There is no end to the tales of handymen gone wrong. If you don’t have your own stories, just talk to your neighbors or coworkers.

So how do you spare yourself a similar fate when trying to find someone qualified to take care of a simple home repair issue?

References! References! References!

I, myself, have been a carpenter, a handyman, and a general contractor. I know the inside of the business. Here’s where things go wrong.

THE UNQUALIFIED

Some guys are simply not qualified. At best, they’re well-intentioned but do mediocre jobs for people at cheap prices, and are able to talk their way into new jobs because the unsuspecting homeowner knows even less what they’re talking about than they do, but the price is right.

The homeowner WANTS to believe this man can do the job for that price. Being afraid of paying more for the same job, they take the bargain. Sometimes, it doesn’t go horribly wrong. Sometimes it does. Usually, the guy just doesn’t come back if you have a problem later. He can’t afford to.

You can ask for references, but he may have a few customers with unchallenging work who swear by him. You have to ask specifically what he did for them. If it’s not the same work you’re asking him to do, don’t accept the reference.

THE UNSCRUPULOUS

Some guys are just unscrupulous. Their price is not bargain basement, but they make it SOUND like it is. They have a jargon-filled patter that makes you feel as though you know nothing.

Frankly, they’re sometimes psychologically intimidating. If you try to turn them down, they make you feel foolish. They may give you references, but they may try to make you feel stupid for even asking for references. Don’t take too much stock in the referrals, though, if you have misgivings. They could be cronies or dupes.

If you feel even the least bit uncomfortable when these tactics are pulled on you, politely walk them to the door, and insist that you will have to think about it. Ask for a business card to demonstrate your sincerity, but keep it only in case you have to report them later for harassment.

THE BUMBLING

These are the worst, in a way. They’re sweet guys with great intentions and hearts of gold. They’re not the cheapest and they’re not the most expensive.

You feel really comfortable doing business with them. It just seems like some kind of problem always comes up, and they’ll explain why it’s not their fault, and how they’ll try to make it right. After a while, you let them off the hook, because they tried their best, and you settle for whatever you got.

They truly believe in what they’re doing, but they’re disorganized. Worse, they’ll probably have some good references because people believe in them.

When talking to the references, dig a little to ask about the problems that arose and whether they were adequately taken care of. Even the best handymen will encounter problems-I know I have.

But if you pry gently and hear a consistently recurring theme, think twice. Surely they could have given you a couple of references where problems didn’t occur.

THE TAKERS

These guys are probably fairly competent, and run a professional looking business. They’re not the worst people to deal with, but they’re expensive. You probably won’t have too much problem with their work, except for the bill.

They will, of course, have excellent references, who will no doubt tell you they’re good but expensive. They’re not a horrible choice. At least you know what you’re getting.

THE PROFESSIONALS

These guys are few and far between. They don’t glad hand you and don’t try to be your instant best buddy. And they don’t talk down to you. You’ll feel like your dealing with someone who is competent and professional.

Probably the only difference between the Professional and the Taker is the price. As far as references, you will probably get uniform appraisals of competence, satisfaction, and value.

GETTING REFERRALS

If you’re looking for someone in the yellow pages, classifieds, or Penny Saver, you’re taking potluck. You’ll find one or all of the above types and need your own finely honed sense of people to tell the difference.

Your best bet is to ask your neighbors or coworkers for referrals. You can also call a few real estate companies that handle apartment management to find out if they have any recommendations. Or even ask a few real estate agents you know. If you have an acquaintance who is a contractor, or even an acquaintance who knows a contractor, try making that call to ask who is good at what you need done.

You can expect the best people, the Professionals, to be fairly heavily booked. If you can wait, stand in line. You’ll get the best job at the best price.

If you can’t wait, consider either the Taker or the Bumbling. If you have the money, the Taker will fix your problem for a price. If you want to try to save a little and have some tolerance for rework, go with the Bumbling. Just be patient and politely insistent about the finished product.

CHECKING REFERENCES

Always, ALWAYS investigate a minimum of three potential candidates, and always, ALWAYS call three references for each.

Usually when you call three suppliers, you’ll find a high, low, and medium price. No matter what numbers you hear, it gives you a better sense of the market for what you’re buying. You become a smarter consumer.

When calling the references, have your questions written in advance and write down the answers you get. Don’t just ask your question perfunctorily. Know what it is you’re trying to uncover and dig gently until your question is answered. If you don’t do your due diligence well, who can you blame?

CONCLUSION

I sincerely hope this helps you find the people who can do good work for you. If you have anything you can add, please post another article to this topic.

Learn more about this author, Steve Holder.