr. Handyman, all our service professionals are licensed and insured. We stand behind our work and illustrate our professionalism by having all the legal documentation in order.

8. How Does Payment Work?

Each handyman service is different. So, it follows they’ll all have different payment procedures. It’s your responsibility to clarify expectations in advance. For instance, will you be required to put down a deposit? If there’s an issue with the work, do you get the deposit back? Also, will you be charged by the scope of the job or by the hour?

Avoid contractors that ask you to pay the entire fee upfront. In Tennessee, the Home Improvement Law prohibits contractors from asking for a down-payment of more than one-third of the total contract. Full payment should be collected at the end of the job, once you’ve had a chance to view the work. You should also hire a company that offers transparent pricing and charges by the hour, like Mr. Handyman. Our company offers a flat, hourly rate, you’ll always know what to expect when handed the bill.

Methods of Payment

How are you planning to pay your handyman? Depending on the company, you may not be able to use certain methods of payment. For instance, small operations tend not to accept credit cards because of the high processing fees. Also, checks are becoming outdated and avoided by some companies. To be on the safe side, confirm with your service professional whether they accept your chosen method of payment.

9. Do You Offer a Guarantee?

When a Nashville handyman service guarantees their work, it’s a sign the company is willing to stand behind their professional’s craftsmanship and is confident you’ll be happy with the job. Hiring a contractor that guarantees their work is also a good idea to protect your interests in the rare event something goes wrong. The company should have your back and make any issues right free of charge.

At Mr. Handyman, stand behind our work by guaranteeing all our parts and labor. If you notice any issues after we’ve left we’ll send one of our handyman professionals over to fix the problem as soon as possible.

10. Will You Clean Up Before Leaving?

Surprising as it is, not all contractors clean up their work area before leaving. Confirming the service professional will tidy up before leaving your house is a sign of professionalism and integrity. It shows that the contractor respects you and your home. Also, even with small home repairs, there’s a chance that tools, materials, and debris left lying around in a messy work area may be unsafe. Hiring a handyman who will clean up before they go also protects your loved ones from harm.

Hire the Team at Mr. Handyman Today!

The next time you need to hire a handyman to tackle your home maintenance to-do list, trust the professionals at Mr. Handyman of E. Nashville and Hendersonville. Our tried-and-true contractors always have our clients’ best interests at heart, and are committed to providing outstanding service with every job.