One thing I learned early on was to buy real, heavier tools, not those pink handled « ladies’ tools ». The extra heft of a good hammer, or the power of that bigger saw or drill is what is needed to get the job done efficiently with less frustration.
2
After many years of home ownership and near constant headaches doing patching jobs when handymen could not be found , we sold the place and moved to a 5 Star CCRC, in a 2,700 Sq.Ft. Cottage.That was 7 years ago and my only complaint is when the gardener cuts our grass and trims the foliage early Tuesday mornings. Interfering with sleep after Monday Night Football. Yawn. Life is good when a work request ,via Email , gets all manner of maintenance issues , mostly minor in nature, done fast.
Is the writer adding us? Every experienced home owner in the U.S. knows what it takes to keep and maintain a home.
Our list of repairs and replacements plus general maintenance never ends and grows larger every year. And our home is barely 4.5 years old. Worse, its our retirement home!
Air Conditioning: Repaired and replaced main unit 3 times.
Plumbing: Repaired toilets, faucets, seals, shower heads, garbage disposal and unplugged numerous drains.
Lawn Irrigation System: Endless repairs and maintenance.
Carpet: Replaced with wood as Florida humidity even in an air conditioned home literally destroys carpet.
Kitchen Appliances: Microwave, Ice Maker, and a new garbage disposal that fell down.
TVs and Cable: Replaced all old TVs with new flat screens that are 4K capable.
Lighting: Indoor and outdoor lighting replaced
Powerwash Exterior: Every year!
Lawn: Cut and trim, weed and feed and water, water, water.
Insects: Treat for many varieties. Regular monthly maintenance and when needed too.
Solar Panels: Replaced every original panel/ total 7 new panels.
Pool Maintenance: Weekly cleaning and chemicals and replace pool filter motor 3 times, and computer main board that controls lights, filter etc.
Odds and Ends: Never, never ending maintenance.
Maintaining a home is a never, never, never ending project!
We love our home and wouldn't give it up but, reality is that we're getting older and the home is becoming more costly every year. Retirement has financial responsibility.
6
Hey! My hot water heater broke last night! I called the biggest plumbing company in town! Instead of coming out, the plumber suggested a quick fix via FaceTime and he walked me through it! I am 65 years old, 4 feet and managed to reach the top of the heater and turn the water coming into it off! Recently we had damaging hail storms! The insurance adjuster said I hadn’t been maintaining my roof! Now I’ll have to learn to check on it seasonally! So much to learn! So much to budget for! Oh the joys of home ownership!
2
I live in Ireland now. A man I know, who is a contractor, told me TODAY "a guy I subcontracted to put in shades on a window, charged me €40 per window. I just found out he charged my mom €150 per window!!!" So us "know-nothing's" certainly are the ones who could benefit from these types of classes!!!
Thanks for this one, lads!
Susan Baughman
Expat in Ireland
.
I forgot to add on my last post:
I asked my neighbor (a handyman) how much he would charge to put together a wardrobe from IKEA. His answer: " €10 an hour when you get it; €20 an hour if you try and then can't finish it yourself!"
Oh my god. TAKE THESE CLASSES!!!
Susan
Expat in Ireland
2
When you own a home, everybody has their hand in your pocket trying to take advantage of your ignorance or lack of time. From lawn cutting to landscaping to plumbing to electrical, they will try to charge you whatever they can get away with. One way to minimize the hit is to buy a new home. You can cut out the real estate agent and his 6 % commission. Everything is under warranty for 1-2 years and you are not likely to see major repairs for at least 10 years provided you do some basic maintenance. You will pay a premium for a newly built home but the price difference is much less once you take all the other costs into consideration.
1
Seems to me that a business opportunity is being ignored in the caring for your home.
A service contract that offers an array of services similar to having a super for your home for a set fee.
3
Remember when high school had home economics and shop? I don't know when the curriculum dropped them but I view it as part of a trend that views physical labor and working with one's hands as not so important as the sacred STEM fields. Obviously, that isn't true, is it?
11
Our first home that we purchased, 1982, was built was built in 1928. When we went to replace electrical elements, such as light switches, we found that the 1928 electrical parts could not be replaced. No one had those parts. So we bought new and nothing fit. The original cloth covered wires were too thick to be attached to the modern switches. There were literally 100’s of problems like that. Finding obsolete and unavaible replacement parts were always a problem for all systems including plumbing, HVAC, siding, double hung windows in an older house. This began a 40 love affair with home ownership, and home repair. It is always a good idea to live next to a neighbor who can help. Thus beginning new and enduring friendships to this day. Shared difficulties and successes are the way to build community. It was and always has remained fun, even when we repaired holes in the roof with flashing, roof cement and non matching shingles. Oh yeah, we live in the woods and the old popal tress (designed to grow fast for wood pulp) fell on our roof,
2
Most of the guys that I know are a bunch of spoiled Mama's Boys. Can't do anything. Don't know which end of a hammer is the business end. Power tools? Forget about it. Better to just hire an illegal immigrant. Right? They don't deserve to own homes.
Me? My dad got me to watch what he did and how he did it around the house. I do lots of stuff. I taught my kid and nephew too. I bought them tools. I still have my original tools, those that I haven't lost. Mostly made in USA Craftsman. Those tools last. Sears should have stuck to that. It's what they do best.
13
nobody owns a home
4
This "older woman" (or "butt-kicking elder") spent time this week designing & measuring, sawing, screwing L brackets & hinges & just finished using a staple gun to attach the goat wire to what's become the gate for my dog's fence. Tomorrow I'll install latches, attach to posts. Then step back & admire my creation.
I called my mom once, who was in her late eighties at the time, and she was up on the kitchen counter doing the finishing touches of painting her kitchen. She said she was doing the trim around the window over the sink and her only problem was straddling it! Late 80s!
Irish!
The best kept secret is how much car repair can be do-it-yourself. Cars are more complex than in past, but I saved thousands over the years replacing starters, generators, water pumps. I still get under there and change the oil. Belts, filters, spark plugs, fluids- Replace flat tire in a few minutes. It's so grounding.
Women, most of the time when a car won't start, it's because of the same 2 or 3 things. Find out what they are! Alot of basic home or car work is like cooking. Get the ingredients right (tools are some of the most beautifully functional things you can imagine), read the recipe (or watch) & be patient Auto stores have do-it-yourself manuals for model/year.
I've met many men (including my mechanics) who were so happy to have me look over their shoulder with sincere interest. Electricians, plumbers... Watch & listen with respect and sincere interest. That's all that's required.
9
What the heck is ‘mock floor’?
8
There’s a big difference between things that have to be done, and things that you’d just like to do. The former are often crises; water coming in through the roof, plumbing that doesn’t work, the termite-ridden wall just collapsed. The latter; painting, hanging pictures, renovations. Knowing something, knowing somebody, is useful in both cases. Few of my suburban neighbors will do any of it; weighing the difference between the cost of a lost day of work for DIY versus hiring someone is a no-brainer. Most will not do their own mowing or snow blowing, let alone fixing a faucet. Their priorities are eminently defensible.
On the other hand, I have a full machine shop, woodworking facility, and a car lift. I will generally repair anything for no good reason. I just like to. Saving money has nothing to do with it.
7
I do lots of projects (wood, paint, etc.) but I don’t mess with plumbing or gas lines. Fortunately my wife happily does light electrical (when we don’t outsource big stuff).
If people are doing shoddy DIY stuff, e.g. bath tile, gas lines, plumbing or electrical- may they have good insurance and working smoke detectors, because the cost of doing it wrong is a lot more than what you think you might be saving, and you gotta know when to just get a pro.
7
The first thing that any homeowner needs is a can of WD-40. It's the wonder drug for a sticky lock, door or window. Then pay attention to anything that doesn't seem as though it's not working correctly. A stitch in time...
8
@Speedo
I prefer silicone to WD. Over time an application of WD gets sticky and loses its slipperyness. Not so silicone.
7
When I became a single Mom living in a big older house I had to figure out pretty quickly how to fix stuff. The first few attempts were pretty pathetic and I look back now and laugh but these days I am renovating my new place only with the help of a contractor to do big things like electrical and plumbing. I have saving thousands over the years and have turned out some pretty nice projects, if you don't count those first few attempts. I wish I had been able to find class back then to take! There is something nice about sitting back in a room you renovated yourself and seeing how nice it turned out! Tiling is NOT THAT HARD!
12
@Heather
tiling CAN be fun and certainly it's fulfilling to see the finished project ...but the bending and tile saw work might hurt
1
I call my building's handyman.
2
Been married 54 years, and learned a long time ago how to handle home repairs. It starts with "Hey Hon". And that's where it ended for this old man.
My beautiful wife is the best of the best when it comes to figuring things out. I do paint though, not much thought required there.
10
Most everything I needed to learn I found on Youtube. Granted, I'm retired and had the luxury of time, but I've done tons of stuff to my house in the 2.5 years I've lived in it. I started with replacing carpet in three bedrooms and one closet with hardwood flooring. Painted the whole interior. Installed a radiant barrier, gable fan and insulation in the attic. Just installed gutters and downspouts last week. Spent about $350 on materials and the lowest quote I got was $1,150. Check Youtube before any undertaking.
15
I determined a long time ago, what maintenance issue's I could do, and those best done by a professional. Many jobs are best left to a tradesmen, however tradesmen are a odd lot. First finding a good one is a chore. Second, they usually show up based on their schedule, not yours. Trades people also minimize the time put into a job, so they can maximize their income. Things we like to call simple repairs usually turn out to not be all that simple. Electrical work, plumbing, carpentry repair, often need skilled folks. Try hanging a door yourself, or up grading a bathroom. Hanging replacement glass sliding doors, or installing new windows require experience.
10
I do lots of small repairs around my house, and there is one advantage to this habit which has not been mentioned: I do a MUCH better job than the professionals. It's not that I have better skills or more experience. The difference is that I can put in the extra time and effort to do a perfect job, and re-do it if it isn't right. A pro with my standards would go bankrupt.
43
Agree that taking classes are a good thing. Growing up on a farm, I learned all those skills like carpentry, plumbing, electrical. At the other end of life, I was able to oversee our entire new home construction and do all the finish carpentry myself. Getting money back from the plumbers, electrician and carpentry contracts I hired was gratifying. then again, I have been advising home owners and renters for years and teaching them how to do the simple things but more importantly, when to hire a professional.
9
I had the benefit of the same background. When I got to college, it was a surprise that many of my acquaintances had had no such skills and regarded me as resourceful. Doing for oneself has both pragmatic and emotional benefits. It’s good to hear that people are discovering this. L
11
It started with Time Life’s wonderful DIY instruction books on electricity and plumbing. Now, I own a backhoe, 2 chain saws, welding eauipment, and a full woodshop. If I were to look at it honestly, those silly DIY books led to equipment investments that probably dwarfed avoided professional repair charges. On the other hand, I could now build a house and wouldn’t change a minute of the experiences. Well, perhaps except for that time I tried to wallpaper...
21
@Maggie
a good wallpaper person is a magician !
2
My affluent neighborhood has a very active "Nextdoor" social media group. I'm astounded at the number of postings along the line of "My kitchen cabinet door is loose. Can someone recommend a handyman?" I've always done my own home repairs, learning what I need to know along the way via classes and now Google, and it amazes me how many people don't have even the most rudimentary skills or basic tools.
14
I want to plug YouTube here if I may! I have taught myself how to do many home repairs by watching videos on YouTube.
You can find just about any guidance you need there. You save lots of money by doing it yourself and it’s fun learning how simple some home repairs are.
24
I am so lucky. After I was drafted I joined the Navy instead. I was assigned to Naval Construction Forces (SEABEES) as a Construction Electrician. I was a telecom technician for Ma Bell and this rating not only did telecom but anything electrical.My orders to relieve a man in a battalion in Vietnam were canceled and I was sent to a Public Works department on a small base of 300 people. I learned how to pour concrete sidewalks after estimating how much concrete, estimating paint jobs and doing them, some plumbing, starting and paralleling generators. A year as a clerk taught me bookkeeping and inventory management.
These skills helped me to start a business and manage it for 30 years in telecom after AT&T laid me off. I was buying condos and houses fixing them up and selling them.
But I also know my limits. Sometimes there are time constraints or something is very difficult. Then I hire it out. Sometimes it's because I realize that i'm going on 70 y/o and I'm not as strong as I used to be.
Taking those classes is a good idea. The more you can do yourself the more you can save money and many times you'll be more satisfied with the work.
30
I am on house #5. In between watching every episode of This Old House, I took a course in house framing. I have done some enormous jobs myself. Here is my advice-take a home maintenance course before you buy, acknowledge repairs will cost you on average 1% of the cost of the house each year. And the first year you will find About$10k of repairs your inspector didn’t find.
Lastly, before you undertake renovations yourself live I the house for six months, your Reno will be much better with fewer ‘I wish I had’s’ afterwards.
And above all NEVER buy a house in the wrong location. You can raze a house to the ground, but the site is the site. So poor school districts get worse, busy streets get busier. Bad neighbors multiply.
28
What a wonderful service to empower new homeowners to become their own home handy men and women. When I bought my home 42 years ago I had a knowledge of using tools that my father had taught me at a young age which has been invaluable to me. I did not know about home repairs but after calling in an electrician at my neighbor's suggestion to diagnose why my oven would not power on and paying him the high price of $26 (1978 prices) for a ten minute visit; he told us it was not the oven but a bad circuit breaker in my electric box. We vowed this would never happen again. So with the help of "This Old House" with Bob Vila, home repair manuals from the library, and hands on instruction from my friend Bob who was an experienced home owner do it yourselfer, my wife and I began tackling faucet repairs and replacements, painting, drywall, tiling, and eventually building my own deck. I found that there was nothing to fear from fixing my home. I left electrical work, new bathrooms and kitchens to the pros. I saved a lot of $$$ in the process, had self satisfaction from doing it myself, and did not have to wait for nor be overcharged by unscrupulous contractors.
5
Brings back memories of the early 60s. I was lucky to find a 3 room rent controlled apt. in Yorkville. For the most part these buildings did not have supers. They were too small and did not make enough money so you painted and did many of your own minor repairs. Not having any tools I went shopping at some of the job lot store where the Twin towers were later built. A kind gentleman seeing I had no idea of what I was doing, as I looked at hundreds of hammers, stepped forward and aided me. He explained the kind of hammer I needed the weight, etc. and helped me assemble a basic tool set. So much for New Yorkers being unhelpful.
17
I am a retired after working about 50 years mostly in a supervisory position in building mainteance but I started out as a janitor who learned how to troubleshoot and make basic repairs to most of the mechanical problems for commercial buildings. Took me many years to get there to earn my knowledge and experience of the maintenance field. My advice: there's nothing wrong with hiring a "Handyman" for some work. But check out his references. A Handyman is just that. He is not and I emphasize is not a licensed, insured, bonded General Contractor. I have heard too many horror stories of people who hired a Handyman to do work that was way over their skill level and the homeowner really got burned for thinking they were saving a few $ and ended up spending a lot more $ when they should've just hired someone who knew what he was doing.
24
There's a lot I can do in my house. Minor plumbing -- no problem. But there are times when my plumber is indispensable, not least because he has the very expensive, specialized tools necessary to get the job done.
Electricity? Nah. Anything that can set my house on fire I leave to a licensed professional. And so should you. If anything happens, your insurance company will look askance at work done by anyone else.
36
I can fix a lot of things around the house. However, I know when a task requires the skill of a professional. I could learn all of the skills that you see on This Old House but that is not realistic for me. Having knowledge by taking classes, watching This Old House, etc. I can better communicate to the professional what I want. When it comes to electricity, gas, or tall ladders you really need to know what you are doing. Know your limitations.
21
York College in Jamaica Queens offers excellent handyman classes on electrical, plumbing, tiling, sheetrock & more. Demetrius is a knowledgeable & assured instructor. These courses should have been included in the article. Saturdays.
17
You Tube is very helpful but I would suggest a couple of classes in basic carpentry, painting and plumbing. Even if you spend $100 bucks or so per class....you will get that money back three fold in savings. So Take some classes...learn the language and terms...nail down the basics. Visit YouTube. Start with SMALL projects first...get some experience under your belt....and then move on to bigger projects. Only do one project at a time. Good Luck.
8
Come now, you can find most everything you want/need to learn in home repair on youtube, and then just go and try things out. Do you seriously need to attend "classes" for that?
1
@tiddle: If you have questions that you want answered in real time, YES, you should be in a class for that. Do you have something against classes?
Have you done any project in your home where you had no idea how to do it but then you totally succeeded based solely on youtube videos?
There's almost always some point in any project where what the homeowner is facing differs from what the video covers.
10
It would be nice if it were so, but many people out there don’t know which end of a wrench to grab. I suspect that you grew up in a setting where tools and their use was a way of life (as did I). These folks didn’t.
6
@L
you are right ! on Youtube they just sail through !!
looks so easy ... then ...
1
A few pieces of advice. Go to a hardware store and ask questions. I have been given tons of insider tips by helpful staff. When you have someone repair something at your house, hang around, watch and learn. The good repair people will answer questions and you'll pick up useful info. Finally: google it. Despite my many years of diy, I now turn to Google/YouTube for great tutorials.
13
At the hardware store, ask the oldest employee!
11
i'mat that sublime level of being able to fix almost anything with a swiss army knife, but two things elude me...outside work and vehicle maintenance. right now the young couple on the other side of this condo duplex are selling, for what i think is way too much money, and they are bugging me about painting and doing some yard work. there was just a knock on the door and it was a couple of guys here to power wash and i have not agreed to a 5000 dollar paint job. this could get sticky. i learned a lot from reading fine woodworking magazine and watching pbs. but my father used to say, anyone who owns a house deserves it.
6
The problem is that many look up to doctors, lawyers and similar professionals, but look down at blue collar workers. Imagine your kid saying they want to grow up to be a plumber.
The result: fewer go into those professions - frustrating the rest of us when we need their services. At least part of the solution is according these professionals the genuine respect they deserve.
50
@Joseph Hanania: If I had children, I'd have wanted one to become a plumber and one to become an electrician and/or a general contractor. Those are great careers, with good income & you're in demand.
I've watched every repair professional who's ever worked in or on my home. I always learn something, and honest work done well ALWAYS deserves respect! I am happy to pay "blue collar workers" for their experience and expertise.
My father was a blue collar worker, and rightly proud of his abilities and high standards. He was very much in demand in his field.
19
@Joseph Hanania
i am a lawyer, and I have found an honest, capable, inventive repairman who charges fairly...and I respect and and treasure him, and would never look down on him.
15
From a farmboy/doctor/professor: AMEN!
3
The problem is cheap people, as a licensed aircraft inspector, mechanic, I suddenly have many “friends” at the airport that expect professional work for free or ridiculous rates.
It has come to the point that I have a sign on my hangar door stating that you had better have money in your hand if you want questions answered.
8
I wonder who these people get to tie their shoes in the morning. It’s amazing how many people cannot perform basic functions in life.
5
@Paulie
c'mon this ain't about shoes .
2
I do myself everything from framing, foundation, trimwork to plumbing and electrical. We're in a 1926 bungalow. It takes me longer than a professional but I take my time and the work is rewarding (plus I like buying tools). That said, people need to be forewarned against buying the cheapest materials available from Box stores, buying cheap is guarantee that whatever task you're doing will need to be repeated in several years. Much of the work I have been doing is repairing past mistakes made by the previous owner who used cheap materials and seemed to be in a hurry.
26
Between This Old House and lots of online how-to videos, I have successfully learned how to repoint bricks in my basement, use non-toxic paint stripper, replace the all-house water filter, diagnose gutter leaks, melt gutter ice dams, use and maintain a snow blower, and more. I have saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars, and there is a great satisfaction in maintaining my own home.
29
After a few trips to Home Depot you can usually figure out who the retired master plumber is that works in the plumbing area or the retired master electrician in the electric area. They are usually very generous with advice and you learn to time your visits with their working hours.
63
@Ultraman
Friends husband was away when the toilet broke. She went to the big box hardware where they fixed her up with the parts gave their card and told her to call when she started and walked her thru it over the phone.
11
A person has got to know his/her limitations.
26
Or you could just not buy, hang on to the mountains of cash that you save on the difference between renting and owning, stash it all in a relatively safe compounding investment (which doesn't have a roof, copper pipes, HOA fees or a lawn) and live your life with the joy of knowing that the only tool you need to get repairs done is a telephone.
19
@Jeffrey Gillespie -- I have a house because it's cheaper than renting -- and nobody can throw me out whenever they want. The stock market/bank can tank and take your money with it just as easily. There is no 'one size fits all' and people should do what works for them. Being able to fix things is good to know, regardless if you rent or own.
54
@Jeffrey Gillespie IF you have a responsible landlord who attends to problems promptly and the difference in your area between renting and buying is significant enough to make a difference, great, then rent. But not everyone has either or both! Many folks live in areas - like the SF Bay Area and other large cities - where landlords are finding it *easy* to be vultures and treat tenants like serfs and annoyances because the market is totally in their favor.
26
But someday you will own that home and then the cost savings are vast, plus you can’t get gentrified out of your neighborhood.
8
Amen! Great article. I believe that understanding interest rate math should be a high school graduation requirement. That covers you on the mortgage and other debt. This class and one on how cars work and you’re covered on all your bigger expenses outside of healthcare.
33
If you can find a good local hardware store, they tend to hire people with real world experience who, if its not busy, would love to talk you through a project. There are also plenty of videos on the internet that can be helpful. In the end, while classes and videos are helpful, the only way to really learn is to tackle a project. You will make mistakes, but that is also learning. Trust me, even the pros occasionally need help. I work at a local hardware store and I have helped plenty of handymen who have gotten sideways on a job. Just remember to turn the power/water/gas off first!
38
I am currently a building superintendent in NYC and when I started as very young man and a bit overwhelmed- when anything broke elsewhere in the buildings, I took apart the similar item that was in good condition to learn how it’s made and Voila!
Good Luck Friends!
36
Anyone taking a class should be aware that real-life situations may not go as smoothly as projects in class, but with a sense of humor, common sense, and a reasonable tool kit almost anyone can learn to do many repairs and improvements. It's wonderful to be able to work on my older home myself, but it is also good to know my limits, particularly since the house has few right angles, the floors slope, and the house shifts with the seasons.
41
@Rural farmer
It is essential to know when a project requires skills beyond one's ability, manual dexterity one does not possess (including and especially fine motor skills), or requires expensive, specialized tools that are unlikely to be needed again within two decades. With many older homes replacement materials may no longer be available and some demolition requires meeting environmental and/or hazardous materials regulations. This requires researching suitable alternatives and their costs. As such I can and will do some smaller jobs but leave the more dangerous and specialized work to seasoned professionals who have state licenses and references.
9
A good, trusted handyman is an asset.
The person who mowed my yard when I had 2 acres in the country is a school bus driver who also helps his brother on the small family farm they inherited. With the farm background, he is very handy and hardworking.
I hire him theee times a year to do odd and end handyman tasks. He cleans the traps under every sink. He pulls out appliances and cleans under and behind. He vacuums out the hose of the dryer, and cleans the exterior vent, too. He hauls my outdoor furniture onto deck in spring, then cleans it and takes back into basement each fall. He does touch up deck repair work on years when we need it, and sands and reprints my iron hanging hooks in winter. Then reinstalls them. He takes my deck plants to a nursing home before the first frost hits and would destroy them.
While we are on vacation, every third year or so he cuts the caulk out along the floor four shower, let’s the area dry from any residual moisture for 2 days, then recalls it.
52
@Jean
wow! you are lucky!!!
9
No mention of programs in New Jersey. Lots of homeowners here where most professionals refuse to do smaller jobs.
6
@WPC
Not just New Jersey! And not just the "small" jobs. Currently compiling a list of repairs/improvements that will total more than $15K. Nearly to get contractor in for less than amount. Except for emergencies.....
4
I am a very famous politician — very, very famous. In fact, I am more famous than Abraham Lincoln. I am more famous than everyone.
I was brought up in a German-American household and my sister and I were taught to be nice people and do our own repairs. My sister turned out to be nice. I get other people to do my repairs. It’s not expensive, though, because I don’t pay them.
123
@Scott F
I am a very famous plumber and magcian in the DC area.
If there's a leak ... I will find it .... and then make the leaker dissapear.
I was brought up in a Icelandic-Austrian household where we were all cold. So, I built a fireplace and fixed that.
Next, I repaired our porch and had to dig new foundations for it. That's when I discovred where the previous owneres were buried.
9
"A skilled labor shortage that makes it increasingly difficult to find a reliable handyman"
With the commercial and residential building boom currently under way good luck in finding a skilled licensed contractor willing to do the job at anything less then prevailing union wages, it's just not worth their time.
9
@mlb4ever You're right, it's not a "shortage" of manpower or contractors it's just the nature of the business. They all still have rent to pay, trucks and tools to pay for and payroll to make- they have to bill for a full day's work to meet their obligations. Too many homeowners shoot themselves in the foot by electing to "fix it for now" or schedule a "small job" instead of taking out a proper loan and lining up all their small jobs to be done over consecutive days.
6
My father owned 3 rental units in San Francisco, my hometown. During my growing-up years, he did all the remodeling, repairs and maintenance himself, including gutting bathrooms, repairing plumbing, and his personal favorite, Sheetrocking. Every weekend was a project.
Unfortunately he didn't teach my sister or me how to do any of it. It had little to do with gender and more to do with his patience, which was nonexistent.
I regret what I didn't learn when I had the chance. I'm planning to buy a home soon and bookmarking this for later.
41
I am a very well known attorney who grew up in an Italian household whose parents taught us how to do everything. Recently on the upper east side I heard a friend complaining about the cost ($560) of hanging a ceiling fan. I turned to him and informed that my 16yr old son would do it for $200 and he questioned how he knows how to to it. I told him that I taught my kids everything about home ownership and repair. My son installed the fan without issue and word of mouth spread quickly throughout the neighborhood and he wound up installing 12 fans and changing over 35 electrical outlets. As my son attends the best high school in America in nyc, he remains stunned how someone could buy a home and pay a fortune for repairs. He said that his desire to be a doctor is great, otherwise he sees a well paid job in being a licensed electrician!
77
@"very well known attorney" - You included a few extraneous details which have nothing to do your point.
I'm guessing the $560 quote is from a licensed electrician. It's outrageous but not too unusual. IF the kid knows what he's doing I would hire him. But that's a large caveat. Miswiring circuits can burn a house down. I think I paid $70 or $80 but I don't live in NYC.
58
@Mickey I have an inlaw who was fired from a job as a result of the Reagan Doctrine of killing unions (during his initial stage of his presidency) who eventually went into home improvement as a result of somebody asking him to perform a minor task around their home: then discovering that heck this could be profittable. He's taken off to such exceedingly heights in this field that irks me at times to hear him boast about his success. But I love to tell folks his story when he's not in my company.
19
@Mike & Mickey,
Before a battle charge of electricity takes place between hot collars, let us reconsider.
Here in The Wind of the Willows, where we avoid licensed electricians and other repairmen and throw ourselves at the mercy of an 'insured' Jack-of-All-Trades, Messrs. Badger, Squirrel and Fox appear to have a difference of opinion when a light bulb needs to be changed.
If they show up at random on the same day, fur inevitably gets frayed, and Mrs. Molesworth flees into her house, closing the door.
Have either of you welcomed a professional female plumber to your residence? Check a little gem by the Australian director, Peter Weir, 'The Plumber' where a married woman invites the housing plumber into her apartment. By the end of this story, she wins the day and the bath facilities are out of commission.
We have a lot of fires in this neck-of-the-woods, and mice have an affinity for live wires. Whether it helps to have a legal mind in one's home is to be considered.
My understanding that even if you are fortunate to have a budding genius of an electrician in the form of a young son, a licence to work bright lights is required in New York City.
To get to Friday, our town motto is to keep away from doctors and lawyers. Bring on some affordable licensed electricians if only to place candles on the cake! In my youth, while making a wish, my hair caught on fire at a celebration, and it was not our host, today a well-known attorney who took action, but a carpenter.
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