Affordable Remodeling & Handyman Services

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. The most common types of jobs we get called to do are electrical repairs and installations of all kinds, plumbing work of all kinds (repairs, replacements and new installations), tile installation (walls and floors), hardwood or laminate floor installations, window and door repairs and installations, drywall repairs, hanging, taping and texturing, interior and exterior painting and caulking jobs, installation or removal of holiday lighting, replacing an ignitor or flame sensor in a gas fired furnace, doing masonry work (repairs or new work), and doing furniture refinishing and woodwork refinishing. When it comes to plumbing, we frequently install new sinks, faucets, toilets, garbage disposals, dishwashers, sump pumps, hose bibs, utility sinks, etc. When it comes to electrical work, we often are installing new or replacement light fixtures, switches, dimmers, chandeliers, flat-screen TVs, etc.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. If you are considering several prospective contractors to select one to do work for you, do your homework. Find out if they are vetted by other services. For example, find out if they are accredited members of the Better Business Bureau. If so, do they have a spotless record? No complaints? Are they members of the local Chamber of Commerce - such as the West Chamber, or the Denver Metro Chamber? Are they listed as ServiceMagic Pros? Are they well respected by those organizations? Next, determine their skills and experience. Are they licensed? Are they insured? Are they registered as a business with the state of Colorado Secretary of State? All of these are things that should be YES answers from any solid contractor.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Two of the biggest areas of potential discrepancy between client expectations and results can happen in the areas of schedule and cost. Schedule is something you should verify the contractor's ability to manage before starting on a project with the company. For example, you will want to know that the contractor has the breadth of manpower and skills to maintain the proposed schedule even if the unexpected happens, such as one of his workers getting sick. Companies that are a "one-man-band" will have difficulties maintaining the schedule if anything happens to upset the apple cart. On the other hand, very large companies often are so busy and have so much going on that a single residential client job can easily get lost in the shuffle. The sweet spot for most residential clients is finding a contractor that's small enough that they're working directly with the owners when scheduling and discussing estimates, yet large enough to have a staff of technicians that allows them to flex and adjust to meet their commitments when surprises come along.

In terms of hitting budget, the key there is to ensure your contractor understands what your budget is, up-front. We run into clients who act as though they think their budget should be a secret....as though somehow if they told the contractor what their budget was, the contractor would take advantage of them and spend every penny of it. If you've selected the right contractor this won't happen because you'll have a team that desires what's best for you, and seeks to serve your needs. But if they're kept in the dark regarding the budget they can only guess....and guessing can lead to poor assumptions and potentially suboptimal decisions. So, be up-front with your contractor -- let the company know the range you're trying to stay within, and give them parameters and priorities.....e.g. how you rank the importance of the various objectives you've outlined. Since we contractors don't have any magic dust, we can't give you everything for nothing...but if we know everything you want, we know how those "wants" are prioritized, and we know what you have to spend, we can make informed recommendations on how to best get as much of what you want for the money you have available.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Before hiring a handyman or remodeling services company, it's very helpful to have a concise idea of what you want, and a list of the products and materials you have selected. That will not only save you time and money, it will also ensure an outcome that more closely aligns with your expectations, with less stress and strain on you and your contractor. If you need help making such decisions on the front end, be sure to explain that to the contractor so they understand you want help in the design phase and product/material selection process before you transition into the construction phase. A Master's Hands is more than happy to assist our clients with design work as well as with material selection; but we first need to know there's that need -- so we can help work out design options with the client before sending out a crew to begin the bath remodel (or whatever).

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. What we like the most about our work is our ability to put smiles on faces when we're able to resolve problems for our clients and do so at an affordable rate. We know we're doing well when we continue to get called back over and over, and our clients rave about our service to their friends and neighbors. We frequently get told "we put you on our speed dial so we can easily call you whenever we need something else fixed!" We also appreciate the trust our clients have in us. It's very rewarding to know that we're earning that trust with new clients every single day, which continuing to build a solid business that seeks to serve our clients "as unto the Lord" (per Colossians 3:23-24).