If you’re going to be working at home, whether it’s full-time or part-time, you’ll probably need to set up an office somewhere in your house. If you don’t have the time, money, or skill to create an elaborate setup, that’s okay! Hiring a handyman can save you money and help ensure your workspace is both organized and functional. Here are five budget-friendly tips to consider when hiring handymen Cheltenham for your home office renovation.
1) Determine your budget
This is likely going to be your most important step. Before you contact any handymen, know how much you’re willing to spend on remodeling your home office. Do your research and come up with an hourly rate that is fair for both parties; if you don’t know where to start, figure out what it would cost to hire somebody else in your area. Once you have your budget in mind, determine how many hours of work you need done and multiply that by your proposed hourly rate.
2) Avoid lowballs who only give you low quotes
Lowballs are easy to identify once you start asking around. They’re often unlicensed (they don’t want to pay fees) and unreliable (if they give you a quote, they’ll likely end up not showing up). In short, it’s probably best if you avoid them altogether. Instead, be choosy when choosing who to hire: opt for handymen who charge by the hour instead of those who charge per project. More expensive labor doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality work—and you’ll save yourself headaches in the long run. For example, one handyman quoted $400 per hour but ended up costing me nearly $1,000 after his subcontractors did more work than he originally said he would need doing.
3) Find people who have done similar jobs before
Finding a handyman who has experience in home office construction is key. Check with people you know and also search online reviews of contractors and handymen Cheltenham. Word-of-mouth is still one of your best tools when it comes to hiring anyone. It’s always best to hire someone who’s worked on projects similar to yours before. If you have friends or family members who recently renovated their offices, ask them who they hired—and if they were happy with that person’s work.
4) Ask friends/family if they can recommend anyone
If you don’t already have a handyman, or if you want someone new, start by asking your friends and family. Chances are they know a guy—or they might even be that guy! But if not, ask them who they would call if they needed some work done at their house. Then call up those people, figure out what services they offer, how much it costs and get on their schedule. Be sure to tell them you were referred to them by so-and-so so that person can get a little something extra. Here are some ways in which hiring a handyman for your home office will save you money.
Conclusion
If you’re planning on setting up your own office, it’s easy to let costs get out of hand—even if you are budgeting. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save money apart from hiring handymen Cheltenham when setting up your home office; just take a look at these tips and tricks! Remember: You don’t have to spend a fortune on high-end design when you can achieve great results by getting creative. And always be sure to shop around for price quotes from different tradespeople before hiring anyone. It never hurts if they know you’re shopping around—they might work with you on pricing!