drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:
 ·wavebroadband
|  Tasks the Average Homeowner Should Do
I've been meaning to post this here for several weeks, but it's hard for me to admit I should've never bought a house in the first place. My wife and I barely lived in an apartment (and never a house) for a year before we were in our own home. (Financial decision and problems aside, it seemed like a good idea at the time...)
I'm a terrible DIY-er, but part of being an adult and a homeowner is doing things that you aren't necessarily any good at, but chugging through and gettin' 'er done. Obviously there are times when a professional is needed, such as electrical work or lots of plumbing, etc.
What I'd love to see from the very knowledgeable here is a compendium of tasks that every homeowner should do on a regular basis, and even some that only need to happen every X number of years. I think we can leave stuff out like "mow the lawn" or "trim the hedges" but everything else is fair game (I'm thinking gutters on up).
--
Come play Mafia! | My Picture Blog |
|
tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
 ·Hollis Hosting
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·Fairpoint Communic..
| I think that is an impossible list to compile. I'd phase your request a little differently.
What are you comfortable doing, what is a stretch and what is out of the question?
How dangerous is the job?
If you take on a job and fail what is the ramification? Given the savings of doing it yourself even if you fail on occasion you are still money ahead.
Are you interested in doing this kind of stuff, or would you rather pay someone to do it? Not everyone is cut out to be a handyman.
Start small an build up your confidence. None of us were born knowing how to build/fix/break stuff. Check out local junior college see if they have any relevant classes.
/tom |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:
·wavebroadband
| I'm talking routine maintenance, not expansion or necessarily "make it nicer" tasks.
I'm sure there are things regarding systems (be it heating/cooling, electrical) or otherwise that someone should be checking something on, I'd imagine.
I've read posts in this forum (and the automotive one) on and off for months and often see "I can't believe no one has checked _________ in the last __________" (insert noun in first blank and time period in second) posts often.
--
Come play Mafia! | My Picture Blog |
|
valvoj
join:2002-01-23
Cicero, NY | reply to drew
I'm a recent homebuyer. My home inspector gave me a great Home Maintenance checklist printout that I'm sure you could find similar on the 'net. It breaks up each season and things you should check in general. |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:
·wavebroadband
| That's definitely a good primer (and I should've thought of that in all honesty).
But have you come across anything that's not on the list that you've found should've been?
--
Come play Mafia! | My Picture Blog |
|
Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs:
| reply to drew
This is a good list to follow, till you figure out your own home's intricacies. |
|
StepR
Code Warrior
join:2000-11-06
Elgin, IL | reply to drew
Change furnace filters (1-6 months, depending on type)
drain bottom gallon from hot water heater (1-3 months)
tighten door knobs, oil hinges
walk perimieter and look for cracks
clean oven
caulk windows before winter |
|
cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·Comcast
 ·Optimum Voice
| reply to drew
I've been a homeowner for just over 1 year, basically rebuilt the house with help from my wife (mostly for painting and patching walls).
We only hired contractors for installing central HVAC system, upgrading electrical panel (licensed electrician was required), refinishing the hardwood floors (I did 1 room myself but renting inefficient tools was a killer - although I'm happier with my results than with contractor's...) and installing granite countertops.
However, all the rest, from plumbing to walls, replacing doors and trims, new electric circuits, carpentry, tiles, kitchen cabinets... was done by myself. Maybe I'm just handy.. dunno... it takes me more than it would take for someone who does it for a living (I like being as close to perfection as possible), but the results are way better and cheaper.
And then it's mowing, cleaning the pool, blowing leaves.. but those are "no brainers". I believe anyone should be able to replace an outlet or switch, fix a leaky pipe, patch a wall, paint... especially since no expensive tools are required even for a one-time job. |
|
SparkChaser
BURY BECK
Premium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| reply to Warzau
said by Warzau  :This is a good list to follow, till you figure out your own home's intricacies. That's a good list. The furnace/AC filter is one a lot of people don't do and is important (assuming you have hot air heat). |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:
·wavebroadband
| reply to cowboyro
I've patched a wall (dog damage), and painted our living room. Brown does not work on walls folks. Not unless you've got killer lighting.
I think I'm more worried about missing the tell-tale signs or even not checking for tell-tale signs of major problems that could be prevented.
--
Come play Mafia! | My Picture Blog |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | reply to SparkChaser
I've got baseboard heating... any maintenance on those? |
|
Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs:
| reply to drew
said by drew :I've patched a wall (dog damage), and painted our living room. Brown does not work on walls folks. Not unless you've got killer lighting. Brown works well, you got to make sure you use grey primer. |
|
cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to drew
Most book stores or home centers with have more then a couple general How-To books. They aren't contractor-grade how to build a house from the ground up books (although they have those too), but rather things that every homeowner should know how to do.
I would strongly suggest investing the $20 or so and getting one. In it will have most of the common things that you might come across in owning a home. It won't cover trivial things like "Hey, it's fall. Rake your leaves", but it have less common things like how to fix a clogged drain trap, or spot grub damage to your lawn, etc. |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:
·wavebroadband
| reply to Warzau
This wasn't a tan, it was a brown. The people who painted had some really stellar lighting in the room (though no over head, only floor lamps) so it worked for them, however it was dark and dreary without their lighting. White it is now 
--
Come play Mafia! | My Picture Blog |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | reply to cdru
Do you have any you'd recommend? |
|
tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Hollis Hosting
·Verizon Online DSL
·Fairpoint Communic..
| reply to drew
said by drew :I've got baseboard heating... any maintenance on those? Probably want to vacuum them before the heating season and remove any dust bunnies. Changing filters is a good idea. If you have a humidifier check it and renew element if needed.
/tom |
|
N10Cities
SILENCE I Keel You
Premium
join:2002-05-07
Roland, OK
clubs:
·Cox HSI
·World Lynx
1 edit | reply to StepR
said by StepR :Change furnace filters (1-6 months, depending on type) drain bottom gallon from hot water heater (1-3 months) tighten door knobs, oil hinges walk perimieter and look for cracks clean oven caulk windows before winter The above list is good for starters...also:
If on septic system, flush a scoop of Rid-X down the toilet once a month to keep the bacteria strength up in the septic..especially if you do lots of laundry. The soap will kill the bacteria and the waste will not break down properly.
If you have gutters, make sure they are cleaned regularly. |
|
Jeffrey
too dark too early
Premium
join:2002-12-24
Dix Hills,NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
·Verizon FIOS
·Vonage
·magicjack.com
| reply to drew
It's a tough list to compile as tschmidt said. The PDF posted a few posts above is a nice start.
Like you, I'm a new homeowner--not quite a year into it yet. I think one of the big things to understand is that you have to know your house. Just the little quirks--once that's down, you can see what problems really are there.
One thing on my list soon (after all the leaves have fallen) is to get the gutters cleaned of debris. Getting the sprinklers turned off tomorrow, and this weekend I'm going to drain the outside water faucets until the spring.
Every 2 weeks or so I do a walk around the house - inside and out - to notice any changes.
--
"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs: | reply to tschmidt
I don't possibly know where any filters would be on these things. |
|
drew
Reformation
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Port Orchard, WA
clubs:
·wavebroadband
| reply to Jeffrey
We rarely get below freezing for any length of time, but last year was an exception. We had a major problem with doing laundry on the 3rd day with snow on the ground (I think the return for the washer had frozen up...)
But how does one drain the outside water faucets?
--
Come play Mafia! | My Picture Blog |
|
