How to choose a handyman in Montreal: 10 questions to ask before you book

To choose a handyman in Montreal, get two or three quotes, read their Google reviews, and ask the same 10 questions about pricing, materials, scope and scheduling before you book. The right handyman answers clearly, puts the price in writing, and tells you up front which jobs need a licensed trade instead.

What is the best way to hire a handyman?

If you’re looking to hire someone, the best way to choose the right handyman is to describe the job clearly, send photos, and compare prices and services from two or three people before you decide. A short list of small jobs with a photo of each lets every handyman quote the same work, so you’re comparing like with like. Then ask the questions below and pick the person whose answers are clear and specific.

How can I find a reliable handyman in Montreal?

The easiest way to find and hire a local handyman is to start with people who’ve already hired someone: neighbours, your condo manager, or the people in your building. Then read reviews on Google Maps, where you can see what kind of handyman work each person does and how they reply to clients. Reviews and ratings tell you a lot, but read the actual comments. A reliable handyman, or a trusted handyman, gets mentioned for the same things again and again: shows up on time, cleans up, fair bill. The best handyman for you is the one with good reviews on jobs like yours.

When you hire local, travel is shorter and scheduling is easier. A handyman in Montreal who works your area every week also knows what’s behind the walls of a Rosemont plex or a Saint-Laurent condo.

What is a professional handyman, and what services can they provide?

A professional handyman is someone who does small repairs, installations and general home repairs for a living, usually across a range of services instead of one trade. Typical handyman services include painting, drywall and plaster repair, carpentry, flooring, furniture assembly, TV mounting and hanging shelves, mirrors, curtains and blinds. A skilled handyman is the right call for a list of small jobs. A big renovation, or anything that needs a licensed trade, is a different hire.

What questions should I ask a handyman before hiring them?

Ask these 10 questions before you book, and ask the same ones when you get quotes from different service providers so you can find the best fit for your home repair needs. They cover the things that most often lead to surprises on the bill or the day.

1. How do you charge: by the hour or a flat rate?

Many handymen charge hourly, and some give a flat rate per job. Ask for the hourly rate and a rough number of hours, or a fixed price with the scope written down. Also ask whether tax is added.

2. Is there a minimum charge?

Most handymen also charge a minimum, often one hour or more. If yours does, group small jobs into one visit so you use the full minimum.

3. Do you charge a travel fee?

A travel or trip fee per visit is common in Montreal, where driving and parking eat time. Ask how much it is, and whether a job that takes two days means two fees.

4. Who buys the materials, and will I see the receipts?

Some handymen ask you to buy everything, some pick it up and pass on the receipt, and some add a markup. Know which before the job starts, especially for paint, flooring and hardware.

5. Where can I read reviews of your work?

Ask for a Google business listing, and read reviews that mention your type of job. Photos of past work help too. If someone has no reviews and no photos, ask for references from recent clients.

6. What’s included in the price?

Does the price include moving furniture, covering floors, patching holes after a TV comes down, taking away boxes and cleaning up? Small things like these are where two quotes that look the same turn out different.

7. What jobs won’t you do?

A good handyman tells you straight away what’s outside their work. If someone says yes to everything, from rewiring to roofing, be careful.

8. When can you come, and how long will it take?

Ask about the first open date, their working hours, and how long the job should take. In late June, before July 1 moving day, schedules fill fast, so ask early.

9. How do you take payment?

Ask which payment methods they accept and when payment is due, so there’s no awkward moment at the door.

10. Which languages do you work in?

In Montreal this matters. Explaining exactly where a shelf goes or how a door sticks is easier in the language you’re most comfortable with.

Which jobs need a licensed trade instead of a handyman?

In Quebec, larger construction and renovation work, new electrical circuits and panel work, and plumbing changes like moving pipes or gas lines should go to a licensed contractor, electrician or plumber. Before you hire a handyman, make sure the handyman knows the type of work you need, and that it is the kind a handyman should take on. Our post on handyman licences in Quebec explains this in more detail.

Can I handle handyman tasks around the house myself?

Yes, plenty of small repair jobs are fine to do yourself: tightening a loose cabinet handle, filling a nail hole, hanging a small picture. Call a handyman when you need the right anchors for plaster or brick, a heavy TV on the wall, a door planed to close, or when the list is just longer than your weekend.

How much does a handyman in Montreal cost?

It depends on how each handyman charges, so compare the hourly rate, minimum and travel fee together instead of looking at one number. We break it down with real examples in how much a handyman costs in Montreal, and for paint jobs in the cost to paint a room in Montreal.

How do we answer these questions?

Here are our own answers, so you can compare:

• Rates: $60 per hour of labour, one-hour minimum, plus a $50 travel fee per visit. No tax is added to the $60.
• Quotes: free. Email photos and we’ll estimate the time.
• Materials: for painting, we buy and supply the paint and supplies and you pay the store receipt. For TV mounting, you buy the bracket.
• Payment: cash or e-transfer.
• Languages: English and French.
• Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm. Weekend and same-day visits are sometimes possible, depending on the schedule.
• What we do: interior painting, drywall and plaster repair, carpentry and flooring, furniture assembly, TV mounting and installations and small home improvements. See all our handyman services.
• What we don’t do: tiling, floor sanding or refinishing, major electrical or plumbing, roofing, brick and concrete work, full kitchen, bathroom or whole-home renovation, appliance repair, garage doors, gutters, landscaping, snow removal, demolition, and moving or delivery.

Frequently asked questions

Ask us your 10 questions

Call +1 (514) 757-1985, email info@myhandymanmontreal.ca or use our contact page, and send photos of the job for a free quote. We serve Montreal, Laval, Brossard, Longueuil, Pointe-Claire, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Vaudreuil-Dorion and nearby areas.