When you run into home repair and maintenance issues that you either can’t handle on your own—or simply don’t want to mess with—how do you go about finding and evaluating all the care and repair companies in the Seattle area? Actually, finding local companies to perform maintenance and repair is pretty easy. There are lots of them online and in the phone book. But how do you evaluate which one is right for you? Here are a few things to consider.
Experience: Make sure the repair and maintenance company you’re considering has been doing this kind of work for a while. A tough economy has forced a lot of people who used to do something else into other fields of work. Just because somebody was “handy” around his house, doesn’t mean you want him doing significant repairs around your house.
Reputation: Find out who your potential repair company has done work for in the past. Get references—and check them out. Sometimes people recommend someone who is a friend rather than because they’re good. Talk to someone who has actually had work done and see if they were satisfied. A company that can’t (or won’t) provide valid references shouldn’t be considered.
Bonded and Insured: Don’t get yourself into a situation where you could end up in legal trouble. Make sure your contractor is bonded and insured. If a contractor can’t show you evidence it’s a risky proposition. If he gets hurt on the job, you could end up paying for his injuries.
Go with Your Gut: This is a pretty subjective way of evaluating a company—but it’s valid. If you simply aren’t comfortable with someone, you probably ought not to have them doing repairs in your home. You don’t have to be best friends with them or share their taste in music or literature. It doesn’t really matter if you’re a Seattle Seahawks fan and they’re not. That’s not important. The big question is whether or not you trust them in your home. If the answer is no—even if you can’t put your finger on why—keep looking.
There are home care and repair businesses in the Seattle area that will do a good job for you. Just make sure you select one that has the experience, the reputation, the reliability, and the character you can trust.
What else is important to
you in selecting a home care and repair company?
We’ve been doing home maintenance and repair in the Seattle area for a long time. And we’ve noticed that when it comes to home maintenance and repair, there are generally two reasons why people do it themselves. One reason is that they genuinely enjoy working on their homes and like the sense of accomplishment doing small repairs gives them. As Martha Stewart might say, “It’s a good thing!”
The other main reason people strap on their tool belts and plug in their power saws is because they want to save money. That’s not a bad thing, either. Who wouldn’t want to save money? There are times, however, when our attempts to save money actual cost us more. And it usually comes down to two simple things: Equipment and Expertise.
Equipment: There are a lot of simple home repair jobs that can be done with a basic toolkit. You don’t need to hire someone to tighten a few bolts or screws. There are some jobs, however, that are really hard (if not impossible) to do without the right equipment. And if you try to make the repair without the right tool, you’ll end up with a result you’re not happy with. The problem you’re trying to fix may end up worse. And if you’re not careful, you can even hurt yourself by using the wrong tool.
One solution is to purchase the tool you need. But specialty tools can be expensive. And if you only use that tool one time, it’s a pretty lousy return on your investment.
Expertise: Sometimes even having the right equipment isn’t enough. Some repairs require a fair amount of knowledge and experience. Sometimes the real problem isn’t what you see on the surface. But if you don’t have the experience or expertise to diagnose the problem you can “fix” what seems to be the problem—only to find out later that you didn’t really fix it at all.
Even if you know what the problem is—and have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done to remedy the situation—it may take you a lot longer to fix the problem than someone who does this everyday for a living. Then there’s the issue of confidence: Did you fix it properly? Will your repair last? If you have to keep repairing something, are you really saving money?
If you have the tools you need, the know-how required, and the desire to get your hands dirty—by all means go for it and make those repairs. But don’t let the possibility of saving a few bucks get you into a situation that could cost you big bucks down the road.
Maintenance and repair of your home protects your single greatest investment and makes your home a more comfortable, enjoyable place to live. But even homeowners that take good of their homes with regular maintenance can find themselves facing a tough decision: When does it make sense to repair and when does it make more sense to replace?
It would be nice if there were a simple formula that you could use to determine when to repair something in your Seattle-area home and when you should bite the bullet and replace it. Part of the reason that there’s no formula is that there can be several factors that influence that decision. Let’s look at a few.
Financial factors: The first factor that comes to mind for most of us is the financial impact that repairing or replacing will have. Repairing is often less expensive than replacing something—at least initially. Some things do wear out, however. Water heaters, appliances, roofs, floors, and HVAC systems will all wear out over time. At some point the cost to repeatedly repair an item can actually exceed the cost to replace it. If you have to do major repairs to your furnace for several years in a row—it’s probably time to replace it. Plus, you may enjoy energy savings that will help offset the initial cash outlay.
Comfort factors: Sometimes repairing part of your home still doesn’t give you the comfort you want. Will you be happy with windows that work—but don’t work well? New windows that keep out heat and cold will make you more comfortable (and will reduce your heating/cooling bills as well). A water heater that heats—but takes forever to deliver hot water and uses a lot of energy is no great bargain.
Resale factors: You may not be thinking of selling your home anytime soon. But by periodically upgrading certain features in your home, you’ll improve your chances of selling when it’s time—and you get to enjoy the benefits in the meantime.
Safety factors: There are times when the biggest concern isn’t what something will cost, but whether your family’s safety is at stake. Replacing an older roof with new fire-resistant materials protects your family—and it just may lower your insurance rates at the same time.
There may be no magic formula for determining when to replace rather than repair. And sometimes repairing is the right choice.
Give us a call at 206-824-8001 or shoot us a note. We’ll be happy to help you think it through.
OK! Here we are at the beginning of a new year—and you’ve resolved to tackle all those nagging home maintenance and repair jobs this year. But when you look at your “To Do” list, it’s starting to look a little bit like War and Peace instead of a short list of simple tasks. Maybe your “Honey Do” list looks a little bit like this:
- Clean and replace bathroom grout
- Clean out gutters
- Install grab bars in showers
- Fix leaky kitchen faucet
- Repair screen on sliding door
- Install new shelving in bedroom closet
- Lubricate garage doors (need more than lube?)
- Repair fence
- Install new locks on all outside doors
- Paint hallways
- Install new sink in downstairs bathroom
- Build ramp to back door
. . . and that’s just the first page!
You may find yourself asking: “Why am I doing this?” The answer to that one is pretty easy: It needs to be done. If you want to protect your investment and enjoy living in your home, you’ve got to take care of it.
Maybe you should be asking” “Why am I doing this?” Are you really saving money by doing all these tasks yourself? Do you have the right tools to do the job right? Do you have the skill and experience to fix it right the first time—or will it need to be “fixed” again later? Will you be happy with the result? And just when are you going to find the time to do all these things?
Problem is, where can you find someone in the Seattle area who you can trust to take on these tasks? Our family has been building custom homes and doing renovations in the greater Seattle area since 1909. One of the reasons we’ve stuck around is that people trust us with their homes. But we do more than just build homes—we’re also experts at home maintenance and repair. We’ve got the skills, the tools, and the time to tackle even your ever-growing “To Do” list.
Give us a call at 206-824-8001 or visit us at
www.PowellCareAndRepair.com to find out how we can whittle your “To Do” list down to size. (And just think about how much you’ll be saving on Post-it Notes!)
If you’re a homeowner you’ve heard the exhortations to protect your single largest investment. You already know that properly maintaining your home is crucial to protecting it’s value. But when it comes to maintenance, many homeowners wrestle with making the decision about whether to repair or replace items. Those items could be appliances, or heating/cooling systems, or even elements of the house (such as flooring or windows). Which makes more sense: Repairing or replacing?
Financial experts frequently cite what’s known as the “50 percent rule” to help homeowners facing this choice. What they mean by that is that if the estimated cost for a repair is 50 percent or less of the amount you paid for the item it generally makes more sense to repair it. Bear in mind, however, that this “50 percent rule” has been around a while. The cost for some consumer goods has dropped since their original purchase (particularly when you adjust for inflation)—while costs for some repairs have increased. It might be more helpful to think in terms of using 50 percent of the replacement value—rather than the original purchase price.
On the other hand, some things actually appreciate in value. If you have some handwork in your home (built-in cabinets or something else that is hand-crafted), it may actually be more valuable now—or in the future. That would be something that you’d want to repair—even though it might be “cheaper” to replace it.
One of the biggest repair-or-replace items to consider is your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Because replacing the HVAC system (or even part of it) is a major expense, most of us want more information before making the leap on that. Energy Star has a helpful checklist that can help you make that decision.
If you’re not sure about things like windows, floors, trim, or siding, it’s a good idea to check with a reputable professional. Once they take a look at your home and the items in question they can help you think through the solution that fits your needs—and your budget the best. If you have questions about whether you should repair or replace, give us a call at (206) 824-8001 or shoot us an email. We’ll be happy to help.
If you own a home in the Seattle area, you surely have a “Honey Do” list of projects around the home waiting for your attention. And if you’re like most homeowners, that list keeps getting longer—instead of shorter. You should just grit your teeth and tackle that “Honey Do” list once and for all.
Or should you?
Maybe there are good reasons not to tackle some of those home-improvement projects. Let’s face it: Not all of us are the handyman type. Some of us just don’t enjoy taking on home-improvement projects. And beyond that, “improvement” may not be exactly the right word to describe the outcome of even our best efforts.
There are actually some good reasons not to do some home-improvement projects. Here are just a few:
You don’t have the right tools: Some projects simply require specialized tools. Attempting to fix something without having the right tools is a recipe for disaster. Not only will it take you longer, but the end result will be less than you hope for. But do you really want to go out and purchase a special tool you’ll only use once?
You don’t have the right skills: Even if you purchase a reciprocating saw or an impact drill—do you really know how to use it? Experimenting with a new tool in your living room may not be the best plan.
You don’t have the time: Maybe you can buy the equipment you need and learn how to use it. Do you have the time to do that and do the project? A skilled craftsman can probably do the job better—and faster than you can. And you won’t have to put up with the mess as long.
You don’t want to risk injury: Some home-improvement projects are pretty simple—and safe. Others may involve a bit of risk—particularly if ladders or power tools are involved. Unless you’re really comfortable in those situations, you may want to leave those tasks to someone who does them all the time (and who is insured if he or she is injured).
You can’t afford to do it yourself: This probably seems counter-intuitive. The main reason people do home-improvement projects themselves is to save money. Are you calculating the cost of purchasing tools to complete your task? What if you mess up (hey, you don’t do this for a living) and have to do it over? What’s the cost of that? And finally, what is your time worth?
If you enjoy home-improvement projects, are reasonably handy, and have the time to tackle them—have at it! But if any of the reasons above resonate with you—you may want to bring in a pro. If that describes you,
we’re here for you!
You may have chosen to live in an older Seattle area home because you like older homes. Not everyone equates newer with better! And if you have a penchant for homes with an older character, you probably aren’t looking to turn your bathroom into a modern spa. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore your bathroom. You can still make it more comfortable, cost-efficient, and better looking—even if you don’t plan to gut it and rebuild it. Here are a couple of things you might want to consider.
Tile That Makes You Smile: Let’s face it, sometimes your tile makes you grimace. Especially after you’ve been through several rounds of cleaning and bleaching and scrubbing the grout and re-calking—only to have that nasty black mold reappear a short time later. You may be facing a more serious issue. Even though the surface of your shower wall may appear to be waterproof, water can get behind the tile and rot the wallboards. And not only does that look ugly, it can indicate the presence of toxic mold that can be a serious health issue. If you’ve repeatedly scrubbed and cleaned—only to have the mold reappear, you probably need to replace your wallboard with waterproof material and then re-tile. It’s the only way to eliminate what could be health-threatening mold.
Stop Flushing Your Money Down the Toilet: There are parts in toilets that simply wear out. But even when you replace those parts (like the worn out flapper), you still may be left with an older toilet that was designed to use a lot more water than current commodes (Some older toilets use as much as six gallons per flush). Newer toilets are required to use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. By replacing your old toilet with a new one, you’ll not only save money on water, but you’ll have a smaller impact on the environment. If you like the look of your older “throne” you may be able to retrofit it with a conversion kit.
Get Your Mind in the Gutter: Obviously there’s more to maintaining an older home than taking care of the bathroom. One area of home care and repair that homeowners tend to overlook is maintenance on their gutters. Gutters that aren’t properly maintained can cause some serious problems. Water that doesn’t drain away from the house can collect around the foundation and find its way into your home (And in case you hadn’t noticed, we tend to get a lot of rain in the Seattle area!). A home maintenance professional can tell you whether you’re looking at a simple fix or whether your gutters have given you all they’ve got and should be replaced. The good news is that once you replace them, they should last for 20 to 25 years.
Have questions about any of these areas? Give us a shout at (206) 824-8001. We’ll be happy to talk you through your questions and provide you with helpful information.
Not everyone who lives in an older Seattle area home is looking to move into a newer residence. Some of us like the look, feel, and style of houses that have been around for a while. On the other hand, older homes can present certain comfort and financial “challenges” that shouldn’t be ignored. And no matter how well built a home is, some things just wear out over time. If you’re essentially happy with your home—and aren’t looking to do a major remodel—what key areas you should focus on? Here are three projects to consider to ensure your comfort and safety—and to protect your investment.
Restore the Floor: If you have hardwood floors, there is a good chance that they will last a long time. Some hardwood floors can last up to 100 years! But even if your floors are in good structural shape, they may not look great if they haven’t received the proper care over the years. You may have a couple of options for doing this. Surface sanding and sealing with polyurethane is relatively inexpensive. Some floors may require a deeper sanding and staining first. You’ll be amazed at how a refinished floor will give your home a whole new fresh look. And it will preserve your floor for years to come.
Establish a Closed Door Policy: Replacing a solid wood exterior door can be expensive. But a good solid wood door should last a long time. Over time, however, your front door may not seal as well as it once did. While your door may last as long as your house, the weather stripping won’t. That’s the first thing you should check (and probably replace). But sometimes even well made doors can sag over years of use (houses do shift). You may need to re-hang your door. And in severe cases, you may have to replace the door with something that does a better job of keeping the cold or heat out.
Shut the Window on Energy Loss: Many times the look of windows in older homes is a huge part of their charm and appeal. But that charm can wear thin when the energy loss through those adorable windows hits you in the wallet (not to mention the lack of comfort they can cause). Is it really that big of a deal? Some studies suggest that 25 percent of a home’s heating costs, and up to 40 percent of the cooling costs are due to energy escaping through windows. Repairing damage to the sash, adding new weather stripping and adding storm windows can significantly improve your windows energy efficiency.
Stay tuned for more ideas on ways you can
repair and care for your older Seattle area home. If you have questions or would like more information about the topics covered here, give us a call at (206) 824-8001 and we’d be delighted to help out!