8 Handyman Tips for Homeowners 1

We all aspire to have the house of our dreams with big rooms, bathrooms, a great kitchen, lawn, garage, and everything we need and want. And finally, owning one is a dream come true… but not as easy as it seems. Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities. One has to look after every little detail- fixing, maintaining, repairing, and whatnot. Many times, things cannot be managed by you, and some outside help may be required.

Homeowners
In case of a serious issue at home, one may need to hire a handyperson person; however, this service can easily get very expensive. Below are some tips to help you save money and stress and get the best services from a handyperson.

  1. Try for a solution yourself.
    While this may sound obvious, you might surprise yourself. In case of something major like a leaky ceiling, it would be advisable to call someone as soon as possible, but in case of issues that are not an emergency, try fixing them yourself. You can always google the subject and find great step-by-step directions for repairing a water leak or even patching a ceiling. Even in a major fix-up, you might want to try small things before calling a handyperson.
  2. Don’t trust someone who ‘does it all.’
    As the old saying says, you can either be average at many things or be the best at one thing. The same applies in this situation as well.
    When you think of it, you require an electrician for the lighting of your house, a plumber for setting the pipes and installing the flush, and so on. You cannot expect the same person to do all these things equally well; it is risky. In fact, in many states, a special license is required for each of these services, and in case someone without consent works on your home and some damage occurs, it would not be covered by insurance. A handyperson would generally not require a permit if the project is under $1000; however, check their license information if it is for more.
  3. A house is like a car. Just like you take care of regular repairs and checks when you see the engine light or need an oil change, your home must also be checked after some time for repairs. Even if you notice a small issue, inquire into it, which may lead to bigger damage later.
    For instance, if some shingles look damaged, you want to fix them right away—otherwise, you could let the next storm seep in and do some serious rot damage to the wood. That would require a whole lot more work than replacing some shingles. The same can be said of almost any other issue with your home. You should make a checklist every three months, every year, and every three years, and check things that would need attention within that period.
  4. Saving money
    One handyman stated for Reader’s Digest that if your budget is low, you may ask for a price cut, though it depends on the task. They may also oblige only if you can help them by picking up the materials beforehand and cleaning up after the job.

Here are some more tips to consider-

  1. Ensure there is no disturbance to the handyman while working on their tasks, especially if you have a pet.
  2. Do expect to be charged if you want any extra tasks done by the handyman just because he’s there.
  3. Never let things like eggshells. Grease, flour, coffee grounds, pasta, or rice pass through your sink as they will clog up your drains even after the garbage disposal.
  4. While this may sound inconsequential, let the handyperson use your bathroom. Allowing someone to use your bathroom shows trust, especially if they are working in your house. It is also a more humane thing to do.

Benross Home Services Ltd provides renovation and handyperson services located in Calgary.

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