Housing...Inside and Out

June 30, 2000
Avoid Unnecessary Home Service Calls

Do you call a plumber every time your faucet drips or an electrician every time your lights go out?

Many home repairs can be done without professional help. In addition to the obvious cost savings of doing one's own repairs, a sense of confidence and an understanding of how a house works is created. Recognizing a problem early allows it to be fixed before it requires a major repair.

To do your own repairs you need a little self-confidence and a lot of patience. Keep in mind three things before tackling a home repair job:

1) If the cost of a job is mainly labor, painting for example, it may not be cost effective to call a professional. When the primary cost is materials, flooring for example, it may be more cost effective to hire a professional.

2) Home repairs involve materials and tools. If those tools are not used regularly it may not be worth investing in them. Some materials, electrical wire for example, do not come in units that are practical for the consumer to purchase. The excess becomes an added cost to the project.

3) Mistakes can be costly. A minor problem can be turned into a disaster with a mistake. Prospective buyers may be wary as they inspect a house if work is not up to standards.


Written by Dr. Francis Graham (Retired)

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