4 tricks for getting the best repair job for the money

Hiring a professional to do work around the house is a costly, but sometimes necessary step. Here's some tips on how to get the most bang for your buck when looking into home repair.

A handyman can be a real help when it comes to tackling small jobs you don't have time to complete, or skilled jobs you just don't feel comfortable attempting. You may even be tempted to give your handyman small wiring jobs or other electrical work.

Before you do, however, make sure he is licensed to do electrical work (if local code requires it) and that his work is up to snuff. "You get the wrong guy messing around with your electrical wiring — someone who doesn't know what he's doing — and you're in trouble," says Jim Abbott, owner of Handyman Matters in Toronto, Ontario.

The mistakes, which can be dangerous, are hidden behind Sheetrock walls or within electrical panels. Look for red flags, such as light switches and outlets in strange places. "I've seen it," Abbott says. "A guy runs out of wire and puts a switch at eye level or an outlet halfway up the wall."

"A lot of handymen give their customers the tailgate warranty," says Jim Abbott. "They drive away in their pickup truck with your cash in pocket, and all you see is their tailgate disappearing. That's it. That's your warranty." Instead, ask them if they'll guarantee their work for up to a year. If they will, get it in writing. If they won't, take their reluctance as a red flag.

If your plumber is charging you by the hour to install new bathroom or kitchen fixtures, here's a sure way to save money. Ask him what brand he likes best. Chances are this will be a common, dependable brand that he's very familiar with. Choose models made by this brand, and he'll install them more efficiently, saving time and money by not having to struggle through detailed instructions about what washers go where and what size wrench he needs to tighten everything.

Also, he's more likely to install products correctly if he's already done it countless times before, and that will save you repair costs in the long run.

Any repairperson who is paid by the hour will happily lounge around your house chatting up a storm. The clock is ticking, after all, and that kind of work is oh-so-easy. With a little forethought, however, you can make sure that every minute of a repairperson's visit is nose-to-the-grindstone productive.

• Discuss all of the details of the job over the telephone — while the clockisn'tticking. This also ensures that the worker will arrive with all of the necessary tools and materials.
• Clear away any obstructions in advance of the repairperson's arrival, and make sure there's proper light for the worker to see by.
• Check the house over for all tasks that this particular repairperson could handle — thus saving you service charges in the future.
• Tell the worker not to bother cleaning up. Cleanup is never done to your specifications anyway, is it? The worker will be out your door in a minimum of time — and your bill will be the minimum as well.