Do I Need a Handy Man or General Contractor?

Not sure where to start or who to call for a project in Cincinnati? First, determine the size and scope of your project. Are you just needing shelving and. fan hung, or do you have a completely new vision for a room? For smaller projects, with limited potential for structural damage to your home (and minimal risk of injury), a handyman may be your best choice. They can do things at a much reduced cost because they are doing all of the work themselves, not hiring out, and they are not required to carry liability insurance. Have you ever called a bunch of contractors and they all say the project is too small? That's when you need a skilled handyman who can complete those small projects, installing a new kitchen faucet or patching drywall, typically at a much lower cost and more quickly than a contractor.

However, if you are thinking of doing a larger project, a handyman is usually not the best route to take, even though they might quote you the lowest price. Since a handyman does all of the work him/herself, the job takes a lot longer to complete. Additionally, while a handyman may be able to change a leaky faucet, he is not certified and licensed like an actual plumber to move plumbing across a room or add it to a new space. Since handymen are not required to carry liability insurance or workers compensation insurance, you the homeowner, assume the financial risk of any damage they may do to your home or themselves while completing the work. 

Contractors, on the other hand, are who to call when you are thinking of making significant changes to your home. Contractors work with, or employ, licensed electricians, plumbers, and concrete specialists, who are required to complete the work for anything requiring a permit and to meet building codes. Contractors are also more efficient at scheduling the various moving pieces of a project and creating and sticking to a timeline to ensure it doesn't drag out indefinitely. They work directly with city inspectors, architects, and trade professionals to ensure all pieces work together and are done correctly.  Most contractors already have relationships with everyone from plumbers to tile installers and have already done the work of filtering out the bad from the good, so you can trust the work being done in your home will meet your standards. They are also required to carry liability insurance and have workers compensation insurance in case any mistakes are made during the process that might harm someone on the job or your home. So whether it's a complete bathroom or kitchen remodel to putting an addition on your home, working with a contractor is always the smartest choice.

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