Home improvement projects come in all different shapes and sizes. Your family may be planning to completely renovate the kitchen or build an addition, while another family may be thinking of repainting the garage and replacing the kitchen floor. In certain cases the skills and expertise of general contractors are needed, but other jobs and tasks may be better suited for handyman services.
How do you know which type of contractor to call? Generally speaking, no home owner is likely to call a big home improvement company to fix a leaking water faucet or build storage in the garage. To the contrary, most of us are at risk of letting out bigger and more complex home improvement projects to handymen. While some of the smaller contractors and handymen can do an excellent job, others may leave you with a bungled job, just because they tried to bite a lot more than they could actually chew.
Nonetheless, it's better to be prepared, so here's the difference between a handyman and a general contractor, so you know when to call whom.
What General Contractors Can Do For You
General contracting firms often have an extensive staff covering a wide range of disciplines and skills. They also have industry connections, allowing them to quickly source out reliable talent when their own staff cannot handle the project.
If you are planning a large project renovations, finishing the basement, home additions or plumbing and electrical upgrades it makes sense to call on a general contracting firm.
These jobs require the knowledge and expertise of multiple professionals, something you simply can't expect from a handyman company.
Most qualified general contracting companies offer expertise at a recognized level. That means professional engineers (legally designated and licensed to design and approve structural, mechanical, civil and/or electrical drawings), skilled tradesmen (licensed electricians, plumbers and gas fitters) and experienced carpenters. With these skills at their fingertips general contracting companies can handle every aspect of your project.
They may need to subcontract certain unique elements, but industry connections and years of experience will ensure that only dependable professionals are taking care of your home improvement dreams. Many professional contracting firms will price themselves out of smaller projects, mainly because their schedule is full of large-scale jobs that showcase in house talent.
If you are planning a home renovation in stages your project may be of interest to some these businesses, but for the most part small jobs are not their forte.
What Handyman Services Can Do For You
Smaller projects are where handyman services can truly shine. These companies tend to be on the small side themselves, although you may find franchised handyman services in the neighborhood. Most often a handyman is defined by his/her broad range of skills, covering everything and anything from painting and plumbing to flooring, framing and finicky projects.
Handyman services can take on any sized job. These skilled professionals can complete all of the smaller projects that have haunted your mind for months (or years). You may come across a handyman company that offers licensed services (plumber, electrician, engineering), but in most cases the experience of the staff holds a greater value.
You may be pleasantly surprised to learn how little cash it takes to have those projects taken care of by a pro. It's especially important to build a relationship with your local handyman. Seniors, single parent families and any others who have neither time nor the inclination to take on home improvement projects will benefit from a trusting and professional relationship with a handyman firm. It helps the contractor to plan their schedules better, knowing there is steady work ahead. And it allows homeowners to rest easier, assured that minor repairs and home maintenance will be well taken care of.
TrustedPros Tip: It may be productive to actually hand over your list to a handyman and them to price out each job individually. This helps you negotiate better and find out whether any discounts will be offered for multiple tasks.
Whom To Call When You're Not Sure
Although general contractors most often handle larger jobs and handyman services tackle the small projects, this is a generalization and will not always apply. What should a homeowner do when they are not sure where their project fits? Is it best to call in both types of companies and have them compete for your business? Well, you can just rely on your gut feeling or ask around a few friends or neighbours who might have complete similar projects at their homes.
In any case, it's genrally not a good idea to compare the bids of handymen with those of a general contractor. The problem with having general contractors and handyman services bid against each other is unfair comparisons. In order to accurately compare the bids, you need to be able to assess the level of service. These two companies are not likely to offer the same types of services, nor will they have the same payment plans and warranties.
Still not sure? Ask your question at TrustedPros Forum or just go ahead and post your project. Let's find out which type of contractors are most interested in your job.
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