Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller How to Find a Great Handyman Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the best way to find a good handyman or tradesman that can help with small jobs around the house? Almost 75 Dear Almost, It’s a great question. Finding a good home repair/handyman can be a bit of a crapshoot. How do you find someone who will return your calls or texts, show up on time, do the job right and finish it, all at a fair price? Here are a few tips and resources that can help you search. What Kind of Help While it may seem obvious, whom you call on for help will depend on what you need done. If, for example, you have an odd job or small home repair project that doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise, a handyperson may be all you need. But if you have a job that involves electricity, plumbing, or heating or cooling systems, you’re better off going with a licensed tradesman. Bigger jobs like home renovations or remodeling may require a general contractor. Where to Find a Pro Whatever type of work you need, the best way to find it is through referrals from people you trust. If your friends or family don’t have any recommendations turn to professionals in the field like local hardware or home improvement stores, or even real estate agents. If you don’t have any luck here, there are a number of online resources you can turn to that can quickly connect you to a wide variety of skilled workers in your area. If you need someone for a home chore or small job, a popular option is Taskrabbit (taskrabbit.com), which lists thousands of freelance workers (called Taskers) that have undergone background checks. Here you can get help with things like furniture assembly; lifting or moving heavy items; mounting or hanging TVs, shelfs or pictures; minor home repairs; cleaning services; yard work and more. Taskers set their own hourly rates, which are displayed on their website before you book. Some other good options for locating handypeople are fix-it franchises like Ace Handyman (acehandymanservices.com) and Mr. Handyman (mrhandyman.com). These companies vet and insure their staff, but they may be more expensive than Taskrabbit. Or, if you use social networking sites, you could also post a request for a handyperson in your Facebook group or on Nextdoor (nextdoor.com). If, however, you’re in the market for specialist like a plumber, electrician, painter, roofer or carpenter as well as a handyperson, try Angi (angi. com). They too, vet their independent contractors, and will let you request quotes from several candidates. Thumbtack (thumbtack. com) is another good resource that’s similar to Angi, but they offer more details like average response time, specifics about the work they do, and photos of past projects. Things to Know Once you’ve located a few candidates, here are some steps you can take to protect your money and ensure you’re satisfied with the results. First, get a handwritten estimate or digital contract that list the tasks and the hourly rate or project fee. Also, ask to see their proof of insurance, which covers any damages they may cause while working on your home, and ask for several references from past jobs. You should also pay after the work is done, not before. But it’s not unusual to be asked for a small deposit for material costs upfront. And if possible, you should pay with a credit card, because you can dispute the payment if something goes wrong with the job. Checks and electronic payments like PayPal, Venmo and Zelle don’t offer the same level of protection. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. On Aug. 29, 1958, Michael Jackson was born in what Indiana city with a male name? 2. In Washington, D.C., is the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum; what is penjing? 3. In what J.R.R. Tolkien book subtitled “There and Back Again” is the line “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world”? 4. August 30 is National Toasted Marshmallow Day; what organization in a 1927 book created the first official s’mores recipe? 5. How are “The Chrysanthemum,” “Heliotrope Bouquet” and “Sunflower Slow Drag” similar? 6. On Aug. 31, 1837, what Concord resident who had been a minister gave “The American Scholar” speech in Cambridge? 7. Prior to the official Labor Day, on what day were U.S. workers celebrated? 8. In 1784 a request was made to install a “representation of a Cod Fish” where in Mass.? 9. In what F. Scott Fitzgerald novel (that has a first name the same as a flower) is “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”? 10. On Sept. 1, 1985, the wreck of what ship was found? 11. What holiday marks the unofficial end of hot dog season? 12. What kind of government do Macau and Hong Kong have? 13. On Sept. 2, 1990, what festival was moved to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert? 14. In 1875, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson, for the first time ever, transmitted sound over wires — at 109 Court St. in what city? 15. What is the difference between a meteor and a meteoroid? 16. On Sept. 3, 1856, what architect with the same last name as an MBTA station was born in Boston? 17. What is the Pelican State? 18. What tennis player is competing in the 2025 US Open at age 45? 19. What is romantasy? 20. September 4 is National Newspaper Carrier Day; in 1833 where was the first paperboy? ANSWERS 1. Gary 2. The ancient Chinese art of creating miniature landscapes (not just trees) in containers. 3. “The Hobbit” 4. The Girl Scouts (“Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts”) 5. They are musical compositions created or cocreated by Scott Joplin. 6. Ralph Waldo Emerson 7. May 1 (Workers’ Day in many countries) 8. The House of Representatives (“as a memorial of the importance of the Cod Fishery”) 9. “The Great Gatsby” (Daisy Buchanan) 10. The Titanic 11. Labor Day 12. They are special administrative regions of China. 13. Burning Man 14. Boston 15. The latter is still in space, but the former has entered the earth’s atmosphere. 16. Louis Sullivan 17. Louisiana 18. Venus Williams 19. Literature that blends romance and fantasy 20. NYC
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