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Each season Mr
Handyman is asked to complete repairs on some of our best customer’s homes. Many times these repairs could have been
avoided and even eliminated if the maintenance had been completed the season
before. It does not take long for minor neglect
in the maintenance to turn in to a huge repair issue. I know I may sound like a broken record to
many of you that read this monthly column but the savings is so significant you
should at least try it.
Here are just a
few examples where the neglect of the maintenance has cost the homeowner in a
huge way:
Case #1
Neglected Windows
In June 2012, a
long-standing customer of Mr Handyman had us out to clean his gutters. While there we advised him about some rot
starting around a lower section of a large bank of windows. It was estimated at the time it would cost approximately
$450 to cut out the rotted wood and perform the maintenance on the rest of the
window area. The minor repair would
extend the life of the windows for another 10 years or so.
In the fall of
2013 this customer called and asked that we complete the $450 job but it had
gotten a so much worse. After inspecting
the bank of windows with almost a year and a half of further deterioration it
was determined the windows needed to be replaced at a cost of $3850.
Maintenance
$450 Repair $3850 Neglect cost $3400
Case #2 Pressboard
Siding
In April of
1012 Mr Handyman was at a customer’s home repairing a few missing shingles. While on the roof we noticed some minor wood
rot where the chimney chase meets the roof line. We quoted this homeowner $328 to cut out the
small amount of rot, replace it with like material and cover it with a trim
board. This customer stated she needed
to discuss it with her husband and would be calling us back.
She called us
back but not until the spring of 2013 and stated there was water leaking into
the living room near the chimney. It was
determined that the rotted siding had gotten so bad that a hole the size of a
cell phone was allowing rainwater into the home and down to the living room ceiling. The total cost for the siding and ceiling
repairs was $1785, which was not enough to meet her insurance deductible.
Maintenance
$328 Repair $1785 Neglect Cost $1457
These are just
two of the many, many examples of repair costs that could have been avoided
with routine maintenance. If budget and
costs keep you from having the maintenance completed where will you find the
funds for the eventual repairs? In most
cases I think people forget about the maintenance or simply do not have the
time or expertise to get it done.
Sign-up to our
annual maintenance program to ensure it gets done. Gain some peace of mind. Our motto is “Spend hundred$ now in
maintenance or Thou$and$ later in repairs.” Call 402-502-5212 for details.
