Did not want your post to go unnoticed since it is your first one.
Here is what to do if you find one.
Never pay them up front.
Always check their breath before you let them pick up anything sharp.
Hide all personal effects worth more than $10.00 around the house.
Do not let them drink out of your garden hose.
I would think your best bet for finding one is through referrals, this way at least you stand a chance of finding one that can get the job done. Ask around you will find one.
I would be willing to do odd jobs for you for $5.00 an hour, but you will have to let me drink out of the garden hose.
Welcome on board this board, John Michael has been giving some great tips on handyman work maybe you can hire him, but knowing him he would only want to supervise.
Finding a good handyman (or any type of contractor) is just another part of building a network of contacts for your real estate business. So just like finding houses, you will have to talk to a lot of different contractors before you find the perfect one for you.
I could not agree more that a good starting point is referrals. They not only give your the person's name, but you can also find out about their work habits and skill level.
Also try the Bulletin Board at the local Home Depot (or whatever) in the area.
Some of the RE Clubs have Business Memberships and those can be gold mines for good contractors.
BUT finding them is only one part of the equation, now you have to find one that fits with what you are trying to do.
So if you have decided that you are going to have dozens of rental properties, the handyman needs to understand that you could keep him very busy. And therefore you expect a nice price reduction and a priority status, when there is a problem.
If you are rehabbing houses, that could be steady work for one, two or three weeks for a handyman and you do not expect to pay on a per item basis.
Personally, I look for one man or family operations. I want someone that I can explain what I do and understands that I want to build a LONG term relationship.
I also never pay a contractor before the job is finished. If the job is HUGE (a month or more) or the materials very expensive (a very high end kitchen), I have paid a partial payment.
Paying a contractor on time is one of the most critical parts of the relationship!! Almost every contractor I have ever dealt with, has horror story after horror story of not gettting paid. On the day the job is finished, I inspect it and pay for it, there and then. I ask the contractor HOW they want to get paid: cash or check (I get receipts of course). And if a check, how they want it made out. This sets me apart from most people and has really helped me. Several years ago, I needed a new roof on a property ASAP. I called a Roofer I had used twice but it had been two years. I hardly got my name out, when he said "I remember you, you paid cash...". His crew showed the next day.
Motherskye,
Glad to meet you.
Did not want your post to go unnoticed since it is your first one.
Here is what to do if you find one.
Never pay them up front.
Always check their breath before you let them pick up anything sharp.
Hide all personal effects worth more than $10.00 around the house.
Do not let them drink out of your garden hose.
I would think your best bet for finding one is through referrals, this way at least you stand a chance of finding one that can get the job done. Ask around you will find one.
I would be willing to do odd jobs for you for $5.00 an hour, but you will have to let me drink out of the garden hose.
Welcome on board this board, John Michael has been giving some great tips on handyman work maybe you can hire him, but knowing him he would only want to supervise.
John $Cash$ Locke
Finding a good handyman (or any type of contractor) is just another part of building a network of contacts for your real estate business. So just like finding houses, you will have to talk to a lot of different contractors before you find the perfect one for you.
I could not agree more that a good starting point is referrals. They not only give your the person's name, but you can also find out about their work habits and skill level.
Also try the Bulletin Board at the local Home Depot (or whatever) in the area.
Some of the RE Clubs have Business Memberships and those can be gold mines for good contractors.
BUT finding them is only one part of the equation, now you have to find one that fits with what you are trying to do.
So if you have decided that you are going to have dozens of rental properties, the handyman needs to understand that you could keep him very busy. And therefore you expect a nice price reduction and a priority status, when there is a problem.
If you are rehabbing houses, that could be steady work for one, two or three weeks for a handyman and you do not expect to pay on a per item basis.
Personally, I look for one man or family operations. I want someone that I can explain what I do and understands that I want to build a LONG term relationship.
I also never pay a contractor before the job is finished. If the job is HUGE (a month or more) or the materials very expensive (a very high end kitchen), I have paid a partial payment.
Paying a contractor on time is one of the most critical parts of the relationship!! Almost every contractor I have ever dealt with, has horror story after horror story of not gettting paid. On the day the job is finished, I inspect it and pay for it, there and then. I ask the contractor HOW they want to get paid: cash or check (I get receipts of course). And if a check, how they want it made out. This sets me apart from most people and has really helped me. Several years ago, I needed a new roof on a property ASAP. I called a Roofer I had used twice but it had been two years. I hardly got my name out, when he said "I remember you, you paid cash...". His crew showed the next day.
Good Hunting!
Thank you all for your advice, I will seek you out when I nedd more help!