The first few nice weekends of spring have a way of creating a home project list pretty quickly. You finally get outside and notice the loose railing. The fence gate isn’t closing quite right. Inside, you’re still thinking about that bathroom you’ve wanted to redo all winter. And while you’re at it, maybe this is finally the year for the new deck.
Before long, the list ranges from a two-hour repair to a two-month renovation.
So, who do you call?
A handyman and a general contractor can both be valuable resources for maintaining and improving your home. The difference usually comes down to the size, complexity, and number of trades involved in the project.
When a Handyman May Be All You Need
Not every home project needs a general contractor, and we’re the first to say it.
A good handyman can be a great resource for smaller repairs, maintenance items, and straightforward projects that don’t require major structural changes or coordination between several trades.
Your spring handyman list might include things like:
- Repairing a loose railing or step
- Replacing damaged trim
- Fixing doors that stick or don’t close properly
- Minor drywall repairs
- Replacing hardware or fixtures
- Small fence repairs
- Tackling miscellaneous repairs that have accumulated over the winter
If you’ve got a running list of small things around the house, hiring someone who can knock out several of them at once can make a lot of sense.
When It’s Time to Call a General Contractor
The line starts to shift when a project involves structural work, major plumbing or electrical changes, permits, multiple subcontractors, or several phases of construction.
Think about the difference between replacing a bathroom faucet and remodeling the bathroom. One is a relatively straightforward job. The other may involve demolition, plumbing, electrical, flooring, drywall, tile, cabinetry, and inspections.
That’s where a general contractor comes in.
Projects like these typically belong in the GC category:
- Kitchen and bathroom remodels
- Home additions
- Basement renovations
- Major layout changes or wall removal
- New or substantially rebuilt decks
- Covered porches
- New garages or major garage renovations
- Larger commercial renovation
A general contractor isn’t simply there to perform the work. Part of the job is making sure all of the pieces happen in the right order and that the finished project works as a whole.
What About the Projects That Fall Somewhere in the Middle?
This is where homeowners understandably get confused.
Maybe you need three sections of fence replaced rather than one board. Your porch needs more than a new railing, but you’re not sure whether the entire thing needs rebuilt. Or what started as replacing bathroom flooring has you wondering whether it makes more sense to finally remodel the whole room.
You don’t have to figure that out before you make the call.
A good contractor should be willing to look at the problem and tell you whether you’re dealing with a repair, a larger renovation, or something that can still reasonably be handled by a handyman.
Sometimes the answer really is, “You don’t need us for this.”
That’s useful information too.
Watch for One Small Project Turning Into Five
Spring is also a good time to look at projects together rather than one at a time.
Let’s say you’re planning to replace an aging deck this year, but you’ve also been thinking about adding a covered area and replacing the fence along the same side of the yard. Those projects may make more sense when they’re planned together.
The same thing happens indoors. If you’re replacing kitchen flooring but know a kitchen remodel is coming in another year, it may not make sense to install something now that will need to be removed later.
Before starting a repair, ask yourself:
Is this the actual project, or am I spending money on a temporary fix for something I already know I want to change?
Sometimes fixing what you have is absolutely the right answer. Other times, looking at the bigger picture can save you from paying for the same area twice.
Use Spring to Walk Your Property
You don’t need to be a contractor to give your home a basic spring inspection.
Take a walk around the house and make a list. Look at your deck and porch. Check fences and gates. Look for exterior wood that’s beginning to deteriorate. Pay attention to doors and windows. Think about whether water is draining where it should.
Then head inside.
What bothered you most about your home this winter? Is the kitchen still not working for your family? Did everyone pile into the same bathroom every morning? Is your garage overflowing? Are you short on living space?
Some of those things belong on a maintenance list. Others may be telling you it’s time for a larger conversation.
At Hayslett Construction, we work on everything from smaller projects to full renovations, additions, garages, decks, and commercial spaces throughout Miami County, Montgomery County, and the surrounding Dayton area.
If you’re staring at your spring project list and aren’t sure whether something is a repair or the beginning of a larger renovation, start with the conversation.
We’ll help you figure out what the project actually needs before you decide what to do next.
