Editor’s note: Barry Courter has a 26-year-old son who is a college graduate and a 21-year-old daughter who is a college senior. Each week he poses a question he wishes they would ask.
Q: Dad, what do I need to know when it comes to hiring a handyman for home repairs?
A: 1. Get references (you can use the Better Business Bureau’s website for that). 2. Never pay in full up front (some say never even in part until work is done). 3. Be specific about the work you want done, and get an estimate in writing for that work only. 4. I’ve also learned to have them call me when they are nearing the house, so that I don’t sit around waiting for them when I could be at work.