Some tasks need the services of a professional company or a licensed contractor. Other tasks you can do on your own such as home upgrades that look expensive but in actual sense, they are not.
You will realize that paying for home maintenance services is one of the most expensive undertakings you will ever pay for. Did you know that some of these home repairs could be done with little or no experience? If you feel confident that you can handle a task, do proper research on any aspect of the job that you do not understand. A good place to start handling some of these tasks is to visit the nearest home builders shop and ask for a basic toolbox that can handle maintenance services.
Cleaning Gutters
Most homeowners consider this the dirtiest job ever. Leaving them will cause water damage to the roof. Hiring a professional may cost between $100 to $200 which may correspond to the time on the job. However, you can save a lot of money if you DIY and save on time if you have enough experience.
Paint the Home Interior and Exterior
The most convenient way to give your home a dramatic new look. DIY paint jobs can be less costly compared to the average cost of working with a contractor at the rate of $1,800. You need some fundamental knowledge on the best color scheme and supplies that you will work with.
Going about this means removing furniture, cleaning walls and covering all electrical switches and outlets. For the trims and baseboards, use tape. Finally, apply two coats of paint and slightly touch up the baseboards and trims.
The outlook of your home adds appeal and value, the moment you think of a contractor be ready to part with around $2,800 that can increase if you consider the square footage and the number of floors to be covered.
If you spend your time on these jobs, you will save a few hundred dollars by preparing the home before painting the house yourself.
Lawn Mowing and Landscaping
When you decide to work on your lawn by mowing and landscaping, you will not pay the professional and eventually lower your annual utility bills. A smart garden reduces the ecosystem temperature by at least 40 degrees during the hot season.
The cost of planting trees in strategic locations within the garden can go from as low as $100 to as high as $250. Alternatively, you can use a reasonable expenditure to make the yard beautiful at a much less cost and save money and time that could have gone to a professional.
Mowing a lawn means hiring a lawn service on different terms based on hourly rates, monthly charges, or a flat fee. The average cost of hiring a lawn care specialist is about $500. Why not buy the lawnmower and mow it yourself? Who knows, your neighbour may admire your work and open up an extra income stream.
Dealing with Clogged Drain
The average cost of clearing a home drainage system is $209. However, you can clear most of these clogs. Try using the plunger or clean the traps below the sink as you insert a sewer snake down the pipe. However easy the task may look, another option is to use a chemical drain cleaner.
In such cases, saving money means working dirty as long you have the right tools for the job. If none of the above options are working for you, then you could try asking around for professional help from plumbing services such as T.E Spall & Son (https://thecomfortdoctors.com/plumbing-services-in-clarks-summit-pa/). Seeking professional assistance not only guarantees that the job is completed but also ensures that the work is done in less time than doing it yourself.
Fixing New Faucets and Running Toilet
Installing a new faucet is around $245. DIY and use as little as $100, you only need to know how to check the shutoff valves and measure the supply tubes and cut them according to manufacturer instructions.
A large amount of water is lost when you have a running toilet, which automatically adds to the monthly water utility bill. A running toilet is due to worn-out flappers and incorrect water levels. You can skip the plumber’s hourly rate of between $50 and $150 by buying a $5 replacement flapper and follow the manufacturer’s manual. However, you must ensure that the job is done properly, or you will lose the money you attempted to save as well as the repair costs. If you’re unsure how to proceed, you can contact a professional like those at Moffett Plumbing in Westminster.
Installing or Changing Light Fixtures
Changing to new energy-saving fixtures brightens your home while lowering the energy cost as well. Most homeowners prefer to hire someone like this New Canaan electrician who can get the job done as soon as possible, although this will come at a small cost. Of course, it is not a bad idea to do it yourself but make sure the circuit breaker or the fuse is not connected before starting. Remove the old fixtures and follow instructions as indicated for every fixture.
Professional Cleaning Services
Maybe you are one of those few people who does not see the need for spending more than $10 for professional cleaning services. If you have clothing that must be dry-cleaned, you can invest in an affordable dry cleaning kit and DIY at home.
On average online shops, sell dry cleaning kits that come with a booster spray, reusable bags that can clean more than eight garments without losing color.
Pool Maintenance
The cost of pool maintenance will cost you between $100 – $500 per month depending on the location and size of the pool. You can save on this by skimming the surface, vacuuming and brushing, emptying skimmer baskets and bags on your own.
The time taken by professionals is less compared to the time taken by you because they use dedicated tools that offer greater efficiency. If you have the time why not do it and pay less or nothing at all.
Clear a Jammed Garbage Disposal
Before cleaning, a garbage disposal unit, disconnect the power outlet to prevent possible accidents. Instead of hiring a professional, you only need a wrench to adjust the flywheel found inside the disposal unit to loosen it.
To reach anything that is clogging the unit from the top side, remove anything near the top and clear the obstruction. Confirm the working of the disposal unit by connecting power and run water through it to make sure no clog is remaining.
Conclusion
Anything around your home will need some fixing at some point. You also need to face the reality that some tasks are going to require professionals (like the plumbers at https://craftsman-plumbing.com/service-areas/plumbing-services-in-lake-forest-park-washington/, for example) to ensure that the job is done properly so you can get back to normal. However, you can do some other tasks to save money.
By the time you decide to go for DIY instead of professional service, weigh all the factors and time you will dedicate to every task. Also, look at other options like your suitability in handling electrical and plumbing fixtures