Do You Have Insurance?

• A professional, reputable handyman should be bonded and insured, which covers the cost of any potential damages done while working on your home or business as well as other incidentals, such as theft or accidents. Insurance is important because hiring an uninsured handyman means that you have no means of recouping lost property in the event of theft or damage to your property for the duration of the project on which he is working.
  
  

What Are Your Payment Terms?

• Payment terms vary among handymen, depending on their level of experience, size of their company and whether or not they are in business for themselves. A handyman will generally ask for a deposit of some sort to guarantee that he will at least get something for his work should you neglect to pay him at the end of the job. This guarantee also offers you some protection in the event that he does not complete the job; giving him money -- particularly if you sign a contract -- gives you grounds for legal action if he reneges on his responsibility to the project.
  
  

What Kind of Projects Do You Accept?

• Depending on his level of experience, a handyman can take on any range of home or business improvement jobs. They may be mundane, such as repairing a door knob or replacing light bulbs to more involved endeavors, such as fixing plumbing issues or cleaning a swimming pool. Handymen are generally used to dealing with odd jobs that don't require the services -- or exorbitant fees -- of a large company.
  
  

Do You Guarantee Your Work?

• Most handymen will guarantee their work for a certain period of time; for example, they may offer a 90-day guarantee. However, you need to get all guarantees in writing, generally within the realms of the general contract you sign with your handyman of choice. Ensure the terms of the guarantee are fair so that you have ample time to make certain his work holds up for more than a week or two.