Eight questions to ask every handymen
Run this list with every contractor before you sign. Most legitimate pros will answer in under five minutes and appreciate that you're doing your homework — a pro who pushes back on these questions is telling you something important about how they do business.
- Do you carry general liability insurance? Can I see proof?
- What is your hourly rate and minimum, and what is included in materials?
- Will you give me a written estimate for the job, or only an hourly?
- Which jobs on my punch list will you refer out to a licensed specialist?
- Do you bring your own tools, or do I need to provide anything?
- How do you handle disposal of old fixtures and debris?
- What is your warranty on workmanship?
- Are you bonded for any larger projects?
Red flags to walk away from
If any of the following come up during a quote, stop the conversation and call a different handymen. The cost of restarting the process is almost always less than the cost of fixing a botched or unpermitted job after the fact.
- ⚠ A handyman who quotes plumbing past a fixture swap, electrical past an outlet swap, or any structural work without a licensed sub.
- ⚠ No insurance.
- ⚠ Cash-only pricing with no receipt.
- ⚠ Heavy up-front deposits before any work begins.
- ⚠ No willingness to walk the punch list before quoting.
The 60-second license check
Every U.S. state lets you verify a contractor license online for free — usually through the state's contractor licensing board, the secretary of state, or the department of labor. Search "[your state] contractor license lookup" and enter the license number the pro gave you. The lookup will show whether the license is active, what trades it covers, when it expires, and whether there are any open complaints or disciplinary actions. FixNearMe pre-runs this check on every listed pro, but a fresh same-day check the morning of your appointment costs you nothing and catches recent suspensions.
How FixNearMe matches you to vetted handymen
Use the free quote form on this page to send your job to up to three pre-screened handymen in your area at once. We never sell shared leads, never robo-call you, and never charge homeowners — pros pay a flat monthly listing fee, and ranking is based purely on license status, recent review quality, and on-time response rate. For pricing context before you compare quotes, see our handyman cost guide; for after-hours work, see our emergency handymen guide.