There are a lot of projects on a lot of people’s to do lists after New Year’s resolutions have been made. You don’t want them to pile up, but you might be unsure of what to do about them if they aren’t the kind of jobs you can handle yourself. So you’re faced with a choice: hire a specialty contractor for each job, contact a handyman who says he can handle anything, or work with a general contractor who can help you figure out who should do what.
Instead of having to hire many different people for the job, you should think about hiring one reputable person for them all. This can not only save you time and money, but it can provide you with a sense of trust with this one handy person. That’s a good rule of thumb, but which will work best for your situation will depend on the work that needs to be done. Here is some basic information that might help you make a decision.
You probably know a handyman. A generation ago, most every homeowner had one on the list for home repair jobs. A handyman is a ‘jack-of-all-trades,’ which might be good for some projects, but others they might not be licensed to do, which can be a problem. There are special trades such as electrical and plumbing that actually need a skilled, licensed person to get them done. These types of projects require a permit and an inspection, and only a tradesman licensed in the Minneapolis area can legally do the work. That being said, some homeowners might have a handyman do some minor plumbing or electrical work on an unofficial basis, but that could come back to haunt you when it comes time to sell if the work wasn’t inspected and wasn’t according to code. Then you’ll have to pay to get it done right. That means it cost you twice.
Usually general contractors are needed for those larger projects such as a kitchen remodel or adding an addition to the house. Residential building contractors in Minnesota must be licensed with the state, and they either have licensed specialty tradesmen as part of their company or they have a network of regular subcontractors they work with. A good rule of thumb is that if more than one specialty trade is needed, hire a general contractor so that you only have one person to deal with.
A handyman can tackle many smaller projects that do not need licensing though, which can be a good thing if you just have small fixes around the home. And small projects might be more affordable with a handyman since they are able to go in and get the job done within a day or so, while a contractor might have a lot of overhead costs for the other workers that they have and the price of materials. Not only that, but the contractor is usually in your home for a few days to a week and so on.
Here at Window Outfitters, we are handy but also a highly experienced Minneapolis exterior home remodeling contractor and are able to help you with a wide range of home improvement and exterior repair needs. Contact us for more information today. Call us at (952) 746-6661 for a free consultation. We offer a variety of services, including maintenance-free siding, windows, and entry doors.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
