Whether you\u2019re getting ready to sell your house or just need to do normal repairs and maintenance, you can save a lot of money making repairs yourself. But there are times you need an experienced repair person. Not having the right tools and not having the right experience are the two biggest reasons people don\u2019t make timely repairs and perform maintenance. That leads to the even bigger problem of allowing the work list to become dauntingly overwhelming.<\/p>\n
You and your family live in your house full time. You shower, you cook, you open and close doors and windows, and it rains and freezes the exterior of your home. At some time,almost every part of your home wears out, breaks, or needs maintenance. Many homeowners who work all week try to make a habit of spending a couple of hours on Saturday mornings doing a little upkeep around the house. It\u2019s a good habit to get into.<\/p>\n
You Need a Toolbox<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone should at least have a basic toolbox. Basic toolboxes make great Christmas presents for people that don\u2019t even think they need a toolbox. I made a present of a basic toolbox to my stepdaughter the year she went away to college. Same thing for my niece. When my sister got divorced, I bought her a toolbox. When my father passed away, most of his tools were worn out so I bought my mother a new basic toolbox. All of these women told me they didn\u2019t know how to use tools. I told them that when a friend came around their place who did know how to use tools at least they would have tools to make simple repairs. Eventually they thanked me and said that they had learned to use basic tools. I\u2019m not picking on women.It\u2019s just a fact of life in my family.<\/p>\n You can buy a basic toolbox at any hardware store for less than $100. It should be on your necessities list when buy your first home. Or ask Santa for it. And then you slowly add to it. The first time you repair your deck, you might need to purchase a circular saw and a chalkline. But you already have the hammer and now you have a saw for every carpentry job for many years to come. The first time you have a leaky faucet,you might need to buy a specialty basin wrench. But when you gain the confidence to replace a bathroom vanity, you\u2019ll still have that basin wrench.<\/p>\n Learn How to DIY<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019ll be surprised how many home repairs can be done with little or no experience. YouTube is a great teacher. There isn\u2019t a home repair you\u2019ll ever need to make that doesn\u2019t have several online videos to show you how to do it and what tools you\u2019ll need.Watch three or four of these to find one that is most appropriate for the task you\u2019re trying to accomplish. The first time I did a major roof repair, I checked it out online so that I wouldn\u2019t make a dumb mistake.<\/p>\n Always be sure to research on anything you don\u2019t understand, particularly if you\u2019re dealing with electricity, which can be extremely hazardous. While water isn\u2019t as dangerous as electricity, it can do a lot of damage if you don\u2019t do it correctly. Make sure you know how to turn off the main water supply to your home before you open a primary waterline.<\/p>\n There will probably be some tasks needing to be done that require more experience than you\u2019ve acquired or you simply might not have the time or you might not want to purchase an expensive specialty tool. Keep in mind that you can rent expensive specialty tools. Still, there will likely be a time when you want someone else to do the job.<\/p>\n Handyman Work<\/strong><\/p>\n You seldom need a contractor unless you\u2019re are doing a remodel. Hiring a handyman can be an economical choice because most only charge for hours worked. Plus they keep their rate slow with less overhead and by not having to pay other workers. A handyman is more likely to have the specialty tool you don\u2019t have or he\/she knows where to rent it.<\/p>\n Most handyman work is relatively simple. It can be simple carpentry work or painting. It doesn\u2019t typically involve major construction or expansion of the home. When you\u2019re planning to more extensive work, you should consider a contractor. Contractors supervise specialized tradespeople such as plumbers, electricians, and craftsmen. Handymen are Jacks-Of-All-Trades.<\/p>\n Before you hire a handyman or a contractor, make a list of the jobs you need done. If your list is composed mostly of repairs and some updating like painting, a handyman should suit your needs.<\/p>\n \u25fe Get recommendations from family, friends, or your real estate professional if you\u2019re preparing to sell your home. She or he may know an individual or company that specializes in \u201cmake-ready,\u201d a room-by-room clean up, or touch-up and fix-up. You can also contact sites such as HomeAdvisor or Angie\u2019s List, to hire workmen.<\/p>\n \u25fe Interview several handymen before making your decision. Make sure the handyman you hire has the experience and equipment to do the jobs and is willing to guarantee the work.<\/p>\n \u25fe You want someone you\u2019ll feel comfortable having around your family and in your home. Hire only those who are bonded and insured.<\/p>\n \u25fe Inspect the work while it\u2019s in progress and when it\u2019s finished. Most professionals want to do a good job out of pride of workmanship. Handymen rely heavily on referrals. If you\u2019re pleased with the work, don\u2019t hesitate recommending the handyman to your family and friends. Your handyman will remember this the next time you ask for an estimate.<\/p>\n What you don\u2019t want to do is leave small repairs undone. Your \u201cTo Do List\u201d will become intimidatingly long. Or if you\u2019re preparing to sell, home buyers notice when maintenance has been ignored. They may conclude the home needs more repairs than it actually does. I once considered purchasing a house at full price that needed a new furnace but the seller refused to make the repair. I assumed he refused to do other repairs. It cost him the sale.<\/p>\n