Maintenance and repairs are a big part of owning a home! Do it, and your house will operate more efficiently, last longer, and have better resale appeal and value. Do it yourself, and you can save a lot of money … and have a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
In the early years of our marriage, we rented an apartment, duplex, house built in 1926, and another apartment. Then we bought our first home with a double-digit interest rate loan. The home was nine years old and was in exceptional well-maintained condition. I learned a lot from my dad in my upbringing … he fixed everything and kept our home in tip-top condition. While in high school and college, I also did a lot of repairs and maintenance on my dad’s rent houses. However, as a new homeowner, I had no clue really what it was going to take as the owner of my own castle.
The first thing that broke in our home was a simple $10 part that caused over $4,000 damage! It was the ballcock assembly in the toilet tank. Thankfully the insurance company covered the damages (that’s how I still remember the dollar amount of damages). I learned how to fix that part and have been proactive in keeping them well-maintained ever since. More on that in another article. Most anyone can fix a toilet … take the time to learn how, read some instructions, buy the necessary parts and maybe a tool, and then just do it. And in this internet age, someone has likely posted a helpful and simple video on how to repair whatever it is you need.
Many things are simple to understand and, of course, some are certainly much more complicated. You really can learn how to do the simple things – toilet … electrical receptacle … faucet … door hardware … sink trap … light switch … ceiling fan … appliance repair … and more. Give it a shot, and do not be intimidated into not trying. It’s also a great teaching lesson and relationship builder to have a child watching. And if you don’t figure it out, you can always call an electrician, plumber, technician, or handyman to fix what you started or don’t understand.
In addition to great resources online, two books that you will find especially helpful are:
- How to Fix Just About Anything by Reader’s Digest
- Home Maintenance for Dummies
As a “thank you” to our clients, we give away a home maintenance booklet entitled Now That You’ve Had a Home Inspection. All of these books and others cover all kinds of simple issues that you can either do yourself or understand what needs to be done. I encourage you first to try and, if necessary, try a second and third time. Whether you’re an amateur or an avid DIY expert, you can always learn more. You’ll gain confidence as you learn and do more and more.
Have a DIY year, and be well-maintained my friend! Happy New Year to all!
