How Can I Find (and Hire) A Good, Responsible Handyman?

I need some work done around my house. The problem is, I'm out of my league. I'd love to hire a handyman or a contractor to help me out, but how do I go about finding one? How can I make sure they're trustworthy and won't do more damage than good?

Dear Harried Homeowner,
All isn't lost! Resist the temptation to pick up the phone book and start leafing through it, looking for nearby handymen or general contractors. There are better ways to find good, reputable contractors who do good work and are willing to stand behind what they do. The key however is that you have to do your research and your homework before you hire and stay engaged while they work. You can't cut corners here—there are plenty of bad handymen out there willing to do shoddy work and charge you a ton of money, and they give the good ones who are eager for your business a bad name. Here's how to find—and support—those good guys.

Read more: https://lifehacker.com/how-can-i-find-and-hire-a-good-responsible-handyman-558507563