Almost all houses require soffits. The exception is in houses where you know without a shadow of a doubt there is adequate airflow throughout the entire house including, and most importantly, the attic. Almost all modern homes have soffits installed whether you notice them or not because on most homes, the roof eave extends beyond the walls of the home, naturally creating soffits.

In most states, handypeople do not need to be licensed to perform simple home repair tasks and smaller jobs. When projects exceed specific cost amounts, however, ranging from $500 in California to $50,000 in other states, some municipalities consider them to be contractors, meaning they need to be licensed. To learn if your handyperson should be licensed to work on your job, contact your local governing body or state contractors’ licensing board before starting any work.

You can find a reliable handyperson by looking at professionals in your area and ruling out companies with poor reviews online. Next, check each handyperson on the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a history of complaints and rule out those that do. Finally, you can contact each handyperson to ask the following qualifying questions:

• What is your hourly rate?

• Are there any jobs you can’t tackle?

• Are you fully insured?

• How many years of experience do you have?

• Do you have references I can contact?

Reviewing your contract for termination terms is best when ending a relationship with a contractor. If there is nothing in the contract or you had a verbal agreement, communicate your decision in writing, citing specific reasons. Afterward, pay for the completed work per your original agreement. Remember you want a record of all correspondence in case you need a lawyer later to settle disputes.