Home › Guides › How to find a reliable handyman (and avoid the bad ones)
GuideA good handyman is worth their weight in gold; a bad one costs you twice. Whether it's mounting a TV, fixing a leak or a punch-list of small jobs, here's how to find someone reliable — and skip the no-shows and surprise bills.
Anyone can post an ad. What matters is identity verification, reviews from real jobs, and insurance. On Genie every handyman is ID-verified and background-checked for in-home work before they can take a job.
A five-star average means less than three reviews for the exact job you need. Look for your task — assembly, mounting, repairs — in their history.
Vague hourly quotes are where bills balloon. Get the price before work starts. Genie shows an upfront price for set jobs and a clear hourly rate for open-ended help.
Cash-only, no written scope, pressure for a big deposit, or no verifiable identity are all reasons to walk away.
New wiring, gas, or structural work legally needs a licensed trade. A good platform routes those to the right pro automatically.
Skip the vetting legwork — Genie matches you to a verified, reviewed handyman near you at an upfront price, holds your payment until you approve the work, and backs it with the Genie Protection Fund. No-shows auto-cascade to a backup pro.
Set jobs (TV mounting, assembly) have an upfront price; open-ended work is hourly with a small minimum. Genie shows both before you book.
Look for identity verification, real reviews on similar jobs, insurance and an upfront price. Every Genie handyman is vetted and jobs are protected until you approve.