@Robert Collins- I've found handymen and contractors a variety of ways:
1. Posted ads on Craigslist
2. Researched Thumbtack
3. Reached out on Yelp
4. Word of mouth
I'm sure this goes with out saying in any market- not just Augusta. BUYER BEWARE! There are hundreds of guys out there in Augusta advertising as qualified contractors and handymen.... I would say 90% of the people I have worked with have been lazy, cut corners and did sloppy work. Especially if you are investing from out of town, they will look at you as a double sucker. No joke- although there are good people out there- assume 90% of the people you talk to are lying to your face about their capabilities. You have to do an extremely good job screening and interviewing on the front end to find the right people.
And not to discourage you- obviously you can see I've been burned- pretty severely- And I've still made money and believe Augusta is a great market- I have learned some valuable lessons that I hope can help you as you are starting your journey-
1. Check 3-5 references. No joke- 1 reference is not enough. You need to qualify more than one reference.
2. If their prices are too good to be true- then its for good reason. I got sucked into trying to find cheap labor. Just last week I realized that because of that- I ended paying 2 x more than I would have needed to pay had I just hired a quality contractor and paid a fair price. And had been fumbling around like this for a better part of year- Imagine the money I could have saved had I gone with a higher quality person from the start.
3. Make sure the contractor you use is licensed. Bonded and Insured is a plus, but at least licensed, and that they can show you their paperwork when you ask.
4. No one person can do it all- If you find a handyman that is good at hanging up blinds- don't ask them to fix a sink or fix a dishwasher- have a deep bench of people who are highly skilled at certain areas. I would actually encourage you to try to find the following:
1. A person who can fix light plumbing
2. A different person who specializes in electrical
3. A carpenter for drywall, roof and exterior repairs
4. A painter for painting
5. An appliance repair person for appliances
(you get my point)
5. Do not depend on a "one call thats all" outfit. I have gotten royally burned doing that.
6. ONLY PAY WITH CC- I have gotten burned paying via cash app- at least with a credit card you can dispute the charge and get your money back if they produce crappy work.
7. Never pay 50% up front. There are some serious jokers out there asking for 50% up front and have only provided crappy work.
8. If possible, if you can find a local who can personally inspect the work when it's done, or the tenant can vouch for the work, then do so. I used to rely on photos, but now I require a video via facetime and inspect everything I contracted them out to do.
9. Write out a detailed scope of work before the project and have them send you a written quote. Before you release ANY payments, go through that scope of work via video chat and make sure it was all done. Photos put you at risk- they can easily take photos of things that look good and take them from far enough away that you can't see the short cuts.
As a new investor- if you put these processes in place, screen through the crap and find the golden nuggets then you only have to do THIS ONCE! Things will be so much easier for you in the long run. Trust me- there is good money to be made in Augusta but a lot of sharks trying to take a bite out of you when it comes to contractors. I can certainly give you advice on who I WOULDN'T hire- and have found some great people to work with. But I think the biggest learning lesson is finding your own gems out there. I hope this helps you.
Kim