Send photos and a list, name one contact, get the scope in writing, pay by a traceable method, and ask for before and after photos.
Name one contact at the house, send photos and a written list, and get the scope in writing before work starts. Pay by check or card, never by gift card, wire or payment app. Ask for before and after photos, and decide how the worker gets in. Enhaus confirms scope and the current rate before work begins.
What can I handle from far away?
The National Institute on Aging says a long-distance caregiver can help with finances, paying bills and arranging in-home care, and can find, organize and update important paperwork. Home repairs fit that role well. You do not need to be in town to run a repair list.
The same NIA page suggests two habits that help here. Keep a shared document with important phone numbers and update it regularly, and set up a shared calendar so everyone knows what is happening and when. For a repair visit, that means the date, the time window and who is letting the worker in.
How do I describe the problem without being there?
Ask your parent, a neighbor or a tenant to send photos, or take them on your next visit. For each item:
- A wide photo that shows where in the room the problem is
- A close photo of the damage
- Something for scale, such as a tape measure held next to it
- The brand and model label, if it is an appliance, fixture or lock
- A short video if the problem is a sound, a drip or something that sticks
Then write a numbered list by room, in the order of importance to you. Put anything unsafe at the top, such as a loose stair rail, a leak or a door that will not lock. If you have a list from a punch list or an inspection, send the pages with the photos.
What do I send to Enhaus, and what happens next?
Send the photos and the list by text or call. We confirm the scope and the current rate before work starts, so you know what is included before anyone comes to the house. Plumbing, electrical and roofing items go to licensed independent contractors. See Handyman vs. licensed contractor in Illinois.
Who should be the named contact?
Pick one person, and tell the worker and your parent who it is. It can be you, a sibling, a neighbor or a property manager. That person approves changes on site, receives the photos and is the one the worker calls with a question.
Our practical rule: nobody adds work on the spot without the named contact saying yes by text. That keeps the written scope and the final bill matched.
How do I write down the scope?
The FTC says a written estimate should include a description of the work, the materials, the completion date and the price. For any job, even a small one, ask for those four things in a text or email.
For a home repair contract over $1,000, the Illinois Attorney General's Know Your Rights guide says you have the right to a written contract that describes the work and states the total cost, plus the timing and payment schedule. More in our guide to the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act, and in what a handyman quote should include.
How should I pay when I am not there?
- Use a method that leaves a record. A check or card does. Do not leave cash for a worker.
- Do not use gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency. The FTC says that anyone who insists on those methods is a scammer. Read its page on how to avoid a scam.
- Pay when the work matches the scope. The FTC says never to make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied. For larger jobs, AARP's guide says a deposit should be no more than a third of the total cost.
- Ask for a receipt that matches the written scope. Save it with the photos.
- For bigger jobs, ask for lien waivers. The Attorney General's guide explains that subcontractors and suppliers can file a lien against the home if they are not paid.
If a repair is for a parent, be clear about who pays, so nobody is surprised at the door.
What are my options for letting someone in?
Each has trade-offs. Pick the one you and your parent are comfortable with:
- Your parent or the occupant is home. Simplest, if they are comfortable with a visit.
- A trusted neighbor or family friend lets the worker in and stays for the visit.
- A lockbox or keypad lock with a code you give out for that visit only. Change the code afterward.
- You or a relative meets the worker by video call at the door.
Whatever you choose, tell your parent the day and the time window ahead of time. For a parent with memory problems, a call that morning helps. For a vacant house, tell the neighbor and anyone who monitors the alarm. If the house is a second home, see our absentee owner winter maintenance checklist.
What should I ask for when the work is done?
Ask for a photo of each item, after, in the same frame as the "before" photo you sent. Also ask for a photo of anything the worker found behind a wall, under a sink or on a roof line, and a short text listing what was done and what was not. Compare it to your numbered list. Anything unfinished goes on the next list instead of getting lost.
Keep the before and after photos, the written scope and the receipt together in the shared folder. If a problem comes back, you will have the record.
Who is Enhaus?
Enhaus is a family business owned by Natasha and Eduard Semenenko, who live locally and serve the North Shore.
FAQ
Can I send photos by text?
Yes. Send photos and a list by text or call. We confirm the scope and the current rate before work starts.
Should I pay before the work starts?
A small deposit for materials can be normal. AARP's guide says no more than a third of the total cost. Put the amount and the schedule in writing, and hold the final payment until the work is done.
What if I cannot tell whether a problem is a handyman job?
Send a photo anyway. Plumbing, electrical and roofing work goes to licensed independent contractors, and we will say so if your item falls in one of those groups.
What if my parent does not want help from me?
Start small. Offer to handle the phone calls and the scheduling, and let your parent make the decisions. NIA suggests asking the person what they would like before you visit.
To send your list and photos, call or text (847) 877-1877.
