Home repairs, home maintenance insurance or you got a guy ?

[COcheesehead]

DW and I bought out first house together before we were even married. It was a 1926 bungalow with lots of character and lots of work. I asked her early on if she could help with the yard work, her response was “sure how many bids should I seek?”. She won that one.

Today, I got a guy for almost everything. It feels nice. We’re not moving.

 

[skyking1]

I'm still a guy. When I can't climb ladder safely I'll get a guy.

 

[ransil]

I'm still too cheap , I do do crappy work a lot cheaper .

 

[Fermion]

We have always been self supportive at the homeplace. But I am now leaning towards paying someone to do stuff I can't.... My biggest issue is I did it to last.... hired folks do it for a dollar....

I am kind of like this too. Since we built our home entirely by ourselves, I know all the plumbing, electrical, roofing etc. We even put in the rebar in the footings after I compacted the soil and we installed a lot of drainage so I know we won't have foundation issues. One day something will fail though and like old medic, I will be thinking the job should cost $50 when it probably normally costs $500 or more.

 

[Surewhitey]

I only defer the major electrical and plumbing. The rest is mine at the moment...

My skills end with cleaning home to DW's liking, so we got a girl for that (down to every other week now). Probably will go away once we go full time RE...

 

[jazz4cash]

I'm still a guy. When I can't climb ladder safely I'll get a guy.

I got to that point a while back and after nearly falling I took a close look at my ladder,8 an old wooden one I had taken from a friend’s trash pile many years ago and put some braces on it. It got so wobbly it was like walking a tightrope. I just needed a new ladder! I still hate anything over 7 ft.

 

[skyking1]

I got to that point a while back and after nearly falling I took a close look at my ladder,8 an old wooden one I had taken from a friend’s trash pile many years ago and put some braces on it. It got so wobbly it was like walking a tightrope. I just needed a new ladder! I still hate anything over 7 ft.

This 24' is a fargin bastige to erect by myself. I can do it, but then I take a break before climbing it.

 

[Gallaher]

I’m the guy. Have owned several small acerage properties and always been the guy. Will move when I’m not the guy.

The poll pisses me off!
“That is why we have kids”. NO IT IS NOT!

Struggling with FIL and MIL now. They are 92 and 87.
Expect their kids to do it all while they refuse assisted living.
Do it all as in laundry, yard work, house cleaning, cooking, shopping, “go pick up my prescription”

 

[zinger1457]

I do most myself, hired an electrician to install a subpanel and a plumber to swap out the main water shutoff valve. That's about it for outside help for the last 15 years.

 

[38Chevy454]

Another one here that does almost everything myself for now. If I get a project like roofing or similar, I will pay to have it done. At some future time I will probably need to pay for more assistance.

 

[old medic]

I'm still a guy. When I can't climb ladder safely I'll get a guy.

I'm nearly at that point. Part physical part mental.... I have hundreds hours of working at heights, Climbing trees, ladders, ropes for high angle rescue. After my over the edge fall I cant hardly stand on the edge of my tailgate, let alone climb up on our roof...

 

[Koolau]

I'm still a guy. When I can't climb ladder safely I'll get a guy.

I quit (real) ladders in my 50s. As Dirty Harry said: "A man's got to know his limitations." Sad but true.

I hope you're still up to ladders in your 80s!!

 

[MC Rider]

I'll hire a guy for more things as needed. No on the home warranty thing. The seller paid for one for a year when we bought the place. We had 3 or 4 issues and each time their guy did not want to come out, and after a while they said you find a guy and we'll pay up to $x. Each problem took longer than needed to fix due to this, and the last thing they stonewalled us and never paid for the replacement fridge.

 

[Original Wally]

I have always done everything.
Built our house (Only subbed out the Sheetrock and tap/texture). Built 20X40 workshoop, etc.

NOW @ 72 I am more selective. I do what I can, and hire the rest. We are in a 55+ community with a good bulliten board listing good people. I do what I can not JUST to save $$, but because I truly ENJOY doing things. Shrug.

 

[skyking1]

I posted in the BTD thread that I am considering hiring the floor job done. I have too many other things to do that don't require so much lower back action.

 

[Pointby2]

We do almost everything now but slowly are finding a guy for most repairs. When we can't do basic stuff like change light bulbs or batteries in the smoke alarms we'll move.

 

[Out of Steam]

I quit (real) ladders in my 50s. As Dirty Harry said: "A man's got to know his limitations." Sad but true.

I hope you're still up to ladders in your 80s!!

I'll still climb a ladder to clean gutters on our one story house and garage, but gave up transferring from ladder to roof in my late 50s.

 

[skyking1]

I'll still climb a ladder to clean gutters on our one story house and garage, but gave up transferring from ladder to roof in my late 50s.

The new house is grand.
1) there is nothing in the gutters. The fir needles don't reach, no leaves.
2) I can shoot a hose at the West wing gutters from above.
3) I can reach the upper gutters from the 3rd step of one of these from the decks and just hit them with a hose to rinse out the pollen and dust.

 

[mountainox]

My DW and I moved into a CCRC almost two years ago. I was raised on a farm and DIY is in my blood. I don't miss the ladder work or the lawn maintenance aspect of owning a home. We have a program at our CCRC called "Handy Helpers" that I volunteer for on a regular basis. The duties involve include hanging pictures, assembling Amazon purchases, fixing computers and programming TVs for other residents.

It's been a great release for my DIY DNA and I've quickly gotten to know a great many of the fine folks that live in my community.

 

[Mark1]

We do much of the work around our house/yard simply because it is easier to preform ourselves, rather than contract it out. However if I can easily buy/manage the service, I'm getting better at just spending the money. For example, I was at the river supply store yesterday to re-confirm that I don't need to unzip my new inflatable kayak and dry out the inner tube areas throughout the year. The gal said "Nope, only dry/clean it once a year prior to winter". Although, this is a service they don't do, I was able to get a business card of a local guy that does inflatable repairs that will likely perform this service for me. Jackpot! I'm sure driving to drop-off/pick up my kayak is way easier than me messing with this task. Same with bike maintenance, I'm willing to lubricate my chain and adjust my mirror, but that's about it. Anything else and I just take it to the bike shop. I already decided, that the next time we visit my out of state BIL, I'm taking him my bike repair stand.

 

[FIREd]

I already live in a condo so I only have to worry about maintaining the inside of my home. My condo is small enough that I should be able to maintain it myself well into old age.

 

[frank05]

My father did it all including electrical, heating, plumbing and minor roof repairs. When he died, I found he had no service people in his address book. Had to establish all these connections remotely when emergencies cropped up. Establish these connections now and don’t leave it to your spouse.