Hiring a handyman

Q: I need a lot of general maintenance done around my condo, but I’m an older person and unable to do many of the tasks that require a lot of “elbow grease” and being contorted in one position for a long time. Are there any contractors who will do “small stuff”? – Clara T., North Miami, Fla.

A: In years past, fixing things up meant calling a relative with do-it-yourself skills who would handle small maintenance tasks for free, or a neighborhood handyman who could make repairs for a small price. This is still a great way to get repairs done, but if there is a lot of work to be done and you feel uncomfortable asking for so much help, more options are available.

One of the newer enterprises to spring up around the country are handyman-for-hire companies, which take the idea of the neighborhood handyman a step further. They provide a skilled professional to take care of small repairs – like leaky drains, running toilets, dripping faucets and so on – for a reasonable price. The advantages of this service are obvious: The customer gets guaranteed work done in a timely manner, and has a central point of contact available in case of problems or if more jobs need doing.

Look for these types of companies in your local business or yellow page listings.