TIPS
Time = Money…Big Time Savers:
- Have a list of tasks.
- Make work area ready.
- Buy your own items or materials (additional charge may apply to cover procurement of items and materials).
- Ask us about Smart Home Utilities Monitoring Solution. You’ll be able to control all electrical and water flow in your house from your phone. 24/7 Alerts you to leaks and mechanical problems. Average total cost including install +/-$600. Pays for itself many times over.
If it’s Only One Big Job Hire a Specialist:
- If you have one big job hire a company that specializes ONLY in that. Example: If you need a lot of fence put up then hire someone that does just that, if it’s only a few sections then handyman will be good. Keep in mind that companies that specialize in one trade and do big jobs have a minimum to even start a job. They are not interested in small jobs, even if they say they are. So to fix a gate they may charge you $500 when a handyman might charge you $250. Bear in mind that sometimes there’s too much liability/ time/ effort in getting something repaired/rigged, so replacement might be best.
If it’s Many Big Jobs Hire a General Contractor.
Hire Companies Directly:
- Chances are that you won’t get the best value when you use big-box stores installers (Georgia couple sues Home Depot, claims contractor botched home renovation project) or a third-party “marketplace” (Comparison) . Those middle-men are getting paid to provide you that service (We’ve seen their cut be up to 33%, simply for bringing two people together). You’re gonna pay more or the contractor is gonna get paid less than they should. The contractor needs to stay profitable so he will 1) pay his technicians less and/or 2) hurry to get the job done fast. You don’t want an underpaid technician in your home and you don’t want someone that’s interested in getting in and out as fast as possible. We inform you of this because a few of our clients hired us after they had a bad experience with big-box stores installers or a third-party “marketplace”.
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SMALL Winter tips for BIG savings!
1) Draft Blockers/Snakes (can save 5% to 30% of energy use!)
2) Replace or Clean Furnace Filters (it depends on the filter, inhabitants and a few other factors that we can explain to you when you inquire, but maintenance is recommended once every 30, 60 or 90 days)
3) Running Ceiling Fans in Reverse. Some ceiling fans come with a handy switch that reverses the rotations of the blade, this circulates warm air that naturally goes up and brings it down to the living space.
4) Lower Water Heater Temperature. Many water heaters are set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but your house might work just fine at 120 degrees. This could lower heating cost by 6% to 10% and the occasional scalp burn!
5) Weather Striping and Caulking Windows and Doors (can save 20% to 50% of energy use!)