You may not have the skill, inclination, or time to do your own repairs. There’s nothing wrong with that! But it does mean that you will need to identify and hire people who can do the repairs.

How do you find a good plumber, builder, painter, landscaper, electrician, etc.? You can do a web search, but that may not give you the information you need. I prefer to ask for recommendations. You can ask your neighbors or friends and colleagues who work close by. (Work friends recommended both my veterinarian and my plumber, who I’ve gone on to recommend to others.) You can also turn to social media through neighborhood bulletin boards or Facebook groups.

Once you’ve identified a few possibilities, you’ll want to check out their websites to see if they are licensed and insured. You can check the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List to see what past customers have said. Once you’ve identified two or three possibilities, you’ll want to contact them to see if they are available in a timely way and to get an estimate.

As a rule, for any major repair (except a dire emergency), you want to get at least two estimates. Don’t be surprised if they vary widely. When I decided to replace my roof, the highest estimate was more than twice the amount of the lowest estimate. If any estimate is particularly high or low, ask how the contractor came to that price. Make sure that you are comparing oranges to oranges. One bid may not include everything that the other does (permit fees, hauling away, etc.).

Some additional things to keep in mind:

• If a contractor insists on an immediate decision or claims that the price is only good until they leave the property, that’s a good sign that the right answer is no. Good contractors don’t have to pressure you to hire them.
• Always double check their licensing and that they obtained any necessary permits.
• Expect (even demand!) a written contract that spells out what you’ll pay, when you’ll pay it, what will be done, how any concerns will be addressed, and the potential for overages.
• Expect to pay one third to one half of the total estimated cost as a down payment. Most contractors will use that deposit to pay for supplies.
• Before making interim or final payments, make sure that the work has been completed satisfactorily to the appropriate stage. The final payment should not be made until the work passes any necessary inspection.
• Keep the documentation for the repair, especially contracts, bills, and payment receipts. If you sell the house, major repairs or upgrades can reduce your capital gain.