While you are generally required by law to make use of a licensed contractor, all too often many homeowners opt instead to make use of a handyman.
But what are the differences between a handyman and a remodeling contractor? For starters, a handyman is generally a skilled laborer who may have learned his skill through experience or even through a vocational school.
He may have all of his own tools and may even know how to read a blueprint.
However, for whatever reason, the handyman never obtained his license, insurance and bonding.
On the other hand, a remodeling contractor also knows how to build homes and make renovations to existing ones.
Just like a handyman, the contractor may have learned the trade through experience or through a vocational tech school.
He usually has his own vehicle and tools.
But unlike a handyman, he has gone through the effort of obtaining his license, getting insurance as well as paying the necessary bonding fees.
When it comes to some of the smaller renovations in your home that might only take a day or two, it may be perfectly legal to hire a handyman.
However, there are local limitations to the amount that he can be paid and do.
At the same time, if the handyman gets injured while working on your home, you have assumed the responsibility to cover his medical bills.
If he gets paid and never shows up or even if he messes up the renovation then you also assume the responsibility for any financial losses that may result.
Regardless of whether the job is a big one or a small one, a remodeling contractor has the necessary licensing.
He has the proper insurance in case he gets injured on the job.
He also has the necessary insurance and bonding in the event that he makes a mistake or does not complete the work.
When you hire a handyman, you are entirely responsible, but when you hire a contractor, he assumes responsibility for virtually everything associated with the project.
Sure a handyman costs less, but if he gets injured, makes a mistake or even walks away with your deposit, then the costs of hiring a handyman increase substantially.
While the remodeling contractor costs more, he will be locked into an agreed upon amount.
What's more is that the contractor will also have a specific time-frame for which the project has to be completed in.
But what are the differences between a handyman and a remodeling contractor? For starters, a handyman is generally a skilled laborer who may have learned his skill through experience or even through a vocational school.
He may have all of his own tools and may even know how to read a blueprint.
However, for whatever reason, the handyman never obtained his license, insurance and bonding.
On the other hand, a remodeling contractor also knows how to build homes and make renovations to existing ones.
Just like a handyman, the contractor may have learned the trade through experience or through a vocational tech school.
He usually has his own vehicle and tools.
But unlike a handyman, he has gone through the effort of obtaining his license, getting insurance as well as paying the necessary bonding fees.
When it comes to some of the smaller renovations in your home that might only take a day or two, it may be perfectly legal to hire a handyman.
However, there are local limitations to the amount that he can be paid and do.
At the same time, if the handyman gets injured while working on your home, you have assumed the responsibility to cover his medical bills.
If he gets paid and never shows up or even if he messes up the renovation then you also assume the responsibility for any financial losses that may result.
Regardless of whether the job is a big one or a small one, a remodeling contractor has the necessary licensing.
He has the proper insurance in case he gets injured on the job.
He also has the necessary insurance and bonding in the event that he makes a mistake or does not complete the work.
When you hire a handyman, you are entirely responsible, but when you hire a contractor, he assumes responsibility for virtually everything associated with the project.
Sure a handyman costs less, but if he gets injured, makes a mistake or even walks away with your deposit, then the costs of hiring a handyman increase substantially.
While the remodeling contractor costs more, he will be locked into an agreed upon amount.
What's more is that the contractor will also have a specific time-frame for which the project has to be completed in.
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