Advice for the
weekend warrior
When the snow melts in the spring, many homeowners look
around their property with renewed energy and see a number of projects that
need attention as the days get longer and warmer. Whether it be painting a
fence, replacing some windows, rebuilding a deck or installing flowerbeds, it
is all bound to cost money before it gets done.
Anyone who makes their living in the oil patch knows that
when there’s time for these projects, there usually isn’t money. And when
you’ve got the money, you are working and don’t have the time.
Spring break-up
is a great time for that “honey do” list, but when your work is shut down with
no definite date of return, it can and should be a time of conservative
spending.
Of course, not everyone is putting in the extreme hours and
distances of the oil patch workers. If you work a nine to five job with
weekends off, the last thing you might want to do is get home from work and
change out a toilet, or spend your weekend off struggling with a home repair.
And then there’s the farmers. Making hay while the sun
shines is more than just an expression. It’s a way of life. Those jobs around
the house, no matter how big or small, have to wait until the cows are out to
pasture, the crop is in, the haying is done, and the list goes on. When there’s
a break from the most urgent work there are still fences needing mended,
machines needing serviced, and probably some tinkering do in the shop.
You get
my point.
What everyone has in common is that home and yard
maintenance often gets left until the last minute. And when it does, it can
cost significantly more to do when you are unprepared and disorganized.
Gathering the supplies to do a job around the house or yard
can take as long as the job itself. Also, trying to purchase the necessary
tools and hardware at the last minute is bound to cost more—if you can find it
at all. Save yourself a headache by making some lists and shopping around. This
can not only make the job go more smoothly, it can also save you time and
money.
Prioritize
When deciding what jobs to tackle at your next opportunity,
prioritize the most vital ones and leave the cosmetic touches for later. Yes,
it would be nice to get that fence painted, but if you have a drip somewhere
that has the potential to become a costly, inconvenient emergency, deal with it
first. Once you have a good list itemized from most important to least, you can
begin budgeting and pricing out materials for all of what you need.
Organize
At some point, most everyone has been caught off guard by
the price of materials when they start a project at home. You can lessen the
sticker shock, though, if you do your homework and call around for quotes on
supplies. Whether it’s lumber or windows, a large price difference might exist
between stores. Leaving your shopping for the weekend, also, might greatly
increase your costs if some of the competition is closed. Make the effort to
shop during the week if it will save you a great deal of money.
Likewise, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Check
out kijiji and online trade and sell groups before you pay full price at the
hardware store. Know your prices and decide if used is right for you. As well,
consider listing anything you want to get rid of. That lime green tub, toilet
and vanity combo you hate might be the retro look someone is going for.
Get your supplies and tools ready for when you have time to
tackle the job. If that basement bathroom reno is waiting for a day of rain,
have everything on hand if at all possible. Don’t spend your precious day off
rounding up the necessaries.
Lastly, know when you’re in over your head. There are many
home repairs and renovations that need to be up to code. Don’t create issues
that will cause you, or a future buyer, costly problems down the road.
Nothing is more frustrating than realizing you have overpaid
for things. When it comes to home maintenance and repair, you already don’t
want your free time taken up with difficult and expensive extra work. Do your
research. Figure out ahead of time what it’s going to cost. Set money aside for
the project, then do your shopping, and tackle the job in a strategic way.
Getting the most urgent tasks off the list will leave time for the cosmetic
ones, and maybe even some rest and relaxation when the list is completed.
No comments:
Post a Comment