{"id":10861,"date":"2019-05-30T12:34:45","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T19:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=10861"},"modified":"2026-04-09T05:38:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:38:52","slug":"handyman-on-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/handyman-on-call\/","title":{"rendered":"Selling Your House? Don’t Hesitate to Get a Good Handyman on Call"},"content":{"rendered":"

Living in any home for a while gives us selective memories. You might have forgotten about that damage to the drywall that you covered with artwork\u2014or the extra holes you created when you couldn\u2019t hang that piece straight the first time. And those nicks and scratches on the wooden stairs and door frames? Just wear and tear from when the kids were small.<\/p>\n

But buyers want a house that looks brand-new. You may not have had a handyman on call before, but having a handyman or handywoman in your corner when you sell your house can smooth out the process of prepping for showings and inspections.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a handyman that I use for everything,\u201d said Chris Creegan<\/a>, a top-selling real estate agent in Orlando, Florida<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don\u2019t treat a house a lot of times as the investment that it is, and they wait until they\u2019re selling or they wait until things are in really bad disrepair before they even think about hiring someone.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Basic home maintenance, such as fixing chipped or faded paint, replacing worn carpet, and cleaning gutters, can earn you about 1%<\/a> of your home\u2019s value each year, according to a flagship study out of the University of Connecticut and Syracuse. Unfortunately, letting what seems like little things slide can also hurt your home\u2019s value by about 10%<\/a>, especially if a minor flaw, such as a crack in the foundation<\/a>, causes a major problem.<\/p>\n

If even finding a handyman<\/a> feels out of your league, we\u2019ve removed some of the guesswork so you can get the help you need to put your home\u2019s best foot forward.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Sasikan Ulevik\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why hire a handyman?<\/h2>\n

A handyman, or handyman service, is a skilled jack-of-all-trades<\/a> who can handle a wide range of repairs, according to Angie\u2019s List, a reputable online directory of service providers nationwide. Some of these professionals are self-trained while others specialize in certain types of home maintenance, such as tiling, carpentry, or painting.<\/p>\n

Consider a handyman an extra set of hands<\/a> for little projects where you may feel all-thumbs or in over your head. A handyman is a capable and economical option for unclogging pipes, patching drywall, and the like, according to\u00a0Resolve<\/a>, a partnership between Lowe\u2019s and Alacrity Services, a professional home repair and remediation company.<\/p>\n

Here are a few of the main benefits of having a handyman in your corner when you set out to sell your house:<\/p>\n

1. Knock out a bunch of odd jobs at once<\/h3>\n

Having a wide-range of experience in smaller repairs makes a handyman a one-stop resource<\/a> for touching up paint, removing scuff marks from wood cabinets, and changing light fixtures.<\/p>\n

That eclectic to-do list that keeps growing as you declutter and clean your home to put it on the market won\u2019t intimidate a handyman\u2014or seem at all strange.<\/p>\n

These pros are used to doing odd projects such as sealing a deck, changing out bathroom faucets, and installing weather-stripping, sometimes on the same day.<\/p>\n

2. Save money<\/h3>\n

Because handymen charge by the hour and supply their own tools, they have less overhead, so their rates are lower<\/a> than general contractors. You\u2019ll typically pay a handyman only for the hours worked and scope of the job, unless you agree on a flat rate, although you will have to supply materials.<\/p>\n

The cost of hiring a handyman depends on the size of the project. The average hourly rate<\/a> of a handyman ranges from $60 to $65\u2014the national average is about $77 an hour\u2014with some services charging higher, up to $125 an hour, according to HomeAdvisor.<\/p>\n

A small job that takes one to two hours might be replacing a broken garbage disposal or thermostat, HomeAdvisor says. A medium-size job such as anchoring shelves, replacing a mailbox, or large drywall repairs might take two to four hours; installing a new kitchen sink and adding locks to certain interior doors are examples of larger jobs that can take four hours or longer.<\/p>\n

3. Discover issues you might have missed<\/h3>\n

While they might not have the specialized knowledge of a plumber or an electrician, handymen are skilled workers who won\u2019t look at your home through the mist of memories. They\u2019ll take note of \u201cleaky and squeaky stuff<\/a>\u201d and general maintenance issues.<\/p>\n

Filling and painting cracks in a stucco exterior<\/a> is a common repair in the heat of Florida that keeps water damage and mold from seeping into the walls, Creegan said.<\/p>\n

Cleaning gutters regularly but especially before a sale will prevent mold growth and rot<\/a> that could damage your roof, according to Arnett Construction<\/a>, a roofing company with more than 20 years of experience in LaPorte, Ind.<\/p>\n

4. Increase your home\u2019s \u2018saleability\u2019<\/h3>\n

A handyman can take care of repairs such as peeling linoleum and loose handrails<\/a> that, aside from being unsightly, could jeopardize financing for a potential buyer using an FHA or VA loan.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires home appraisers<\/a> to note anything that could affect the home buyer\u2019s health and safety<\/a>, or the property\u2019s soundness. This includes peeling or chipped paint, which must be corrected before a loan is approved.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat happens all the time, especially on things like an FHA or VA loan where we have an appraisal come up and then there\u2019s some little wood rot or something very small that could really kill a deal,\u201d Creegan said. \u201cIf we didn’t have a hand in a good handyman referral source, we would be in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: (Amy Hirschi\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to hire a handyman<\/h2>\n

One of the best places to start looking for a handyman is your real estate agent. \u201cA lot of their business comes from Realtors,\u201d Creegan explained. In fact, if your agent recommends a handyperson or a handyman service, \u201cthey\u2019re typically much more willing to take that job on. You\u2019re probably even going to get better pricing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barring that, an online directory known for its rigorous ratings, such as Angie\u2019s List<\/a> or Thumbtack<\/a>, can be good places to search by ZIP code. Another neighborhood-focused resource is Nextdoor.com<\/a>, which includes an interactive map feature and a place to post callouts for recommendations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to ask neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family for their referrals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unlike contractors, licensing and regulation for handymen and handyman services varies by state. For instance, New Jersey requires those who work for a profit to register<\/a> with the state and carry insurance. California requires the use of a licensed contractor<\/a> if the work, including materials and labor, exceeds $500.<\/p>\n

If your state requires licensing, ask for the handyman\u2019s license number<\/a> to verify it with the proper association or local government office that issued the license. Also get a copy of the person\u2019s insurance declaration\u2019s page and verify it with the insurance company.<\/p>\n

If your state doesn\u2019t require licensing, you can still vet potential candidates through your state consumer protection agency<\/a>, your local Better Business Bureau<\/a>, and prior customers. Ask how long the person or company has been in business, their experience with the project you need completed, and references for their previous work.<\/p>\n

What could a handyman do to prep for sale?<\/h3>\n

Although your home has its particular needs, here are 10 tasks that a handyman could do to whip your house into shape before you sell:<\/p>\n