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karina 
Updated on October 28, 2026 
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Every landlord and property manager needs to know how to hire a handyman for rental property. A handyman is somebody who is hired to do manual work like repairs or painting around the house.
Before you enlist the first handyman you find, consider a few things. A bad hire does not just waste money. It delays repairs, frustrates tenants, and in some cases leaves you with code violations or damage that costs more to fix than the original problem ever would have.
The market is crowded, and quality varies widely: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,629,700 general maintenance and repair workers employed across the country. Hiring well is not just about finding someone available. It is about vetting the right person for the right job at the right price before they ever set foot in your unit.
This guide covers when a handyman makes sense over a licensed contractor, where to find reliable candidates, what questions to ask before you commit, and what a fair price looks like so you are not overpaying for basic work.
TL;DR: Quick Overview
- A handyman is the right call for small to mid-size jobs. For large structural, electrical, or plumbing projects, a licensed specialist is the safer choice.
- The best way to find a reliable handyman is through personal referrals, contractor review platforms like Angie’s List, or the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals.
- The average handyman project costs $407, with a typical range of $182 to $657 according to HomeAdvisor.
- Always ask for licensing, liability insurance, references, a written quote, and a project timeline before hiring.
- How a handyman handles your first phone call is a reliable indicator of how they will handle your job.
- Once you find a dependable handyman, building a long-term relationship with them is one of the most practical ways to keep maintenance costs predictable across multiple properties.
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How to Hire a Handyman: The First Thing to Consider
What kind of work is being done? Will it be on the inside of the house or outside? How much time do you want the handyman to take while doing it?
The reason you need to ask these questions boils down to one central question: do you need an expert, or will a handyman suffice? Most handymen are not professionals in a particular field. A handyman may work if it’s a relatively small job and you are in a hurry. On the other hand, hiring a professional might make more sense if it’s a tremendous job or you aren’t in a huge rush to do it.
Pros of Hiring a Handyman
- Handymen tend to be much cheaper than a general contractor or specialist
- Handymen have more experience than you do, meaning they can usually do a faster, better job
- Handymen are often certified to do specialized work such as plumbing or electrical but cost less than someone more specialized
- Once you find a great handyman, they can help you maintain multiple properties
Cons of Hiring a Handyman
- It’s more expensive than doing it yourself
- They won’t have as much experience on a specific task as someone who does it every day
- Often working solo, meaning there is no team to back them up or make the work go faster
When Does it Make Sense to Skip the Handyman and Do it Yourself?
An odd activity or two (or three) needs to be done around the rental property. It might make sense to do it yourself if you are tight on funds or saving on maintenance costs. Thanks to the internet and DIY books at stores like Home Depot, it’s pretty easy to teach yourself how to do something.
If you have a lot of time on your hands, this is probably your most solid option. That said, if you’re looking at this post, you probably realize how valuable time is, and you’d rather hire someone else to do the work. The following section will go over where to find someone to do the job.
Where to Find a Handyman
In general, there are three main ways to find a handyman for your rental property. The first is to use your network. Ask your friends, family, neighbors, and other associates if they have anyone they can recommend. Assuming you trust their judgment, this is a great way to get started.
The second way is to use sites like Angie’s List. The great thing about these contractor sites is you get to see reviews from previous customers. Contractors also get ratings, making it easier to find the best quickly.
If push comes to shove, you can use other, more general sites like Google or Craigslist. Google is good and will have some reviews, but it will often be less than Angie’s List. Unfortunately, Craigslist will not have any customer reviews you can look at, so it’s a bit more of a shot in the dark.
Another way to find a local handyman is to reach out to the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals. Ask them if they have someone in your area they can recommend. This is an excellent option because you can almost guarantee it will be a quality, certified contractor.
The Handyman Hiring Process
Once you’ve found a few contractors you want to reach out to, the next step is actually to reach out to them. But, again, keep in mind that how they act on the phone is a good indicator of whether or not they’d be great to work with.
For example, are they polite when they answer? Do they answer your questions patiently and seem eager to help? Or do they seem rushed or frustrated that you are bothering them?
It’s one thing if they’re at a job when they answer. In that case, don’t expect to get much time from them, as they’re trying to get their work done. But they should still be polite about setting up a follow-up phone call or visiting your rental property.
Questions to Ask a Handyman
Before paying someone to work on your rental, drill down to understand them and their business a bit more. It will either help you feel more comfortable hiring them or more comfortable in moving on to someone else.
Here are a few questions to consider asking:
- Are you licensed?
- How long have you been in the business?
- Do you have any past clients as references I could talk to?
- Do you offer a guarantee on your work?
- Is this a team job, or are you an individual?
- Do you have liability insurance?
- Can you provide a written quote ahead of time?
- How did you come up with this price? Can you break it out piece by piece for me?
- How long will the project take?
- Do you have pictures of similar work you have done before you can show me?
Quality handymen will expect you to ask many questions, especially on a big project. However, they realize you are concerned about your home and will be patient and help you feel comfortable with the investment in their service.
How Much Does a Handyman Charge?
It all depends. But according to Home Advisor, the average price of a handyman project is $407. The range is usually between $182 and $657 but can be as low as $70 or as high as $1,200.
Hire Someone with Experience
Before enlisting a handyman, ensure they have experience with the type of project you’re hiring them for. While asking your questions, you already covered this a bit, but it’s essential to dig into it. Handymen often charge by the hour, so you don’t want someone who has no idea what they are doing. Also, amateurs will take longer and do a lower-quality job than someone with experience with that task.
If you hire an amateur, find some way to make up for that inexperience. For example, maybe they give you a much lower rate than their competition. Or they can offer to come out and do the job immediately rather than make you wait a few weeks for availability to open up.
Conclusion
Knowing how to hire a handyman for a rental property is something that you won’t often do. However, once you find a great one, you can keep using them repeatedly, allowing you to focus on other things. But when you’re on the hunt for that first one, keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be happy with the result.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between a handyman and a licensed contractor?
A handyman handles small repairs and general maintenance like painting, drywall fixes, and fixture replacements. A licensed contractor performs specialized work such as plumbing, electrical, or HVAC jobs. Large repairs or structural changes often require licensed contractors to meet local building codes and inspection rules.
2. Should landlords check if a handyman is insured?
Yes. Hiring an insured handyman protects landlords from financial risk if accidents or property damage happen during repairs. Always ask for proof of liability insurance before work starts. Some states also require workers’ compensation coverage for regular maintenance workers hired for rental properties.
3. How can landlords know if a handyman quote is fair?
Request an itemized quote that separates labor and material costs. Compare at least two or three estimates for the same repair job. Very low quotes may signal poor quality work, while higher prices can reflect better experience, stronger skills, or licensed service coverage.
4. Can landlords use the same handyman for multiple properties?
Yes. Using the same trusted handyman across several rental properties saves time and improves maintenance consistency. A handyman who already knows the properties can complete repairs faster and reduce the effort needed to find and manage new service providers for every job.
5. What should landlords do if a handyman does poor work?
Review the written agreement and contact the handyman to request repairs or corrections. Good professionals often provide work guarantees. If the issue continues, landlords may report the problem through hiring platforms, contractor boards, or small claims court depending on local regulations and damages caused.
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