Fix it up: How to hire general maintenance help

You love your home. But that leaky faucet, clogged gutter or cracked shower tile is driving you crazy. Who ya gonna call? A handyperson. This general practitioner of the home-repair industry is the go-to professional for jobs you don't want to do, haven't time to do or simply can't do (and have no business attempting).

You don't want to hire just anyone. Like a housekeeper, caregiver or babysitter, a handyman has access to your home. The right one is more than just a guy, or gal, with a tool box. It's someone with whom you may build a long-term trusting relationship.

Heather Bays, a single parent living in Lowry, found her current handyman by asking a friend who is a real estate agent for a recommendation. Most recently, she had him replace an 8-foot-by-10-foot backyard planter.

"The referral from my friend was key," says Bays. "I want someone I know and trust to have used this person before and be satisfied with the work."

Word of mouth is still the favored way to find a pro. But instead of swapping info over the backyard fence, many of us head online, using neighborhood social networks such as Nextdoor.com. After all, if someone you know has used a particular handyman, odds are he won't disappear overnight.

When he wanted to remodel the kitchen in his 1928 Spanish bungalow, Hilltop resident John Sunderland turned to Craigslist. His approach: Place a notice in the Gigs section under "Labor."

Sunderland carefully laid out the project, noting that he need an "experienced carpenter" and asked for three references with phone numbers. Of the four responses, only one provided the information he asked for. Impeccable references scored him the job.

After a test "job" replacing two kitchen windows went well, Sunderland hired him for the rest of the kitchen redo and plans to have him drywall the garage ceiling.

A handyman for nine years, Buddy Hendrickson says he appreciates clients who let him know their expectations. "It's all about the right fit. Someone is letting me into their home and I respect that," he says.

Online services such as HomeAdvisor.com (formerly Service Magic) or Angie's List match homeowners with qualified service professionals and include user reviews. While Angie's List charges users to search listings, Denver-based HomeAdvisor's ProFinder is free. Listed professionals pay a membership fee and must pass a financial and background check.

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Fix it up: How to hire general maintenance help