What to Ask Before Hiring a Handyman for a Small Home Fix

Small fixes are the most annoying category of home maintenance because they never feel urgent until they are. The faucet drip becomes cabinet damage. The draft becomes a heating bill. The loose toilet becomes a flooring problem.

This week’s theme is small fixes you’re avoiding. We are not judging you. Your house is.

The good news: you do not need a full renovation brain to hire the right person for a small job. You need a clean script, a few red flag checks, and a smarter way to schedule.

If you want the easiest path, Pigybak is built for this: post once, compare quotes in one thread, and coordinate with neighbors if you want to batch similar work.

The only rule of small fixes

If it involves water, electricity, gas, structural movement, or a ceiling stain, do not treat it like a casual task.

If you are unsure, book a pro and get it scoped clearly.

The Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on hiring contractors and avoiding home improvement scams is worth a quick read if you’ve ever had a “wait, what did I just agree to” moment.

The Copy Paste Hiring Script

Send this before anyone shows up. It filters out chaos fast.

Hi! I’m looking for help with a small home fix: [describe the issue in one sentence].

Before we schedule, can you answer a few quick questions?

1. What is included in your scope for this job, and what is excluded?

2. Is pricing fixed or hourly? If fixed, what assumptions is it based on?

3. What could change the price, and how do you handle change orders?

4. Who will do the work, you, employee, or subcontractor?

5. Are you licensed and insured for this type of work, and can you share proof if needed? Consumer Advice

6. Do you provide a workmanship warranty, and for how long?

7. How do you handle materials and parts: included, billed at cost, or marked up?

8. What is your earliest scheduling window, and how long will the job take?

9. Do you need photos before quoting? If so, what angles are most helpful?

10. Can you share 2 recent examples of similar work (photos are fine)?

11. What is your payment policy: deposit, balance, and accepted methods?

12. If this cannot be completed in one visit, what is the plan for follow up?

Thanks. I’m ready to book once scope and pricing are clear.

BBB’s hiring guidance reinforces the same basics: verify license and insurance, review work, ask for references, and get everything in writing.

What to include so you get real quotes

Pros are not mind readers. Give them what they need so you do not get “depends” pricing.

Send this with your request:

• One sentence issue: “Kitchen faucet drips at the handle”

• Where it is: “First floor kitchen, left sink”

• Urgency: “Not an emergency, but this week or next”

• Outcome: “Stop the drip, check for damage under sink”

• Photos: 2 wide shots + 2 close ups

• Access notes: pets, parking, entry instructions

This is the difference between a quote and a shrug.

The five questions that prevent surprise pricing

If you only ask five questions, ask these:

1. What is included, and what is excluded?

2. Fixed price or hourly, and what changes it?

3. How do you handle change orders? Written only.

4. Who is doing the work?

5. What is your workmanship warranty?

If a contractor cannot answer these clearly, you are about to buy uncertainty.

FTC guidance: get recommendations, check licensing and insurance, and look for complaint patterns before you commit.

Red flags and green flags

These are patterns, not gotchas.

Red flags:

• Refuses to define scope in writing

• Avoids questions about who is doing the work

• No proof of license or insurance when it matters Consumer Advice

• Pushes you to decide immediately without details

• Quotes without photos or basic questions for a job that clearly needs them

• Communication is inconsistent before the job even starts

Green flags:

• Asks for photos and clarifies scope

• Gives a schedule window and confirms visit length

• Explains what could change the price and how they handle it

• Offers a simple workmanship warranty

• Has a repeatable process for small fixes

You want boring competence. That is the dream.

The green home angle: small fixes reduce waste

Green home does not have to mean a massive project. Sometimes it means: stop repeating the same repair, stop losing heat through gaps, stop letting water damage multiply.

Air sealing is a great example. DOE notes that reducing air leakage is a cost effective way to cut heating and cooling costs and improve comfort, and that caulking and weatherstripping can offer quick returns. The Department of Energy’s Energy.gov
ENERGY STAR also highlights sealing and insulating as practical ways to improve comfort and energy efficiency.

Small fixes that tend to pay you back:

• Door and window drafts (weatherstripping and caulk) The Department of Energy’s Energy.gov

• Dryer vent airflow issues (safety and efficiency)

• Caulk and grout maintenance in wet areas (prevent moisture damage)

• Fixing drips early (prevent cabinet, drywall, and flooring waste)

The small fix triage list

If your repair list is long, prioritize like this.

Fix first:

• Anything actively leaking

• Anything that smells like electrical trouble (burning smell, hot outlet, flickering)

• Anything that affects safety (loose railing, smoke or CO detector issues)

• Anything that could cause hidden damage (toilet wobble, slow plumbing leak)

Fix next:

• Drafts and door gaps

• Caulk refresh in wet areas

• Dryer vent airflow issues

• Minor drywall patches that keep spreading

Fix later:

• Cosmetic only items that do not worsen over time

Verify licenses the easy way

License requirements vary widely by state and trade. If you want a starting point for what is typically licensed and where, NCSL’s occupational licensing resources can help you understand the landscape.

Many states also have a public license lookup. Here is an example contractor license search portal so you know what you’re looking for when your state offers one.

The Pigybak way: book smarter, not louder

Small fixes are perfect for neighborhood batching, especially when several homes need similar work.

Step 1: Build your Wishlist
Pigybak supports wishlist collaboration so you can collect your small fixes in one place.

Step 2: Start a Ride
Pigybak Ride lets neighbors coordinate, group similar projects, and keep everything in one thread.

Step 3: Compare quotes and schedule without chaos
Pigybak is designed so quotes, scheduling, and coordination stay in one place.

Fine. I’ll Pigybak it.