I get where you’re coming from—sometimes the best people are just hungry to learn and super detail-focused, even if they haven’t got the “right” resume. I’ve had similar experiences with folks who’d never worked on old houses before but picked things up fast. That said, I’ve also run into situations where a lack of specific experience led to some expensive mistakes, especially with stuff like original plaster or antique trim.
Here’s how I usually approach it:
1. I look for curiosity and problem-solving skills first, but I’ll ask about any hands-on experience with similar materials or techniques.
2. I’ll check references, but I also try to see photos of their past work—sometimes that tells you more than a list of jobs.
3. If they haven’t done something before (like horsehair plaster), I’ll ask how they’d approach learning it. Are they going to research, practice on a test patch, ask questions? That attitude matters a ton.
Curious—do you ever have them do a small trial project before committing to a bigger job? Or is it more a gut feeling for you?
I’m with you on the “trial project” idea. I’ve learned the hard way that trusting my gut alone can get expensive—especially when someone’s confidence doesn’t match their skill. I usually have them tackle something small first, like patching a bit of plaster in a closet or fixing up a less-visible bit of trim. If they mess that up, at least it’s not front and center.
If they haven’t done something before (like horsehair plaster), I’ll ask how they’d approach learning it.
That’s key. I want to see if they’re humble enough to admit what they don’t know, and smart enough to figure it out without wrecking my house. Photos help, but nothing beats seeing them in action—even if it’s just on a test patch.
I want to see if they’re humble enough to admit what they don’t know, and smart enough to figure it out without wrecking my house.
Right? Last year, I had a guy who swore he could “totally handle” limewash. Turns out his idea of prep was...not prepping. My hallway looked like a Jackson Pollock painting for a week. Now I always start folks on something hidden—if you can’t caulk behind my fridge, you’re not touching my windows. Confidence is great, but I’ll take curiosity and a willingness to Google over bravado any day.
- Had a guy once who “knew old plaster.” He meant he knew how to *remove* it.
- Now I ask for photos of their last job, not just references.
- Anyone else ever get burned by someone who talks a big game but can’t handle the quirks of an old house?
- What’s your red flag—bad tools, weird attitude, or something else?
I had a guy once who claimed he “loved working with old woodwork”—turns out he meant he liked *replacing* it with MDF. That was a rough lesson. Now, I always ask what their favorite old house project was and why. If they can’t tell a story about saving something quirky, I get suspicious. My biggest red flag? When they seem annoyed by the idea of “making do” instead of ripping out and starting fresh. If they don’t get why I want to keep the wavy glass, it’s probably not going to work.
