Handyman or Contractor? Who to Call for Which Job

Different jobs call for different people. Here is a simple way to decide who to call first.

Call a Handyman For

Repairs, installs and small projects that need a few tools and a skilled pair of hands: patching walls, hanging doors, caulking, mounting TVs, replacing fixtures, fixing fences and decks, assembling furniture and painting rooms.

If the job fits in a day or two and does not involve major systems or structure, a handyman is usually the fastest, simplest choice.

Call a Specialist For

Electricians handle panels, new circuits and wiring in walls. Plumbers handle main lines, water heaters and hidden pipes. Roofers handle full roofs, HVAC techs handle heating and cooling, and structural engineers handle foundations and load-bearing changes.

A handyman can often tell you which specialist you need and work with them afterward.

Call a General Contractor For

Large projects that combine many trades, need permits and drawings or change the layout of the house, such as kitchen and bath remodels, additions and whole-house renovations.

Many homeowners use a contractor for the big project and a handyman for everything around it.