How to Choose an Installer: A General Risk Checklist and Mitigation Plan for Home Renovations

Solo Handymen vs. Subcontractors vs. Installers: Who to Hire for a Home Renovation Service

Every homeowner, regardless of the service, wants to know how much their project will cost. However, some homeowners make a mistake by looking only at cost. 

There is always going to be someone who can do it cheaper. Look at where these ‘cheaper’ options are cutting corners, and know what benefits you might be losing in exchange for a lower up-front price. 

Keep in mind that it can be far more costly to pay a professional to fix or rebuild what was improperly installed than to pay an expert in the first place. 

Below, we explain this information in more depth and provide a quick comparison chart to show how these options compare. 

Permits and Code

Depending on your project and location, you may need to follow and meet certain criteria. Building codes are laws that set minimum requirements for certain structures. A permit is a legal document granting permission to make structural changes.

The two work together, as permits come with inspections that help to ensure the project is completed safely and all codes are met.

Skipping the permitting process can lead to unsafe, illegal outcomes that may go unnoticed until they break and cause serious harm. If your project is inspected and found not to meet code, it may need to be torn down and removed. 

Manufacturer Warranties

When you buy a product, it often comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty protects your product against any manufacturing defects, provided the product is installed correctly.

In many cases, these manufacturers offer training and certifications. Often, only contractors who are manufacturer-trained and certified meet warranty eligibility requirements.

Installing a product without this training voids the product warranty. Something as simple as using the wrong screw on a Therma-Tru door can make your entire warranty defunct, leaving you (the homeowner) to foot the bill for any repairs. 

Installation Warranty

An installation warranty is provided by the contractor or company you work with, not the manufacturer. If your product fails to perform due to improper installation, this warranty can help to cover the cost of replacement or repair.

Contractors and subcontractors both typically offer these warranties, which protect your project from workmanship errors. The exact length and coverage will vary by company. Handymen typically do not offer written installation warranties.  

License, liability, and insurance 

Licensed installers are recognized by the state. They must pass tests and meet certain requirements, which help ensure they know and comply with local building codes. 

Liability refers to who pays for any accidents or damage, whether that be a site injury or damage to a neighboring home. A contractor is liable for any damages and carries insurance to cover associated costs, including medical or repair costs. 

An unlicensed crew or an individual performing work on their own may not have these protections. If an accident or injury occurs, you could be held legally and financially responsible as the homeowner. 

Solo Handymen or ‘Chuck-in-a-Truck’

Many homeowners ‘know someone who can do it cheaper.’ Maybe your uncle, your neighbor, or your grandma’s cat can claim to do the same work for less. But the truth is, many of these cheaper installations don’t meet the same quality standards as those from a professional installer.

Though we joke about it above, your neighbor or uncle probably does know more about building a deck or installing a window than a cat. But city officials, inspectors, and manufacturers won’t see it this way. 

Why? Because all three lack insurance, may fail to obtain permits or meet code requirements, and can easily void your product warranty. 

Subcontractors

Some home remodeling companies utilize subcontractors rather than employees. An employee is someone who works for the company and is trained, licensed, and insured by it. 

A subcontractor is someone who works for a third party but performs work on behalf of the company you signed a deal with, or an installer you hire from outside the company to perform the installation. They may or may not be licensed or insured, and they may not receive the same training as a true company employee. 

Contractors

A contractor is an employee of a licensed and insured company. They are trained by the company, and often take manufacturer certification courses to ensure that the products they install meet certain warranty standards. 

Quick Comparison Chart