Handyman Do's and Don'ts

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If you own a home, you are well acquainted with the maintenance required to keep everything running smoothly. Patch and repair work will always be necessary for as long as you own a dwelling. Some homeowners are staunch do-it-yourselfers while others can't even stock a proper tool box. If you fall into the category that could use a bit of help around the house, hiring a handy person can be a wise idea. Here are some dos and don'ts for hiring a repairperson.

Do:

- Check his or her references. Ask for references and call them all. A word-of-mouth referral from a trusted source is even better. You want to employ someone who has done similar work for a friend, relative or neighbor. Ask about his or her reliability, skill and timeliness in job completion. If possible, take a look at the handiwork that the repair person did for your source.

- Talk about money up front. Get specifics in terms of fees and payment. Does the repair/crafts person charge by the job or by the hour? It is easier to gauge the price tag with a per completion cost agreement. It may sound like you're getting a great deal if they charge a low hourly fee, but if it takes them three times as long as the next person, the charges will add up. If they aren't sure how long something will take and only will accept the hourly wage, think long and hard about running an open ended tab. Who knows how high the final tally might end up?

- Do get more than one estimate. Price shouldn't be the only consideration, but it is one of them. Also notice whether the bid is given in a timely and professional manner. This will tell you a lot about his or her work ethics.

- Don't think every handyman is male. This occupation should actually be called "handy person" because there are many competent repair and craft persons who are female.

Don't:

- Don't pay them everything up front. It's customary to pay a down payment on the day that they start the job, something in the middle and the bulk at the end of the job. If you don't hold out the carrot for the end of the job, satisfactory completion may never occur.

- Don't accept a verbal estimate. Be sure that everything is done in writing. A written estimate is your contract and you won't have a leg to stand on without an agreement on paper.

- Don't hire a handyman without a license for crucial building components such as plumbing, electrical and roofing. It is important to select a highly skilled and experienced professional who is licensed with the Board of Contractors whenever dealing with the installation of plumbing, roofing and electrical.

- Don't forget to thank your handy person for a job well done. A verbal thank you, gifts of food while he or she is working and prompt payment will all show your appreciation.

A house should be well maintained in order to retain its property value by employing a handyman or handy woman.

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Landscaping and Lighting to Quickly and Easily Increase Curb Appeal

[ad_1] A large proportion of home buyers choose whether or not to look inside a household or take it seriously based on its curb appeal. The curb appeal of a residence is the look many people look at when they drive by or come along for a showing. You actually can help be certain they want to come inside your house hold by just spending some energy working on the its landscaping visual appeal. Producing a pleasing front yard with the use of landscaping can subtly alter the all round feeling given by your property, making it a good deal more inviting and comfortable for your possible home buyers and your family. Even in daunting economic settings, an attractive, well-tended front yard can promote the selling price of your residence up-wards. When prospective buyers show up at your real estate for a viewing, the look of a enjoyable lawn will completely set them to thinking about 'coming home' to your residence. It is actually hard to look at your own household in the equivalent way that possible home buyers do, because when we become familiar to the way your home looks and functions, we are unable to see its faults. Decide right now to give up thinking of the residence as a household. It is a house-a commodity you intend to put up for sale for the highest dollar attainable. The next time you drive home, stop across the avenue or significantly enough down the driveway to get a decent view of the house and its setting. Just what is the original impression of the home and yard area? What are the finest exterior qualities of the household or property? In what way can you further enhance them? Just what are the undesirable exterior characteristics of the residence or lot? How can you minimise or upgrade them? Build a checklist of the trouble areas you identified. Tackle clean up and maintenance jobs initially, then set aside some time into projects that make the yard more desirable. Wipe out mold and mildew on the property, sidewalks, roofing, or driveway. Put away unnecessary garden accessories and gear. Thoroughly clean home windows and gutters. Pressure wash unclean house siding and run down porches. Tidy up sidewalks and take away plants growing between concrete or bricks. Trim the grass. Dispose of weeds. Rake and dispose of leaves, whether or not your yard is wooded. Trim tree braches that are near or touching the house's roofing. Perform your curb appeal activity over again at sunset, simply because it is not unusual for potential home buyers to cruise by homes in the evening. One quick way to enhance evening curb appeal is by working with illumination. Set up landscape lighting not only increases curb appeal but it also can make you property less dangerous and boosts home value. Landscape lighting need not be luxuriant or expensive to generate a remarkable effect. String low voltage lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and around significant landscaping components. Include a ornamental street light fixture to a front porch. Make sure that lighting is visible through front gates and windows increases the home's appearance. Now there are occasions that bringing elements to your landscaping can improve curb appeal, however there are different circumstances when doing away with something is much more productive. Most buyers cannot visualize adjustments, and generally will not likely take a 2nd look at a residence if the first look doesn't appeal to them. Potential home buyers who can picture modifications, and are well prepared to make them expect you to cut down the price of the residence to make up for the labor they plan to complete. If you brainstorm, you'll discover that there is a alternative to most troubles-one that lets you keep within your price range. The trick is to find the areas where enhancements are needed, then work on them as best you can. Things you need to keep in mind are the total of space available, the height of walls and keeping path ways and window locations clear, as well as the time of year, weather situations and color combinations. It doesn't matter what plants or flower you consider to place in, whether it is flowers to cover ground, foliage to fill space or vines to climb walls, it will almost certainly boost the value of your home by far more than the cost of the landscaping alone. Fort Worth Real Estate [ad_2] Source by Alexander Chandler https://1home.streamstorecloud.com/landscaping-and-lighting-to-quickly-and-easily-increase-curb-appeal/?feed_id=37440&_unique_id=648cea3ee07d4