If you have dark hair and pale skin, do laser first. You can get the stubborn hairs, grays, etc with electrolysis later. Laser is much quicker, less painful, and more cost effective. Some lasers claim to work on the tougher situations of dark skin, pale hair, or both, but I can't vouch for those. Can't hurt to go in for a consult.

If you're suitable for laser (have dark hair) then do laser first, then electrolysis for cleanup. This will be cheaper and faster. Make sure you're actually getting laser and at an appropriate fluence (energy per unit area), and watch out for IPL which is not laser and unlikely to do much on testosterone-influenced beard hair.

Otherwise, you'll have to rely on electrolysis alone.

Assuming you have dark hair, I would commute out of town for the laser. Even allowing for the commute time, you'll get more hairs done "per hour" than you will with electrolysis.

It really depends on your hair color. I have red and blonde facial hair, so laser didn't do much. I wasted a lot on laser so I suggest if you have light colored hair do electro. I'm currently doing electro and really wish I woulda just started with that.

As for the sketchy house, a lotta people do it from home. If they have good reviews that should work, but if it looks super sketchy I'd say just wait. Hopefully that helps!

An epilator will also help, but wont be perfect

Electrolysis gets the job done, but it's painful and you have to do a lot of sessions.

If you have pale skin and dark hair, laser works really well. If you get good results, you will still have some hair leftover and some may grow back with time. However, it's significantly less painful than electrolysis, and you won't have to go as often (I went once a month), plus it's over in about five minutes.

Assuming laser is a good option for you: If you have the money or your insurance covers it, then laser into electrolysis can be a very good option, or you could just go with electrolysis right out the bat. If you have financial problems and can handle having to deal with leftover hair, laser will probably work out better for you.

If you don't have the right skin tone and hair color, then laser is not a great option in the first place.

Also, when it comes to anything medical, if it seems sketchy, it's probably best to avoid it. At the very least, check their licenses to make sure they are up to date and don't have any reports made against them.

I drive a hour and a half for my laser place. Do your research to determine if the closer place is worth it.

Electrolysis doesn't need a ton of space, so it doesn't surprise me that someone might have a place for it in their house. Can always try and talk with them online first to try and vet if you'd be comfortable there

I'm a hairy NB Queer, assigned male at birth, and if anyone knows a transmasc, I'd totally donate my facial hair. I hate shaving so much, and some days, don't feel like it fits me.

I know, totally not in line with the OP post, but please.. take my facial hair. I feel like a gd Viking half the time.

Maybe I need to look into laser myself :)