Anxiety/Stress in getting the repairs done -

[Sorcerer]

I also think I may even do better work than many "professionals" because I am very picky about the results and aesthetics of the work being done.

This is exactly why I try to do as much as I possibly can myself. No one cares more about your stuff than you. I never half a$$ any diy project. It does take me longer than a pro, but the end result is the same.

For me, that was the best part of home ownership. Learning a little bit from all the trades. Electrical, plumbing, framing, drywall, etc.

 

[Mulligan]

Get multiple bids. Recently had a water heater replaced. One bid was $1600, another was $2000, and the third was $3000. I laughed when the $3000 bid guy told me his bid. Water heater itself was ~$700, so the guy who did it for the lowest bid $1600, which took an hour, still got paid $900 in labor, which boggles my mind.

I'm still young and do a lot of repairs myself, so I really get upset when I hear some of the bids for simple things. I'll often imagine what I would charge for some things and it's way less than what the going rate appears to be.

$1600 was what I paid for a 40 gallon gas water install and takeaway last fall. Called in early Nov to get early in line for a 4 track window system installed for my deck. Converting from a 2 season screened porch to 3.5 season room. I will consider myself fortunate if it gets completed before first of April.

 

[djsander]

We are running into this. It seems a lot of the trades have gone to unit pricing for jobs and away from time and material. The unit pricing has gotten outrageously high. No telling how much behind the scenes overhead there is. And those specialized trucks/vans are probably approaching 70-80k. No telling, but everything seems extremely high and even with three bids no telling which one would do the best job. We’ve had subpar work with contractors that were supposedly really good. Paying a small fortune and its still a crap shoot.

 

[Koolau]

Hurumph! I thought I was getting cheated when someone charged me $250 to install my last water heater ca 2008. After all, the fittings were all in place and I think they might have had to sweat two connections - or maybe just used flex connections - I don't know. Electric HWH are a breeze. I might have tried the install myself if I had it to do over.

They did help me dispose of it (loading it into the back of MY SUV for a trip to the dump).

 

[SnowballCamper]

I hate having work done too. The shortcuts and shoddy workmanship is rampant in my experience. I'm lucky that our original home builder was generally excellent. The small electrical, HVAC, and landscaping jobs we've done since the original build have been disappointing. It's especially difficult for small jobs where it's not even worth the time for a bigger/better outfit to give you a quote.

 

[donheff]

Off-Topic but suggested by the topic:

Young folks (teens thinking about c@reers) should read this thread. Who needs college when there is a world of steady w*rk out there for anyone willing to learn handy-man skills and accumulate a trunk full of tools?

One of my nephews finished college but didn't do well and didn't see much future (this was a couple of years before AI raised its ugly head). He switched over to trades and ended up working for a major electric contractor in our area. Fast forward a few years and he is a self-employed electrician with more work than he can handle. And he isn't worried about AI rendering him redundant.

 

[COcheesehead]

There are contractor referral lists online that have reviews on the contractor. I haven’t used them, but they exist. I have always asked for referrals from people I know in the neighborhood. I usually get a good service provider that way.

 

[Kings over Queens]

I'm less concerned about overpaying. My primary concern is the project or repair being done correctly.

 

[PatrickA5]

Contractors probably hate me. I tend to micromanage - assuming I know anything about the project at hand. I've found that If I'm not out there watching what they are doing, they will tend to cut corners, leave things out, get sloppy, etc. My tree guy keeps telling me he is going to charge double if I "help".

 

[FD1000]

In my experience, the best way to find reliable local contractors is through friends and neighbors. Personal referrals are usually the most trustworthy.
However, that hasn’t worked for long-term; many of the contractors are no longer available or have moved on after a few years.
Another option is using Nextdoor for local recommendations.

Or, you can simply Google the specific service you need and choose a contractor with consistently excellent reviews.

I don’t find platforms like Thumbtack or Angie’s List to be the best option. In many cases, you end up paying more because contractors factor in the platform fees.

Living in a big city is definitely an advantage, there are plenty of options in every category.
The key is to get multiple bids and ask open-ended questions. That’s how you really learn who knows their craft and who doesn’t.

Finally, pay with a credit card whenever possible, even if they charge an extra 3–4%. The added protection is often worth it.

 

[Masquernom]

I had a 50 gallon gas water heater replaced last year for $1,400.

 

[wolf]

Back to OP's original question. Avoid stress and anxiety. Plan ahead. Already have a roofing company, plumber, electrician, handyman, auto mechanics, already found prior to having to need them

I have a couple of rentals. So I am always having repairs done. Some jobs I use my "handyman contractor", expensive but excellent work. Simple jobs I do myself. Same with auto repairs, simple jobs, I do myself.
More complicated or messy, off to my trusted mechanic.

Talk to friends, neighbors, etc, whenever you see a service truck outside their house, or in normal conversation. If they mention repairs, ask them who are they using, how much, quality of work, etc.
This way you are "current" as to cost of repairs and replacements. So no surprise or anxiety as to the cost when you have the same "issue" in the future.

This works for me.

 

[Badger]

I understand the frustration of feeling stressed about being taken advantaged. Compound that with shoddy workmanship and the frustration gets worse. Without any experience in anything other than teaching sciences and creating chemical programs I have done just about all building and repairs my entire life. As I am not too far from 80 yrs my own frame is feeling the years and greatly limiting what I can still do so hiring someone to do a job creates anxiety.
Wolf gave good advice.