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17 Tips on Finding the Right DuPage County Home Improvement Service
When you’re planning a renovation, it’s imperative to find the right home improvement service. After all, you’re entrusting your precious home and your renovation dreams to a stranger. You need to know the DuPage County handyman or contractor you hire has your back and will successfully make your vision come to life.
Before you begin the remodeling process, take the time to thoroughly research and plan your renovation instead of jumping into it. Preparedness, organization, and transparency are key when it comes to a successful home reno. At Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale, our expert contractors have seen their fair share of home renovations, and we’ve learned a few tips and tricks along the way.
Keep reading to discover our 17 tips for finding the right DuPage County home improvement service.
1. Set Clear Goals
Right off the bat, before hiring a DuPage County home improvement service, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the work you want done in your home and what your expectations are for the contractor you hire. This might sound obvious, but having clear direction will enable you to communicate to your contractor with confidence. Say you have a large project in mind, the contractor will be able to quote you properly and recommend how many workers he or she will need for the project.
Additionally, not all contracting companies do the same tasks. An expert handyman professional will be able to let you know if you need to hire a plumber, electrician, or carpenter for the work you have envisioned for your home.
Lastly, having clear focus will help you navigate what tasks are a priority and whether you and your family will need to relocate for some or all of the renovation.
2. Do Your Homework
Once you have a clear goal in mind, you can begin your research. Keep in mind that although it may be tempting to choose the first “handyman near me” that pops up in a Google search, it’s much more important to choose a contractor who will truly suit your needs, can expertly tackle your DuPage County home improvement project, and pick one you can trust.
Check the BBB and Trade Organizations
One of the best resources to look at to get a sense of the quality and trustworthiness of a DuPage County home improvement service are sites like the Better Business Bureau, and your local Chamber of Commerce website. Sites like these include a range of information, reviews, logged complaints, and other pertinent information—such as business accreditation—that will help you make an informed decision about which DuPage County home improvement service you should hire.
3. Ask Around for References
Do you know someone who has recently had work done on their home? If so, then this person is perfect to ask about the DuPage County home improvement service they used. Not only does asking a friend or family member give you intimate details about their experience with a contractor company, but you might also be able to see the work that was completed for yourself.
4. Check Online Reviews
If you don’t know someone who can recommend a DuPage County home improvement service—or even if you do—then the next best thing is to check online reviews. Reviews from websites including Google My Business offer a range of comments on handyman service providers. Look for at least a 4.5 review rating with a high review count.
Don’t forget to check out photos! Google My Business has the capacity for homeowners to upload photos of completed projects. Check positive and negative comments and look for comments on quality, reliability, communication amongst other criteria when evaluating handyman services in DuPage County IL.
5. Get as Many Estimates as It Takes
Often, when looking into hiring a DuPage County home improvement service, homeowners are told to use the “rule of threes” to acquire estimates. Meaning, that you should get three estimates and choose one from that gathered trio.
We suggest getting as many estimates as it takes for you to:
- Have a sense of how much the project will realistically cost
- Be comfortable with the price you settle on
- Be able to make an informed decision about which contractor to hire
6. Busy Is a Good Sign
When you are walking through a downtown area in search of somewhere to eat for lunch, what is more appealing: an empty restaurant or one with a line to get in? When a business is busy, it’s often a sign their services are excellent. This is the case with DuPage County home improvement services too. Even if you’re chomping at the bit to get started on your renovation, remember it might be worthwhile to wait for a busy handyman company to complete your remodel. They are likely busy for a reason!
7. Go with Your Gut
Ultimately, trusting your instincts is fundamental when it comes to choosing a DuPage County home improvement service. You know your home, expectations, and budget the best and can tell whether you have a good rapport with the contractor you want to hire. If you’re tackling a big renovation, then it’s likely this person will be in your home—and your life—for a while. It’s really important to feel you can trust and get along with him or her.
8. Choose the Professionals
In a day and age where we have unlimited information at our fingertips, it can be very tempting to feel like you could undertake your home renovation without the help of professional DuPage County home improvement services. Maybe you are a pro DIYer or flip homes for a living, but in the case of most DuPage County residents, it’s better to trust something as high-stakes as a remodeling project to people who know what they’re doing.
9. Ask About Experience
When it comes to DuPage County home improvement services, experience matters. There are two main areas that you’ll want to consider when inquiring about a technician's experience.
How Long Have They Been in Business?
The longer a contracting company has been in business, the more likely they are to have proven that they are experts at what they do. There is a degree of security that comes with working with a company that has been in business for several years (or even a decade). The longer the company has been in business, the more confidence you have in their services.
For instance, the owners of our Mr. Handyman location—Wayne and Kim Owczarzak—have been operating for over a decade. They have proven time and time again that our customers always come first and that our handyman technicians offer nothing but the best DuPage County home improvement services.
How Many Past Jobs Have They Had?
Along with inquiring as to how long a company has been in business for, it’s important to ask how many past jobs or years of experience the contractors have. A business might have been operating for years, but the technician who is actually completing your DuPage County home improvement services may only have a year to claim for themselves.
At Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale, each of our skillful technicians possess an average of 15 years’ experience in the trades. We are truly dedicated to providing outstanding workmanship to all of our DuPage County clients.
10. Verify Insurance and Permits
Always hire a contractor who can show you proof of insurance. It’s not worth the risk to undertake a home remodeling project without insurance—and is often a red flag if a contractor can’t show proof of insurance. Likewise, confirm with your DuPage County home improvement service provider whether they will acquire any necessary permits on your behalf or if you will have to apply for the necessary permits to complete your renovation on your own.
11. Ask About Updates
Who will be your point of contact during the renovation? Will the contractor provide you with regular updates, or will someone else in their company keep you in the loop? Be sure to ask about these details before hiring a DuPage County home improvement service as you will want to choose someone who is transparent with you.
12. Get it In Writing
It almost goes without saying, but every aspect of your project should be documented in writing. A contract illustrates professionalism and transparency. If something goes wrong without the safety of a legal document, then it may turn into a dispute where it’s your word against the contractors.
At Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale, we pride ourselves on being upfront with all our customers and ensure that each of our clients are updated throughout the entire process.
13. Inquire About the Pricing Process
When selecting a DuPage County home improvement service, in addition to asking for an estimate, it’s also important to inquire how the entire pricing process works. For instance, do you have to pay upfront, in installments, or all at the end? What methods of payment are accepted by the contractor you want to hire? Do they have a financing option? Will the initial estimate be honored when it comes time to pay?
At Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale, we offer upfront, transparent, and flat-rate pricing. After agreeing upon an estimated cost for your work—which will vary depending on the time the project should take—we stick to that price. With our team, the bill you expect is the bill you get!
14. Troubleshoot the What-Ifs
No matter how well planned a renovation is, there is always the possibility something will take longer than planned, your materials are back-ordered, or some other unforeseen hurdle pops up. That’s why it’s important to discuss the “what-ifs” with your DuPage County home improvement service provider. Ask your contractor how he or she handles the unexpected and how it might affect your timeline and budget.
15. Know What Happens in a Worst-Case Scenario
If you’re unhappy with renovation done by your DuPage County home improvement service provider, you need to know they will still have your back and do whatever it takes to make the problem right. Be sure to ask about any guarantees or warranties the company might offer, how long you have to notify them of a problem, and whether you can get a full or partial refund should things get ugly.
At Mr. Handyman, we offer all our clients our Done Right Guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with our services, notify us within one year, and we will fix the problem at no added cost. We truly care about going above and beyond for our customers.
16. Ask About Clean-Up
After having your home taken over by a renovation, the last thing you will want to do is deal with a big mess after your contractor leaves. While it might be assumed a DuPage County home improvement service provider will clean-up before they leave, it’s imperative to confirm this will be the case—and to ask if there is a cleaning fee.
Any handyman company that respects you and your home should clean up before they leave your residence. For instance, at Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale, we always ensure our clients’ homes are as clean as we found them before leaving.
17. Leave a Review
While this step is not part of hiring the right DuPage County home improvement service provider, it will help the next homeowner looking for a handyman or contractor in DuPage County IL. When you write your review, be sure to include the following information:
- Details about the work you had completed
- If you were happy with the work received
- If you would recommend the handyman company
Don’t forget to upload photos of the completed work so that everyone can see the finished work. Your valuable feedback will help others find the best home improvement company serving DuPage County IL.
Hire a DuPage County Home Improvement Service Today!
When you’re planning a home renovation or remodeling project, it’s key that you hire a DuPage County home improvement service provider that you can trust. At Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale, we work tirelessly on every job to earn the trust of our clients and provide the best workmanship and customer service possible.
To hire our excellent handyman technicians, we invite you to give us a call or request a service online. We look forward to meeting you and helping you with your next home improvement project.
