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Asking for Repairs: Who’s Going to Do the Work?

August 29, 2007

In a typical home purchase in Tucson, a buyer gets to inspect the house thoroughly, and then can ask the Seller for repairs.  Something to consider is who will make those repairs.

According to the contract, the Seller is to complete the repairs, in a workmanlike manner. 

Consider this: If you need a couple of GFI outlets installed in the house, do you trust the Seller to know what he’s doing or do you want to call in a licensed electrician?  Did you talk to the Seller about his plumbing skills before you asked him to fix that leaky water heater pressure release valve?

If you don’t specify who will do the work, then the Seller gets to pick.  Maybe the Seller rewires the panel himself, maybe he calls Uncle Bob over to rewire it - Bob was an excellent electrician before the “accident.” (Okay, that’s just silly.)

Often, I see worked called for by a “licensed handyman.”  In Arizona, a handyman may have a license to do business, but that’s it.  They can do business.  There’s no governing board that will enforce a standard of practice for their work. 

The Registrar of Contractors, on the other hand, regulates licensed contractors - people who have been tested and have demonstrated knowledge in their field.

Are there competent handymen?  Oh yes.

Are there incompetent licensed contractors?  You betcha.

But with which do you have recourse if the work they have done is no good?

Do you always need to request the work be done by a licensed contractor?

Well, to give yourself the most protection?  Yeah, especially for the major house systems.  Maybe not if we just need the air filter changed, but for most moderate-to-major repairs, yeah.

In my own home, do I always used licensed contractors instead of handymen?  Well, no.  But that’s my choice and my risk to take!

Other Information That Might Be Helpful

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• Negotiating Repairs (February 16, 2009)

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