Handyman vs General Contractor?

[Keenan Cromshaw]

When do you think it makes more sense to hire a handyman instead of a general contractor? 

Would you rather save money with small fixes or invest in a GC for a full renovation done by the book?

Or do you usually like to do a combination of both?

[JD Martin]

Well, most "handymen" in my experience are barely handy at all. Anything beyond changing out light switch covers and things like that end up as hack jobs. Not all of course but it doesn't take a lot of effort or skill or licensing to advertise yourself as a handyman. 

A GC on the other hand will have to be licensed in pretty much every state, with insurance. They're going to be more expensive because they'll manage the job.

I prefer a third option - directly hire the subs and be your own GC, if allowed where you are. If I am having a full rehab done I can save 20-40% of the total job by hiring the subs directly. This doesn't work very well if you don't know what things should cost, don't know any subs, live in an area where there's a big shortage of subs, or don't know how to manage a project. In any of those cases you should use a GC. 

For my local properties I do most of my own "handyman" stuff. I'm better than 95% of them in my area (maybe higher), can do/build/fix virtually anything, and can get it done faster than arranging for a guy to come out. There's exceptions - things I don't like doing any more, and things that I want to keep a relationship with a trade. So I will throw some plumbing jobs to my plumber that I can do myself. Same with electrician. Same with HVAC. Not everything, not ridiculously easy or fast jobs, and not easy but emergency jobs. But by keeping the relationships I go right to the top of the list when I have an emergency, serious job that needs to be done. So the plumber does a few faucets and toilet replacements that I could easily handle so that when something busts loose on a weekend I can get him out there. ETC.