Owning a home can be expensive. Beyond just the mortgage payment and utility bills, you are financially responsible for any and all maintenance and repairs. And the cost of hiring a repair person does not always come cheap. Being a new homeowner is already a steep learning curve, but it may save you money in the long run if you commit to learning a bit about how to keep up with your maintenance needs.
Relying on your own skill and knowledge for basic home repairs can be a gift to your finances. Rather than calling an expert for every leaky sink and chipped paint job, you can handle these issues on your own and save on the cost of hiring a professional. Of course, big jobs may require more expert hands, but for your basic home repairs, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to conquer those on your own. If you need more reasons to commit to becoming an at-home do-it-yourself repair person, here are just a few examples of how it can save you some cash.
You have flexibility in paying for repairs.
Once you call an expert, they bill you right there and then. If you chose to handle your own home repairs, they will get done on your timeline. Not only do you have flexibility with time, but with your finances as well. If you need to purchase a new part, you can pick up an extra job or research specific investment opportunities to help you make some extra money. Companies like Yieldstreet encourage alternative investments that can help you quickly turn a high profit without putting all your money into the stock market and big business. If you’re asking is Yieldstreet legit, know it’s a crowdfunded asset-based system that has helped many investors turn a profit. So if you have a maintenance bill coming in, you can plan for that with proper investments and pay for the repairs on your own schedule.
Googling a solution is always free.
In the past, if you had an issue with your home and knew nothing about it, you had no choice but to call an expert. But now, with Google at your fingertips, the solution to almost any problem is available online. You can find straight-forward guides on how to fix a clogged toilet or instructions on how to repair a problem with water heater leaking with just a few quick online searches.
More often than not, the solution is a simple one.
The biggest annoyance is when you spend the money to call someone and the solution they provided was a simple one. Maybe you just had to flip a switch or clean out a part of the machine. Why spend the money on professional help when you could have fixed the problem on your own? Do your research first to be sure the solution actually needs a professional before you make the call.
No one will be looking for extra problems and expenses.
You’ve probably experienced the scenario where a repair person comes in to fix one issue and ends up alerting you to a bunch of other things that need repairing as well. The truth is, those aren’t serious issues, the repairman is just trying to get you to spend more money. If you chose to do at-home repairs on your own, you don’t have to worry about someone pointing out extra, superfluous problems that aren’t really affecting your living situation.
Doing it yourself prioritizes your time, and time is money.
Calling a repairman is typically a full-day affair. You’re given an eight-hour window that you have to stay home and wait for someone to come to fix your problem. Time is money. Choosing to handle these issues yourself means you can do them on your time and not miss out on work or social events while waiting for the repair person to come.
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