Every homeowner knows to expect occasional repairs on their house and property. You can hope that you will catch problems early so they can be handled quickly, easily, and affordably.
When something breaks or needs to be repaired, here are four tips that may be able to help you save money.
DIY
If you are handy with basic household tools like a hammer or drill, you might be able to handle minor repairs without calling the professionals. Highly trained technicians can charge high fees even for small jobs like fixing a leaky faucet or replacing a rusty mailbox with a new one. There are many high-quality tutorials on YouTube as well as repair guides for most jobs around the house. However, you should never try to handle a repair that is beyond your skills or knowledge, especially if there is a risk of electric shock or another type of injury.
Check for Discounts
Whether you rent the tools and buy the supplies to do it yourself or hire an expert, ask about available discounts. If you have the work experience to qualify as a contractor, you can often get reduced prices on products and equipment. Utility companies frequently offer reduced prices on inspections or routine maintenance when scheduled at certain times. If you receive rebate checks for other purchases or bonus points for buying certain items, you may be able to apply them to your household repair supplies.
Schedule Routine Inspections
Prevention helps to reduce the likelihood of more costly repairs later. Schedule annual inspections of your home’s primary utility systems by HVAC or plumbing experts. Aim to hire licensed professionals who are qualified to evaluate your home’s utilities and ensure they are working correctly. They can also find the start of problems that should be repaired right away rather than letting them go and get bigger, which will cost more to fix later. Often after your scheduled HVAC maintenance, the repairman will give you a coupon good for a discount on any repair work done by their company so you can save even more on non-routine repairs.
Hire Reputable Experts
If you have discovered a problem or have been told following an inspection that something is amiss, hire someone who knows exactly what to do if you aren’t going to do it yourself. Avoid asking a friend or relative to do the work for you unless they have professional credentials. If they accidentally make the problem worse, you will have to pay more for a larger repair and possibly compromise the relationship.
While home repairs are inevitable, you can save money by planning ahead and taking preventative measures. Try money-saving tips like those above to keep your costs more manageable.
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