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Old 02-26-2008, 03:30 PM
 
Location: Pflugerville/Round Rock
7 posts, read 53,836 times
Reputation: 11

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I'm purchasing a house, and I need some things done, like laying tile, carpet, and exterior paint. I don't really want to pay the install prices for HD or Lowe's since I can help in the prepping, etc.

I'm new to the Austin/Round Rock area, so I'm not sure how best to find a reliable handyman. Any suggestions or referals, besides the phone book and craigslist?
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Old 02-26-2008, 03:33 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,400,512 times
Reputation: 24745
Ask your real estate agent for names, for a start.

AustinFreeycleCafe is a good resource, too, for things like that. (Not the Austin Freecycle list, but its sister list for things that don't belong on the Freecycle list.)
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Old 02-27-2008, 05:27 AM
 
Location: SW Austin & Wimberley
6,333 posts, read 18,055,006 times
Reputation: 5532
Quote:
Originally Posted by heytherefromaz View Post
I'm purchasing a house, and I need some things done, like laying tile, carpet, and exterior paint. I don't really want to pay the install prices for HD or Lowe's since I can help in the prepping, etc.

I'm new to the Austin/Round Rock area, so I'm not sure how best to find a reliable handyman. Any suggestions or referals, besides the phone book and craigslist?
If you don't mind paying a small signup fee, Welcome to Angie's List: The Best Source for Local Home Improvement Contractors! is a great resource. I manage rental properties and use it from time to time when I need extra help. I've had good luck.

Also, if you send a PM to me, I can send you a list of people that will satisfy a lot of your list. Not all are the cheapest, but they do great work.

Steve
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Old 02-27-2008, 08:12 AM
 
2,238 posts, read 9,016,561 times
Reputation: 954
Call Home Depot and ask who they use to do the carpet install. Contact directly and get a discount (about 30% less than the HD price). When I got carpet from there the installer told me to do just that since HD takes 1/3 of the install fee. My cabinet guy through lowes was the same way. He said if we needed cabinets in our next house, call him directly, he'd do all the measurements, help put together the cabinet order, let you order them directly from the manufacturer and he'd install at a substantial savings.
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Old 02-27-2008, 09:13 AM
 
Location: SW Austin & Wimberley
6,333 posts, read 18,055,006 times
Reputation: 5532
Quote:
Originally Posted by achtungpv View Post
Call Home Depot and ask who they use to do the carpet install. Contact directly and get a discount (about 30% less than the HD price). When I got carpet from there the installer told me to do just that since HD takes 1/3 of the install fee. My cabinet guy through lowes was the same way. He said if we needed cabinets in our next house, call him directly, he'd do all the measurements, help put together the cabinet order, let you order them directly from the manufacturer and he'd install at a substantial savings.
That's a good way to save money, but there is risk involved. Namely, who do you go after when they screw up the job. For the 1/3 upcharge, Home Depot is standing behind the work and you have a dispute resolution path not available with small, one man shows.

Steve
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Old 02-27-2008, 07:38 PM
 
Location: SoCal
2,261 posts, read 7,232,108 times
Reputation: 960
Do you know, offhand, how long Home Depot/Lowes stands behind their work? I had some hardwood floors put in a little less than 3 years ago using Lowes, and they're already making snappy/creaky sounds.

They did a terrible job. For a lot of money.
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