Are Professional Handyman Services Worth It?
Doing your own upkeep for your house, fixing any damage or enhancing the look of your home are all great concepts. It provides pleasure and a chance to conserve funds simultaneously. There’s no need to use professional handyman services.
Or is there?
Do-it-yourself projects can often bring about more tension and end up costing more than anticipated. Make one bad decision and you could damage an electronic device, the furniture in your house, or even the house itself. There is a high possibility of sustaining an injury that necessitates a visit to the emergency room if a person engages in do-it-yourself projects while utilizing electric tools such as an electric drill. Not everyone is skilled at working on domestic renovations and do-it-yourself tasks.
Homeowners often experience a heavy sense of obligation to take care of their dwellings. The enthusiasm of having a newly acquired property can quickly diminish when you begin to realize the multitude of repairs and improvements that must be made, especially if you are not adequately equipped with the tools or aptitude required to do so.
It would be prudent to think about getting additional assistance, and a home upkeep subscription service can offer that. Expert handyman help can take the pressure off, be it in regards to plumbing, redecorating, or keeping your dishwashers and washing machines in good condition.
They can take away all of the work you need to do for upkeep and repairs, allowing you to concentrate on other matters. They possess the expertise needed and can complete tasks in a much shorter span of time than homeowners who don’t have as much experience. This allows you to use your precious spare time for family activities and the things that you take pleasure in.
What are Professional Handyman Services?
Hiring a professional handyman service will give you access to either an entire crew of experts or an individual “home manager” to take care of the day-to-day upkeep, repairs, and home improvement projects. They take care of a wide range of tasks, from replacing air conditioner filters and smoke alarm batteries to dealing with a dripping faucet and servicing your heating and cooling system.
Common Repairs
Jobs that may appear to be minor or uncomplicated can present unforeseen challenges or issues to those who lack expertise. Leaving any issues with your home in the hands of a specialist handyman service guarantees that repairs or problems are managed by someone who is knowledgeable. They are experienced in managing unexpected issues that arise with those simple tasks!
The kind of common repairs that it’s worth calling in a professional for include:
- Appliance repairs, such as replacing valves on your refrigerator, washer-dryer, or dishwasher
- Electrical repairs, including replacing control boards in your electrical appliances, installing ceiling fans, or repairing outlets
- Plumbing repairs, such as replacing faucets, unclogging drains, and even tuning up your sprinkler system
- General handyman jobs, like mounting a TV on the wall or installing a security system that you just bought on sale from the store, with minimum fuss and a guaranteed result
Prevention Is Better than the Cure
This saying is related to doing preventative upkeep, and all houses need this in order to keep everything operating without any issues. Just like with a car, if you maintain your house on a regular basis, you will likely experience fewer breakdowns.
Hiring experienced handymen to complete preventive maintenance jobs makes sure your household appliances, pipes, and other components are running smoothly. Maintaining appliances, HVAC systems and hot water heaters on a consistent basis will help extend their lives. Regular upkeep of your home can ensure its efficiency, reducing your electricity costs and the amount of money needed to replace appliances.
So what do these preventative maintenance services include? It is suggested that you perform a semi-annual maintenance of your home, which should include inspecting appliances, air conditioners, and plumbing, in order to keep your residence functioning properly and to avoid expensive repairs in the future.
Depending on the professional handyman services you use, appliance checks may include:
- Inspection of appliance lights and replacement as needed. These lights fail from time to time, and regular checking/replacement is necessary.
- Inspection of range burners and oven. This ensures that your oven’s heating elements and mechanical parts are functioning well and do not have any gas leaks.
- Replacement of batteries and testing of smoke and CO detectors. It is typically done in fall or winter and ensures your safety.
- Provision and replacement of refrigerator water filter. Having your fridge’s water filter replaced will ensure your drinking water is free from contaminants.
- Cleaning of refrigerator condenser coils. Clogged condenser coils cannot efficiently release heat, causing your fridge compressor to run for longer than it should. This shortens your fridge’s lifespan and increases its energy usage.
Air conditioner checks may include:
- Provision and replacement of AC filters. When your AC filter gets clogged with dust and allergens, this may cause long-term damage. Changing the AC’s filter improves the air conditioning and prolongs the appliance’s life.
- Cleaning of AC condenser coils. For an energy-efficient AC, the condenser coils need to be free from any build-up of debris on its fins. This activity, usually done in the spring or summer, makes sure that your AC stays energy efficient.
- Disinfection of AC condensate drain line. A clogged AC condensate line may cause moldy and musty odors. Clogging also elevates your AC’s humidity and may cause water damage around the home. Cleaning and disinfecting your AC condensate drain line prevents this.
Plumbing and pipe checks may include:
- Inspection of all drains for proper flow. Prevent an expensive plumber’s fee by having routine checkups on your drains.
- Inspection of exterior plumbing for proper insulation. Objects constantly exposed to water, such as pipes, have a high risk of freezing in winter. Frozen or near-freezing point pipes may burst, flooding your home and ruining your furniture and appliances. Professional handyman services can ensure pipes are covered with insulating materials to prevent this from happening.
- Flushing sediment from water heaters. This task is performed in spring or summer and prevents burst pipes, loss of water pressure, and water tank breakdown.
- Inspect faucets and fixtures for leaks. Leaks can cause water damage and also increase water bills. Faucet washers suffer from wear and tear, and regular inspection is an integral part of home maintenance.
- Cleaning of faucet aerators. Like a filter, a faucet aerator strains out any debris included in your tap water. This makes the debris build up around the faucet opening, which can cause water pressure issues. Cleaning your faucet aerators means that no pressure issues occur.
- Inspection and cleaning the dishwasher drain filter. When your dishwasher drain gets clogged, not all of the water used gets drained, causing unpleasant odors and dishes that are not adequately cleaned.
- Sanitization of garbage disposal. A build-up of food on your sink’s garbage disposal makes it less effective and creates unwelcome odors. A clean-through regularly keeps the unit functioning.
- Sanitization of washing machines and dishwashers with natural cleansing agents. Hot water and detergent are often not enough to kill harmful bacteria and other pathogens in your clothes washer. A deep clean can be helpful.
- Cleaning lint out of dryer ducts and outtake. This improves dryer efficiency and is carried out in fall or winter.
- Inspection of toilets and sinks for valve leaks. Just like faucets, any leak from toilets and sinks can increase water bills, damage, and cause mold and mildew in your home.
Some Home Repairs You Should Always Hire a Pro For
When it comes to keeping a home in good condition, the cost of hiring a professional to do the work can be one of the most expensive items in a homeowner’s budget. Many individuals choose to save money by doing the labor themselves, but not everyone has the necessary abilities to repair their own houses, even when utilizing instructional online videos.
Trying to do a DIY job without giving it proper planning and having a full understanding of what needs to be done can end up costing more than if you had hired a professional to do it. No matter how much experience or expertise you have, it is essential to factor in the amount of time, supplies, equipment, and permits that will be needed for your home improvement project.
Hanging Wallpaper
The difficulty with putting up wallpaper is making sure it is level on the wall and that the design lines up properly. It typically requires two people. Occasionally, air can become trapped, in which case a sheet of paper must be taken out and a fresh sheet reinstalled. This could lead to a shortage of wallpaper and necessitating extra to be purchased. Only you can determine if the cost savings of doing it yourself are worth the potential dangers, however, employing a specialist ensures a predictable and straightforward result.
Painting the Exterior of Your Home
Covering the outside of a house with paint is a big task. The majority of homes necessitate the installation of trim, soffits, and rake boards, and depending on the house design, all the siding will be required too. This necessitates the frequent use of ladders at elevated heights, and occasionally scaling onto the roof. Before attempting any work on the outside of a house, homeowners should think about the safety requirements.
Removing Popcorn Ceilings
Taking down popcorn ceilings is becoming more common, yet it is an incredibly messy task. The popcorn should first be sprayed with a softening agent in order to make it more pliable. The entire exterior must be scraped with a knife. While scraping, it is inevitable that some indentations and holes will be created on the surface. The divots and indentations must be mended using a material that requires time to set before it can be sanded into a level surface. At last, all surfaces must be prepped and covered with two layers of paint. The work is overhead and requires ladders. Bring in an expert to do this job in order to avoid the stress and probably unsatisfactory outcomes.
Installing a Light Fixture
Electrical repairs and installations are expensive. Spending a few moments to look into and comprehend your electrical system can supply you with the proficiency to carry out several electrical tasks on your own. A homeowner can do low voltage lighting fixtures safely, as the risk of causing structural or physical damage is much lower. It is advisable to consult a professional if you lack assurance in your expertise or if the voltage of your task is higher than 50 volts.
Installing a Ceiling Fan
Putting in a ceiling fan is not incredibly tough, but the amount of time it takes could be a few hours depending on the extent of your home improvement skills and the size of the fan. If you don’t feel secure doing the job while on a ladder, it would be best to hire a professional for this project.
Installing Molding
Not every homeowner has the capability to use a power saw or the knowledge to accurately and safely trim and fit crown molding while standing on a ladder. The dimensions must be precise and the edges must fit together perfectly. This job is best handled by an expert, unless you possess considerable DIY skills.
Replacing a Door
Getting a new door can certainly make a room more inviting and help with energy efficiency, but it’s important to prioritize making sure the installation process is done correctly over any potential savings. A professional should be hired to perform a significant transformation of a doorway, such as transforming two windows into a French or sliding glass door opening.
Fixing a Sticking Window
There are multiple explanations as to why a window might be stuck. It could be a accumulation of dirt and rubbish in the window frame. Issues with the base of your house can lead to windows misaligning and becoming jammed. Sometimes a window is painted and then closed while the paint is still wet, which can cause the shutters to become stuck together. Excess moisture in the air can cause doors and windows to expand and become stuck in the frame. In order to repair a window that is stuck, you may need to take the window out and use equipment such as a belt sander or a planer. If you are not very familiar with home repairs and lack the expertise or know-how to properly utilize the tools necessary, it is best to let the professionals handle it.
Botched DIYs will only cost you more money
It is not certain that you will succeed in fixing something yourself if you do not have the necessary skills. Occasionally, your DIY project won’t turn out as planned. It is possible that the entire machine or piece of furniture will have to be switched out. At the very least, the same spare part might need to be bought once more. You have not only squandered your energy and labor, but you have also expended much more funds than you anticipated.
Do not overlook the expense of medical care in the event of an accident or injury. You can accumulate medical costs and may need to take a leave of absence from your job. These costs could have been prevented if you had hired an experienced handyman.
Build home maintenance into your budget with ease
Incorporating a professional handyman service into your budget is comparable to how you effortlessly include other subscriptions. People are now signing up to have entertainment, music, food, digital newspapers, pet food, and more delivered to them on a regular basis! Investing in a qualified handyman service can alleviate you from many worries regarding the functioning of your house. One can have assurance and not have to worry about any additional or unforeseen expenses or failures.