If home improvement is the goal you have in mind this year. Then it would be the best time to learn how to get some help if you do not intend to do it yourself, especially if carpentry isn't your forte. This way you can pay a reasonable price and avoid scams. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Ask for referrals. It could from your neighbor, your friend or a family member. If they know someone who does home improvement or handy work. Chances are they might, and if they do, they probably have been hired by them before and have been satisfied by the outcome.
Once you hire, it is important to test on small projects first. Talk to the contractor and be precise with what you want done for your home. Ask away, interview the contractor you are hiring, this way you will know what they can and cannot do for you, and if they can deliver what you want done for the improvement your place.
If you only hired yourself a handyman, do not make him do any skilled work. It's better to be safe than have your home turn into a major disaster. Also, there are home improvements that will require permit before they can start. Make sure you know and verified it first if you do not want to get charged for unpermitted work.
When interviewing your contractor, it is essential that you also get writing estimates of how much everything would all cost. This way you can set a budget and not over pay. Do not pay for work upfront, have your handy work get started first, before paying. Tendency for paying upfront is sloppy work or worst case scenario a runaway contractor.
Try to hire someone that is licensed and has insurance, so there is less worry for any unprecedented incidents at work. In reference to getting a referral, beware of people who you just found because they knocked on your door claiming they offer to do home improvement and handyman jobs. You may need to hire people for home repairs but it's more important to be safe than sorry.
