Amanda Brownlow If you have a home, you’re going to find yourself in need of carrying out repairs at some point or another. After all, nothing lasts forever. Routine maintenance is part of home ownership and it will fall on your shoulders to ensure that everything is carried out correctly. A house in safe, working order will help you save money in the long run. It also prevents and minimizes repeat repairs and more visits from your handyman. So, to help you along the way, here are a few tips and tricks that can help you to ensure home repairs are done right the first time!
Use Professionals
It can be tempting to go DIY when it comes to repair work. After all, the rise of the internet has seen information on practically anything go online (thanks, YouTube). There are written tutorials, video tutorials and guides on pretty much any repair work you could want to try.
This can be tempting. After all, being able to do something yourself is going to prove a whole lot cheaper than getting someone else to do the job. However, it’s absolutely essential that you avoid being roped into this approach and use the services of professionals instead.
At the end of the day, these people have trained for years to be able to do their jobs properly. You’re not going to be able to mimic the quality of their work by watching a quick tutorial online. They’ll have experience, safety training, and know the ins and outs of any project you set them with.
Whether you need a quality plumber, a roofer, an electrician or any other professional, they’ll get the home repair first time around and won’t cause any damage in the process. You could simply make matters worse by taking them into your own hands. Plus, professionals have insurance, which will protect you from further costs if something did somehow go wrong.
Check Reviews and Get Recommendations
Before using any professional service, it is still important to make sure you get recommendations and check reviews. This will ensure that you’re hiring someone who can be trusted, who is reliable and who will do the job properly.
There are all too many conpeople out there, as well as incompetent workers, who could actually cause more damage than good or simply waste your time. Good reviews and other recommendations will show that someone’s services are worth investing in and that they will complete the job to a high standard.
As you can see, home repairs can be a relatively complicated topic. But by using professionals who are trusted and respected by previous clients, you can ensure your home is up and running as it should be at all times!
But I need to save money!!
Hiring a professional can be expensive, I get it. But often times you can avoid the heartache of a DIY home repair gone bad and ask your professional a few simple questions.
- What can I buy at my local hardware store so I do not need you to supply it?
- Can I do anything before or after you leave to save money on labor costs?
These two questions are great to ask because they will save you money on your home repair!
A great example is our kitchen that we partially remodeled in 2018. We worked with the counter top company to negotiate a price on the counters and the plumbing. We purchased what they already had in stock and our own sink and faucet from the hardware store. Also opting to for lower costs, we went with an easier sink installation rather than doing something trendy.
If a home repair is still too expensive, ask other professionals and contractors for quotes. The worst they can tell you is that it will cost more than the first guy.
Better yet, ask your friends if they are licensed in plumbing, electric, HVAC, etc. or have a friend/family member that is. Often times, you’ll get an even better price on labor and materials than you would going through a completely unknown professional.
What have you done to ensure that your home repair was done or remodeled right the first time?
