Home Repair
What Is Home Repair?
Repair and maintenance can overlap when we talk about the home. I define home repair as the extended absence of basic maintenance on the systems and components that make up your home. Repair and maintenance is not limited to inside the home, it encompasses the entire property.
Maintenance is replacing that gasket in the leaking valve under the sink. Repair is what is required as the result of additional damage caused by allowing that leaking gasket to drip for years; which has caused a rotted floor, softened joist and the ceiling below to collapse.
Repair is required when the tree branched rubbing against the roof for the last year have worn a hole in the asphalt shingles.
Home repair is important to maintain the equity in the home and prevent the possibility of injuries, law suits and costly repairs. Home repair is also timely. The longer repairs go unattended the more complex and more expensive the project becomes. Ignoring a repair could also lead to additional problems such as termite, ants and other infestations such as mold for example. |
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What I Do
I identify the underlying cause of an issue, then present options for repairs. I can help identify the correct and qualified companies to make repairs. I can write the agreement with each vendor, set the standards and services expected, validate they are insured or licensed, perform interviews, take estimates and then make recommendations on who to use and why. (See Qualified Contractors)
Often clients are not sure who to call for help. One client called in a landscaper because his lawn had died out in the back yard. The landscaper was happy to sell his services. The old lawn was tilled over and new sod was laid. A few months later, the new sod had died and the landscaper replaced it. The following spring the sod was dead again. I was called in and determined that the lawn was dying because the water softener backwash, which contains high concentrations of salt (brine), was pumped on to the lawn. To repair the problem, I recommended and designed a leach tank for the back wash. The system was installed, the top soil replaced and new sod put down.
Examples
In another instance, the client called me in because he was getting ground water in his basement and had an idea of how to fix the problem, but wanted another option. I took some topographical readings around the client’s home and found a simpler and inexpensive way to divert the ground water.
Another client was getting water in the basement along one wall. The client called a wet basement specialist who recommended painting the basement wall with a masonry sealer, which the homeowner did. I was called in several months later when the water problem got worse. I provided a written report indicating why the masonry wall sealers are 99% ineffective. In addition, I found that an underground downspout drainpipe had been broken in the yard from a tree that had been planted several years earlier. Repair of the drainpipe corrected the wet basement problem.
Another homeowner was having basement water problems and was told by a company specializing in basements water issues that a French drain and sump pumps were required and the price was nearly $10,000. I found that rather than pumping the water out of the basement, we find a way to keep the water from getting into the basement. The project cost $3500.00
Services I Provide
Home Huggers Consulting is for people who love their homes. My business is all about helping people take care of their most prized, loved and expensive possession. Often I find that people just need a little advice, sometimes they need instruction and sometimes they need more help.
- I can assist you with any particular problems you are currently experiencing in the home. Perhaps you would like another opinion or someone to help with options.
- Identify defects or deficiencies I inspect all systems and components within your home, and on your property, including landscaping, outbuildings, and recreational facilities. Identify deficiencies, make appropriate recommendations to repair defects and deficiencies, provide estimate life expectancies, provide advice and make recommendations to keep your home in excellent physical and financial condition
- Approved contractors A list of pre-approved contractors can be provided for your consideration. These professionals have passed my qualifications (see Qualified Contractors) For those maintenance jobs or duties, you wish not to take on yourself. .
- Contract negotiating. Assist in the design of repair contracts with vendors and contractors.
- Follow up. Inspection of any work performed by contractors to ensure it meets expectations and contract stipulations before final payment is made.
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