6 Tips to Keep Your Home Repairs on Schedule
HIRING A HANDYMAN IS A GREAT OPTION FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE SHORT ON TIME OR SKILLS. ONCE YOU'VE FOUND THE RIGHT MAN (OR WOMAN) FOR THE JOB, HERE ARE SIX TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR HOME MAINTENANCE REPAIRS ON SCHEDULE.
1. Plan your budget
How many projects are on your list for home maintenance repairs? If you have a large list, completing these projects yourself could take months. Hiring a handyman can cut your timeline, however it can also eat up more of your budget. Try to plan ahead for yearly repairs by creating a home maintenance budget. Experts estimate that you should set aside one to two percent of your home’s total value each year for repairs. If your home cost $300,000, you should plan to spend between $3,000 and $6,000 each year for maintenance.
Creating a home maintenance budget will help you keep repairs on schedule by ensuring that you have enough money to repair your home as soon as repairs become necessary. Spending time scrounging for change to finance your repairs or shopping around for deals on the materials you need to repair your home will slow down the process. Avoid stress by setting aside enough money for routine home maintenance at the beginning of the year.
2. Keep Changes to a Minimum
Handymen usually have an exhaustive list of skills and services and will do just about anything you need and ask them to. However, if you change your mind multiple times and continuously ask for different services, your handyman will probably have a hard time keeping up with your original schedule. When you hire your handyman, know what you want. Let them finish one project at a time, and create a realistic timeline for them to complete all necessary repairs.
3. Choose your materials wisely
As you plan your repair, keep in mind that the materials you use will affect your project’s schedule. Some materials may be harder to find depending on your taste, style, and budget, and these materials may have considerably longer lead times to ship. Rare and exotic materials often take time to manufacture and may need to be shipped from distant locations. This can draw out your timeline and force you to wait for materials to arrive. If you’re working on a tight timeline, be sure to order these items in advance, or consider using materials that are available at your local home maintenance retailer.
4. Consider your handyman’s schedule
Some handymen have busy seasons for certain services. For example, the busy season for gutter cleaning happens at the beginning of spring and at the start of fall, and the busy season for landscaping maintenance happens during the spring. Ask your handyman about their schedule before you hire them to be sure your project will be completed on time. If your handyman is juggling multiple projects for multiple clients at once, discuss how their other projects might affect your repairs.
5. Maintenance according to the seasons
Weather is always a factor when planning home maintenance repairs. Severe storms, high winds, and seasonal changes can make it hard, or nearly impossible, for your handyman to complete repairs. When planning home maintenance repairs, take into account your location and any seasonal weather patterns your area experiences. Try to plan your project during the time of year most amenable for both outdoor and indoor work. You can’t predict the weather, but you can do your best to plan for it.
6. Preparing for Special Events
Hiring your handyman to do repairs during the holidays may prove to be difficult. Most homeowners want their homes in tip-top condition as they host holiday parties; handymen get very busy just before and during the holiday season. Hire your handyman early and place material orders in advance to account for any delays. If your repair is scheduled to take place during a holiday, discuss it with your handyman. Holidays could throw your repair off schedule if your handyman chooses not to work. Your handyman should be able to tell you if they plan to work through the holidays or if they require holiday pay, so you can prepare your schedule and budget accordingly.
-- Anne Reagan for Porch