8 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Drywall Repairman

You should have been enjoying a quiet Saturday morning, savoring the day’s first cup of coffee and planning how to spend your day off. However, it was not meant to be. A mishap while your children were playing catch indoors now means you’re not going to have quite the morning you envisioned. Instead, you need to hire a drywall repairman in Union County.

Finding an expert drywall contractor is easy when you know who to call. But, it’s much more difficult if you don’t already know a trustworthy handyman service. After all, your home is precious to you. You only want the best for it, so you need to be sure you hire a drywall repairman you can trust.

Read through the online reviews for a few of the top choices presented. You should also take a look at the company’s credentials on third-party websites like the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. These sites offer further reviews, images of previous work, and even official complaints.

Once you’ve researched your top two or three handyman companies, you have to complete one more step before booking an appointment to fix the gaping hole in your child’s bedroom.

One of the most neglected, but most important, steps in hiring a drywall contractor is giving them a quick call to get to know the company better and do a final check to see if they’re the right fit for you. Often, homeowners will call to acquire estimates or ask about availability. However, there are a few other questions you should be prepared to ask.

To help you find the best drywall repairman near you, our team of handyman experts at Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, and Metuchen have prepared this guide. Keep reading to learn the top 10 questions you should ask while vetting drywall contractors.

1. How Much Experience Do You Have?

During the job, you’ll easily be able to discern an experienced contractor from one that’s still green. A seasoned technician will effortlessly repair or replace dented, sodden, and cracked drywall. He or she will also caulk and sand to get the wall ‘paint ready’ so your wall looks good as new. You won’t even be able to tell where the patch is! Inexperienced handyman professionals could leave evidence of the repair behind with insufficient patching, uneven paint, or bumps beneath your wall.

You care about your home and how it looks. Hiring an experienced drywall repairman is one way to clean up the nicks and bruises on our walls.

At Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, and Metuchen, each of our technicians has years of experience in the trades, carpentry, and masonry. Many of our team members have been working as home improvement professionals for upwards of 30 years. Suffice it to say, when you book our services you can expect the utmost in craftsmanship, professionalism, and attention to detail. We also pride ourselves on our customer service. We treat others how we wish to be treated; with respect and kindness. We’re dedicated to giving our customers a positive experience with our company from start to finish.

2. What is the Estimated Project Timeline?

Communication is key throughout any home improvement job, including patching or replacing drywall. It’s imperative to be on the same page as your contractor to have a clear idea of what to expect, including how long the repair will take. The duration for most drywall patch jobs is fairly brief; although, painted patches might need up to 24 hours to cure. But installing new drywall sheets takes much longer. Depending on the work you need to be done, the job can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Any time a contractor is in your home, your daily life is disrupted. While professional contractors like those at Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, and Metuchen do their best to limit this disruption, you still need to know the project’s estimated timeline.

3. What Should I Prepare Before You Arrive?

Depending on the handyman's service and the scope of the job, you might be expected to complete prep work before the drywall repairman arrives. Maintaining open lines of communication with your technician is important here as well. He or she will want to get to work right away, so it’s important to confirm if there’s anything you should do to help. Confirming expectations regarding prep work ensures the job goes smoothly and protects your personal belongings from getting dusty or damaged. Ask your drywall repairman if you need to move any furniture or wall decorations out of the way. If your furniture is too heavy to move on your own, now is a good time to touch base with the technician and see if they can move it for you.

4. Can I See Your References?

Do not hire a drywall repairman without first looking at references. As we mentioned earlier, while researching contractors you’ll likely look at online reviews on websites such as Google My Business, the Better Business Bureau, HomeAdvisor, or Angie’s List. These resources should give you well-rounded insights into a handyman company’s quality of work. You’ll also get a sense of how different companies handle community feedback, which may indicate their quality of customer service as well.

It’s important to acquire references from the handyman company or technician directly. The company might provide written references, which should also contain before and after images of the work completed. Try to get photos related to your specific job, like replacing water-damaged sheets or patching a baseball-sized hole.

Some companies might also offer contact information from past clients. In this case, you’ll have the opportunity to receive a first-hand account of a company’s work quality and professionalism. If so, it’s wise to prepare a few questions so you get the information you need from the reference while also respecting his or her time. Some questions you could ask include:

• What kind of work did the drywall repairman 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 drywall contractor again?

5. Do You Have Proof of Licensing and Insurance?

Do not hire a drywall repairman who is not licensed and doesn’t provide proof of insurance. In New Jersey, both residential and commercial contractors are required to be licensed through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. We also suggest asking if the contractor is bonded. When a contractor is bonded, you’re protected in the event he or she fails to complete a job or another financial obligation—such as failing to compensate you for damage to your home.

As for insurance, check that your drywall contractor has General Liability and Workers’ Compensation Insurance. General Liability Insurance protects homeowners from being liable for bodily injury, property damage, and/or personal injury. If part of your home is damaged during the job, your Homeowner’s Property Insurance might not cover the repairs. Workers’ Compensation Insurance protects homeowners from medical fees, lost wages, and legal fees as a result of injury to the drywall repairman.

At Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, and Metuchen, all of our technicians are licensed, bonded, and insured. Professionalism is important to us; and we stand behind our work by ensuring we have all the correct, legal documentation in order.

6. How Does Payment Work?

Each drywall repair company will handle payment differently. It’s up to you to confirm the expectations in advance. For instance, do you have to put down a deposit? How much do you get back if the work is not to your satisfaction? Do you cover the fee upfront, or when the job is completed? And, will you be charged by the hour or by the scope of the job?

We recommend avoiding drywall repairmen that ask you to pay the entire fee first. Payment should be collected at the end of the job, once you’ve had a chance to view the work and ask any questions you may have. We also suggest hiring a company that offers transparent pricing and charges by the hour—like Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, and Metuchen. That way, you’ll be offered a flat rate and know what to expect when given the bill.

Methods of Payment

Depending on the company, you may not be able to use certain methods of payment to cover the work done in your home. For example, mom-and-pop operations tend to avoid credit cards because of the high processing fees. Likewise, checks are becoming increasingly outdated and avoided by some companies. If you’re planning on paying for the repair in a specific way, make sure the drywall repairman accepts your chosen method of payment.

7. Do You Offer a Guarantee?

When a drywall repairman offers a guarantee for his work, it’s a sign he’s willing to stand behind his craftsmanship and is confident you’ll be satisfied with his services. It’s also a good idea to hire a contractor that guarantees his work in the rare event something goes wrong. You want to be certain the company has your back and will make any issues right.

At Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, and Metuchen, we guarantee all our parts and labor for one year.

8. Will You Clean Up Before Leaving?

It might sound like common sense, but not all contractors will clean up their work area before leaving. Confirming the contractor will leave your home as tidy as he or she found it lets you know what to expect, and indicates professionalism and integrity. Besides, no homeowner wants to deal with cleaning up a big mess after the technician leaves!

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, even with small drywall repairs there’s a chance that tools, materials, and dust left lying about in a messy work area could be hazardous to your family. Hiring a drywall repairman who will take care to clean up before he or she leaves protects your loved ones from harm.

Hire Our Drywall Repairmen Today!

The next time your little ones play catch indoors, you notice water stains on your wall, or an unstable bookshelf tumbles sideways, trust the team at Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/Scotch Plains, and Metuchen for all your drywall repair needs.

We offer our clients comprehensive drywall repair services. To learn more about what we can do for your home, please feel free to call our friendly customer service representatives, or request service online to get started today.