For anyone that owns their own home, keeping it in great shape is essential. It not only helps it retain its value but also makes it more pleasurable to live in. It also reflects well on you as a person when friends or family call round. While every man has their own skills to get through life, DIY jobs might not be among them. That is especially true for specialist tasks such as fitting bathrooms or rewiring, which are best left to the experts.
When you begin to look around at who to hire though, you will see handymen and contractors crop up frequently. But what is the difference between the two?
Handyman vs. Contractor – what’s the difference?
When you are having work done to your property, it is crucial to hire the right people for the job. This can be hard if you do not know how a handyman differs from a contractor.
The major difference is that handymen perform a wider range of more basic, general DIY tasks for homeowners, while contractors are more specialized. A contractor, for example, may only deal with plumbing work, electrics or plastering. Handymen though will normally offer basic services in a greater choice of areas. They hold a wider, yet less in-depth skillset.
Due to the specialized nature of their work, contractors will normally have to hold certain industry qualifications and state licenses to work. That is not normally true for handymen, as the tasks they perform do not need specific knowledge or licenses to carry out. In many cases, handymen will be a one-man outfit with a more informal feel, while contractors might be a larger business that employs staff. Contractors may also take on projects but then be responsible for sub-contracting out parts of the work and managing the sub-contractors involved.
Both do need insurance!
One area where they do align, however, is insurance. Whether you choose to hire a handyman or contractor, it is vital to check that the company you use holds valid insurance. Both handyman insurance and general contractor insurance come with general liability cover. Most will also include professional liability as well to keep both you and the business you hire safe. If you are still unsure as to what this insurance involves, Next Insurance are a top company whose website carries details of what handyman and contractor insurance delivers.
In many cases, a handyman could be the best choice to make. But when might you decide to do this?
For less complicated tasks
We have already noted that handymen usually carry out more general, less specialized work. This means they are the perfect choice for basic jobs in your property, such as hanging a picture or changing a light bulb. As these jobs require no qualifications or expert knowledge to complete, a handyman is a better fit. For small jobs like that, it would not make sense to hire a specialist contractor as the work required is too low level for them to bother with.
To reduce costs
In general terms, one of the differences between a handyman and contractor is that a handyman is less expensive to hire. That is because they have not taken on the cost of training and gaining licenses. Contractors can often be in high demand due to the complex nature of their work which causes them to charge more in response to the demand. Handymen come with neither of these issues – as a result, you should find they charge less.
Quick work carried out
Lots of firms on the market and less demands on their time also means that handymen are great for urgent work. That is not true for contractors who can be booked up for many months in advance! If you have a basic job that needs sorting out quickly, handymen are your best bet. This is one of the reasons to use a handyman when selling your home or for other kind of time-sensitive tasks, where help with basic work is needed. As the work handymen do is less involved, you should find they can squeeze you in, even if their diary is full.
Handymen and contractors both have their place
There is no doubt that both these types of tradespeople have their place in the jobs market. While a contractor is ideal for specialist work which must be done by a qualified professional, handymen can take care of general DIY tasks quickly and cheaply. If you need work done in your property, it is essential to choose the right one for the job. Doing so will ensure that any work is completed to the required standard by the quickest and most appropriate service.
