What does "licensed handyman" mean in Oregon?
It means the contractor is registered with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board, carries a surety bond, and holds liability insurance. In Oregon, any advertised construction work requires a CCB license, whatever the job size, so a handyman who advertises without a number is a warning sign. Fuller's number is CCB #259739.
What is the best way to find a good handyman?
Ask for names locally, then verify before you call. Confirm the CCB license is active, and read reviews for the specific things that predict a good job: whether the person shows up, cleans up, and charges what they quoted. Past work in the trade you need matters too, because Oregon does not require a general contractor to have formal training.
How do I vet a contractor before letting them in my home?
Check the license, read recent reviews, and look for a real, local, named person rather than an anonymous listing. A free written estimate before any money changes hands is normal and expected. Cash demanded up front, no license number, and resistance to putting the scope in writing are the classic warning signs.
What should I not do when hiring a contractor?
Do not skip the license check, do not accept a bid that is only spoken, and do not hand over a large cash deposit before work starts. It also helps to share a clear budget and scope, which gets you a more useful bid than an open checkbook. Getting more than one estimate is worth the time on anything sizable.
Is a carpenter the same as a handyman?
They overlap. A handyman handles a broad mix of small repairs across trades, while a carpenter specializes in building and fitting wood. Some contractors do both. Jesse does, which means a repair list that turns up a rotted door frame or a fence that needs a gate stays one job with one contractor.
What tasks go on a honey-do list?
Usually the small jobs that never get done: hanging pictures and shelves, mounting a TV, fixing a leaky faucet or a running toilet, patching drywall, freeing a sticking door, replacing a light fixture or a doorbell, re-caulking a tub, and repairing a fence gate. One item is enough to call about.
Do you really take small jobs?
Yes. The most common complaint in local threads is that contractors only take on big projects, so small jobs go undone. Fuller takes them. If a single task is genuinely tiny, bundling it with other work in one visit is usually the cheapest way to get it done.
How do you charge, and is the estimate free?
The written estimate is free. Work is priced by the hour or as a fixed job price depending on the job, with the scope and price agreed in writing before it starts. You approve it before any work begins.
How soon can you start?
It depends on the season and the size of the job. You get a timeline up front, even if that is a couple of weeks out. A date you can plan around is more useful than a promise made to win the job.
What areas do you serve?
The wider Lane County area: Springfield, Eugene, Cottage Grove, Junction City, Creswell, Veneta, and the towns in between. If yours is not listed, ask. Reaching the outer towns of the county is part of what Fuller does.