I am a Handy Man.
This statement is a huge exaggeration. Not only do I know very little about cars or maintaining a car, but I know even less about home repairs. My wife and I have been considering buying a home in the next few years and we are currently saving up a down payment. Part of me wants to ignore the inherent responsibilities that come with owning a house. Sure, this may be a great way to build wealth and minimize future expenses. But it comes with responsibilities. The other part of me knows that I need to learn more about basic home repairs.
Basic Home Repairs / Responsibilities
Again, I am no expert, but as I have been doing some research, there are a number of roles that a home owner must take on if he/she wants to save some money:
Carpenter – One of the fundamentals of home maintenance is doing some basic home renovations. While big projects, like repairing a roof, may be too much work to take on yourself, there are some projects that you can do. Nailing loose boards or replacing trim around a door frame are some great examples.
Painter – Every home needs to be painted occasionally. While some houses have siding that does not require painting, there is still the inside. How long can you live with those off-white walls? You can pay thousands of dollars just to have the exterior of your house painted. Painting your own house is a great way to save money and it can be relaxing.
Electrician – This is one area that people will probably question. You have to be careful when playing with electricity, but there are still some basic functions of an electrician that you can do yourself – like changing a light switch or outlet.
Plumber – Again, if there is a huge emergency, you may want to call an experienced plumber. But, why not learn the basics. It could save you lots of water damage if you know how to shut something off or direct water flow elsewhere.
How to Get Started
There are many ways that you can get started in doing some basic home repairs.
Research – The first thing that you need to do is to research. With the internet, there are tons of sources for how to do basic home repairs. I have been researching how to do some of the basic stuff like replacing light switches, flooring, plumbing, etc. After learning the basics, I will probably look into bigger projects like kitchen remodels, diy conservatory, and adding on another room.
Practice – There is no better way to learn than to start doing! Practice what you are learning, while remembering that you aren’t going to be perfect the first time. You can always correct your mistake, so don’t be afraid to implement the skills you have learned.
Readers, do you perform your own repairs? Or do you always hire it out?
