Hiring a pro to help out with household chores can give you peace of mind and add precious free time to your schedule
Let’s face it—you probably don’t love doing household chores in your spare time. And why would you? With life’s busy schedule, it isn’t always easy to squeeze in chores when you need to make time for work, family, and self-care. That’s why it makes sense to ask for a bit of help and hire a pro to take some of those pesky tasks off your to-do list so you can enjoy some well-deserved free time.
Keep your house in tip-top shape by considering hiring professional help for these common household tasks.
Professional home organizers are a great resource to help reduce clutter and free up valuable space. They can do anything from rearranging furniture to getting rid of the things you no longer want or need. Many organizers also recycle whenever possible, often by donating items to charities. Some of those donations could even benefit you financially via a tax deduction. The typical home organizer charges around $55 to $100 per hour, but sometimes they set their pricing structure on a per-project basis.
Professional junk removal services can help you remove and haul away items too large for trash pickup or too difficult for you to move. Most haulers also take away hazardous materials and chemicals that regular trash collectors won’t pick up. It’s important, though, to verify that your hauler has a valid waste removal license, carries the proper insurance, and understands area regulations for dumping and disposing of waste. If you want to keep your heavy belongings such as a pool table, wood furniture, or hot tub, you can hire a moving company near you to move the items to your new residence and save your back the trouble of moving it yourself.
A handyperson service can be a great choice to help with smaller jobs such as staining or repairing a fence or deck, putting in a new light fixture, installing a ceiling fan, and many other projects that don’t require a professional license. Handyperson prices typically range between $400 to $600, depending on the project.
It’s essential to clean your gutters at least twice a year, both the inside and outside, to prevent damage to your roof and enhance curb appeal. This is easier said than done, especially if age or a health condition puts you at a higher risk of injury from climbing up a ladder. The national average cost to have your gutters cleaned by a pro is $159. When you hire a gutter cleaning service near you, they will remove leaves and debris as well as haul off the gunk they dug out for you so you don’t have to do any raking or cleaning up afterward.
Fresh-smelling carpeting sets a positive tone for every gathering in your home and can help keep your family healthy. Costing $120 to $230 on average, hiring a carpet cleaning service near you about twice a year will keep your carpets free of dirt, grime, and allergens—and can be particularly useful if you have pets.
From mowing and weeding the yard to maintaining your beautiful garden and landscaping, hiring a local lawn care service near you will give you more time to enjoy your outdoor space instead of always working in it. These pros get your yard looking its best throughout the changing seasons so you don’t have to worry about fertilizing, watering, weeding, or trimming the grass. At $50 to $200 per week on average, the cost to maintain your lawn may be worth it to get hours back in your week (Bonus: your yard will be the envy of all your neighbors).
Decking the halls is hard work! Putting up Christmas lights, hanging wreaths, and decorating tall Christmas trees makes for a festive holiday season, but usually involves a lot of work. A Christmas lights installation service can be especially nice during the busy holiday season when the last thing you want to worry about is tackling decorations, leaving you more time to shop for gifts and enjoy time spent with loved ones. The cost to have Christmas lights installed is between $218 to $649 on average, depending on the size of the house.
Whomever you decide to hire, be sure you’ve thoroughly researched that service provider’s work history with other customers and get references for companies in your area.
Ask any service provider you consider hiring to show proof that they hold the proper licenses, have valid liability insurance, and carry workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. Ensuring whomever you hire is properly covered will protect you from liability for any potential property damage or injuries to workers.
For homeowners who are growing older and find it less and less convenient to complete household chores on their own, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) is a resource that could help to reconfigure their home. These specially trained professionals work with senior citizens and those needing specific modifications by proactively addressing safety and accessibility issues in the home, like potentially slick surfaces, tripping hazards, and poor lighting. A CAPS professional can also arrange furniture so the homeowners can safely and effectively move around the house.
