Should you look for a handyman on Craigslist? Many people might advise against this, but here at Taskr, we actually don’t look down on it. While it might not be the most popular way of finding an honest handyman near you, we really do think you can find one on Craigslist. At Taskr, we pride ourselves on honesty and transparency. Just to be clear: we’ve got no relationship with Craigslist, and are not (and have never been) sponsored by them in any way. In fact, we have never been sponsored by anyone at all. The truth is much simpler: we just need to give credit where credit is due. Back when my co-founder and I started to do our own work directly for homeowners, Craigslist is what enabled us to provide home repair and renovation services all around the area!

This is years before either one of us even considered launching Taskr. At the time, we both worked for a licensed general contractor, where we learned and expanded our skills over the years. By then, we already had incredibly kind customers who often wanted us to come back and do a little extra work – work that was too small for our actual boss to book and schedule, due to the company already being overbooked with large projects. This is when our former employer told us upfront: go ahead and provide small services to these customers on your own. Initially, this felt counter-intuitive to us, but we soon understood the unmet need in the real estate market. A quick 30-minute kitchen faucet repair or replacement wasn’t worth it to the large company, but the company did want to keep these customers happy nonetheless. With no other handymen to refer them to, my co-founder and I simply began to start taking on these odd jobs from people we already knew.

The next step after that was figuring out how to introduce ourselves to new customers. Today, many will advise to dive into the world of social media, and for example, launch a handyman TikTok channel, or a home repair YouTube page. While a good option for some, this is not the only way to gain exposure. What has worked for us back then, was going on Craigslist and finding people who needed small handyman tasks complete. Further down the road, we even posted our own handyman offers on Craigslist. These weren’t paid ads, but rather simple posts that tried to connect with people. This worked so well that we had to eventually turn those off, because of how busy we were.

We really believe that honesty is key in any business, especially a local handyman and home repair business. It’s what got us through tough times, it’s what worked back then, and it is what works especially well today. An honest handyman, an honest handywoman – an honest handyperson is highly recommended because of the trust that customers have in us. The marketing is secondary to that, and it doesn’t matter if you find a good handyman on Craigslist, Instagram, or Angie’s List. At Taskr, we believe in honest work, superior craftsmanship, and transparent pricing above all else. How you find your handyman isn’t important. So, absolutely, please feel free to find your handyman on Craigslist.

Having said that, we’d be remiss not to share some important safety tips when it comes to finding a handyman on Craigslist, or anywhere else for that matter. Our 10+ years of experience in the business have taught us that when you search for anyone on the internet, safety and caution are non-negotiable. Here are 10 safety tips we highly recommend, in no particular order:

• • Research and Verify: Check the contractor’s credentials, reviews, and references. Look for someone who has a good track record and positive feedback from previous clients.
 
• • Meet in Public First: If possible, arrange to meet the contractor in a public place before inviting them to your home. This gives you a chance to gauge their professionalism and demeanor.
 
• • Ask for Identification: When they arrive for work, ask to see some form of identification to verify they are who they claim to be. At Taskr, all our contractors carry a valid and unexpired driver’s license.
 
• • Get a Written Quote: Before any work starts, ask for a written quote detailing the work to be done and the agreed-upon price. This helps avoid any misunderstandings or hidden costs. At Taskr, we learned to embrace this: you can now request a completely free, no-obligation estimate right on our website – without talking to anyone. The estimate gets emailed to you in a pdf format. This really helps some of our customers with mild social anxiety.
 
• • Avoid Paying Upfront: It’s safer to pay upon completion of the job, or at least avoid paying a large sum upfront. This ensures that the work is done to your satisfaction before full payment is made. At Taskr, we never request upfront payment.
 
• • Keep Personal Information Private: Be cautious about sharing personal information. There’s simply no need for a contractor to know more about you than is necessary for the job.
 
• • Inform Someone Else: Let a friend or family member know about the arrangement. Share the handyperson’s name and the time they are expected to be at your home. If possible, have another adult in the house with you when the handyman comes to work. Still, you don’t need to make this an inconvenience. If no one else is able to make it, simply being on the phone with someone you trust can make your experience great.
 
• • Listen to Your Instincts: If something feels off about the person or the situation, trust your instincts and consider looking for someone else. If you feel like the vibe isn’t right – don’t force yourself into an uncomfortable situation. Your well-being is the most important priority, and cannot be overstated.
 
• • Secure Valuables: As a precaution, secure valuables and sensitive documents before having anyone new in your home. This can provide great peace of mind to you and your loved ones.
 
• • Document the Work: Keep a record of the work being done and take before-and-after photos for your records. This can be useful for many surprising reasons, such as filing taxes at the end of the year, selling the property, insurance claims, or simply tracking your costs and expenditures.

By following these suggestions, you’ll have a much safer and more reliable experience when hiring a handyman from Craigslist or similar platforms. We hope these tips are useful to you and your family, and at the very least - remove some of the difficulty in the process of finding someone you can trust.

If you’re looking for a handyman in Orange County or nearby areas, we’d love to help you out. You can book a handyman with us in less than 60 seconds, and we’ll get the job done in no time. We’re a small, local business, and we’re proud to serve our friends and neighbors. We’re also proud of our work, and we greatly appreciate each of our customers. As always, we provide estimates completely free, so you’re welcome to get one anytime. We strongly encourage you to share photos and videos of your project. Alternatively, our phone is always on: you’re welcome to call us anytime: (979) 835-0001. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

(949) 835-0001(949) 835-0001