Questions to ask a handyman before you hire
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Why ask questions at all?
Because Pennsylvania gives you no handyman license to look up. The answers to a few direct questions, checked against state and federal rules, are how you tell a careful handyman from a careless one. Ask them before anyone arrives with tools, and ask the same ones of every person you are comparing.
Questions about the business
"What is your Pennsylvania registration number?" A business that did $5,000 or more of home improvement work in the previous year must register with the Attorney General and print the number, "PA" followed by digits, on its ads, estimates and contracts. A good answer is a number you can find in the state's search. "I only do a few jobs a year" can also be a lawful answer, but only if the work stays under $5,000.
"Do you do the work yourself, or send someone?" The law treats subcontractors as contractors who must register too, even if they never sign anything with you. If someone else will turn up, ask for their name and whether they are registered.
"Can I see a current certificate of insurance?" Registration required the business to show the state $50,000 of personal injury and $50,000 of property damage coverage, but policies lapse. Lower Merion Township's advice to residents is to ask for a current certificate from anyone working on the home, because certificates expire at different times of year.
"Can you give me two or three recent customers to call?" The Attorney General suggests checking references, getting more than one bid and looking for Better Business Bureau complaints, because registration says nothing about quality.
Questions about the job itself
"Does any of this need a permit?" A careful handyman knows that the state regulation treats adding to or relocating wiring or piping, or cutting a load-bearing wall or beam, as more than an ordinary repair, and that your township may require more. The Federal Trade Commission lists a contractor who asks you to get the permits yourself among the signs of a scam.
"Is any of this work you are not allowed to do?" Listen for whether the answer is specific. Some municipalities license electricians and plumbers, and in Philadelphia electrical work needs a city license and plumbing work a licensed master plumber's oversight. A handyman who says "I can do anything" about a new circuit or a moved drain is telling you something.
"My house was built before 1978. Are you lead-safe certified?" If the job disturbs more than six square feet of paint in a room, or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window, the EPA requires a certified firm. Ask how they will contain dust and clean up, and whether they will use any method the rule prohibits.
"What will you do if you find something you did not expect?" The EPA says mold can hide on the back of drywall and inside walls around leaking pipes, and older materials may contain asbestos. The EPA says to treat a suspect material as asbestos and leave it alone unless an accredited professional handles it. A good answer is "stop and tell you", not "rip it out".
Questions about the price
"Is this a fixed price or by the hour?" Both are legal. If hourly, Pennsylvania requires a written initial estimate before work starts, and the bill may not exceed it by more than 10% without a change order you both sign.
"What is your minimum charge, and do you charge for travel or buying materials?" Cost surveys report minimum charges of $75 to $200, trip charges of $30 to $80 and markups on materials. Knowing them in advance lets you bundle small jobs into one visit.
"How much do you need up front?" The FTC's advice is never to pay the full amount up front and to hold the final payment until the work is done. On jobs over $5,000, state law limits the deposit; the Attorney General says one-third of the price, or one-third plus special-order materials, is generally appropriate.
"Will this be in writing?" For any home improvement over $500, the contract must be written and signed, with the work, approximate dates, total price and your right to cancel within three business days.
Questions about the day
"When will you start and finish, and what hours will you work?" The contract must give approximate start and completion dates, so the answer should match what is written.
"What will you need from me?" Clear access, parking, a place to set up, and whether you need to move furniture. For lead work, the EPA's setup steps include removing household items from the work area and turning off forced-air heating and cooling.
"Who cleans up and takes away the debris?" Ask whether disposal is in the price.
What do you do with the answers?
Write them down, and compare them across quotes. The full set of checks is in how to choose a handyman, the legal background is in the Pennsylvania rules guide, and what the day itself should look like is in what to expect on the day.
Sources
- Home Improvement Contractor Verification, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission
- Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
- Get an Electrical Contractor License, City of Philadelphia
- Get a Plumbing Permit, City of Philadelphia
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Handyman Hourly Rates, Price List and Average Job Cost, HomeGuide
- Lead-Safe Renovations for DIYers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Licensed Contractor List, Lower Merion Township
- 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency