The Ultimate Hire-a-Handyman Checklist

Finding a good Handyman is like finding a good mechanic. There’s a certain comfort in knowing there’s a trusted person you can call when something goes wrong. A good Handyman can fix plumbing and electrical, build small additions, demo walls, paint, tile, and more. There are lots of handymen out there. Use this checklist to make sure you hire the right one.

Before You Call:

1. Walk through your home and list any small repairs needed (e.g., dripping faucets, loose cabinet doors, faulty light switches, etc.).
2. Get organized. Keep your list of needed repairs near the phone so you can give the handyman a sense of the scope of the job before he comes to your home.
3. Make a list of any other items of concern, including any issues you think might worsen over time.
4. Decide whether you want to do all of the repairs on your list at once or complete them in phases. If you want to do them in phases, prioritize what needs to be done first.

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Choosing an Outdoor Kitchen Design Worthy of Your Summer BBQ’s

There are certain sectors of the home that hold unprecedented potential for entertaining.

A billiards basement, the dining room, a large, open kitchen… It seems like that’s it, and then you step outdoors. For much of the year, a backyard is mostly defined by its taxing upkeep.  It can be hard to remember the glory days of summer, until spring arrives, and you find yourself spending more time outdoors.

With the right additions to your home, anyone can create an outdoor kitchen perfect for warm weather entertaining.  From affordable alterations, to entire upgrades, here are some outdoor kitchen designs for those summer BBQ’s.

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Framing Basics: 3 Simple Tips for Framing a Wall

Bright Star is Philadelphia's number one choice when it comes to handyman work, including carpentry. Although some jobs are better left to the pros, we believe that everyone should know some carpentry basics.

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Lighting Tips for Every Room

Living Rooms / Family Rooms

The concept of layering light is particularly important in the living/family room, an area of the house where people tend to gather for long stretches of time and engage in an array of activities, including conversation, watching TV, reading, playing board games and using a laptop. "In rooms where people spend a lot of time, I like to get away from recessed downlights, and instead use lights that bounce off the ceiling for ambient illumination," says lighting designer Markus Earley, of earleylight, in Providence, R.I. "Bouncing light off the ceiling creates a sense of brightness in the room, and avoids the shadows or downward direction of recessed lights."

Earley also favors bouncing light off the ceiling because it suits the human tendency to visually perceive vertical planes—looking up—versus looking at our feet.

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Some Handyman Projects You Just Shouldn’t DIY

There are many home projects that you can DIY, but when it comes to handyman work, some things are better left to the pros. Here are a couple home improvement projects you probably want to hire out:

1. Structural Labor: When it comes to jobs like tearing down walls or removing and installing large appliances, there is a lot going on within the walls, like electrical wires, that you must consider before getting the job done.
2.  Kitchen & Bath Renovation: Let’s face it, kitchen and bath renovations take a lot of time, resources and money. Take the guesswork out of installation, and have a professional help you with large jobs like kitchen and bathroom remodels.
3. Carpentry: Woodworking takes skill. Unless you have a lot of woodworking expertise, carpentry projects are best left to handyman service professionals!

Bright Star Handyman Service is dedicated to helping South Jersey & Philadelphia homeowners build, create and renovate their homes. No need for DIY when Bright Star provides a great value and high quality workmanship.

Check out our recent projects here.