A number of people – myself included – thought I’d move when the divorce was final. However, for various reasons I’ve decided not to move anytime soon. Thus, I’m finally dealing with all the repair jobs that need to be done. And not by me. Nor by my not-so-handy-sons. Bless them, they have tried.
I phoned a repairman. Excerpt from our conversation:
RPM: “I’m busy for the next week or so but…
Me: (interrupting) “That’s fine, it’s okay – I’ve lived with most of these problems for almost five years – another few weeks won’t matter.”
RPM: (laughs) “Five years? You’re kidding!”
Me: “Nope – I’m serious. I’ve been dealing with the big ticket repairs – roof, furnace…that kind of stuff.”
RPM: “How many little jobs do you have?”
Me: “Enough to keep you busy for a week – at least. Maybe longer.”
RPM: “Is there anything that qualifies as an emergency?”
Me: “Not that I’m aware of - but you shouldn’t even put that sort of idea in my head.”
It was left that I’d email him a list of repairs, call again in two weeks and hope the house remains standing during that time.
I made the list. I was both astonished and disconcerted as to its length. Worse yet, there are things not even on it – i.e. the driveway needs re-paving.
Does anyone else have a home repair list that could match this one? Am I guilty of horrendous neglect? Should I just open my doors to a dozen or so cats and be done with it?
Or maybe I should move…
THE LIST - click on it to enlarge.
(why is it so faint?)
And, yes my printer needs repairing, too. Some pages come out on a slant – others are fine. Why is that? And why does my scanner scan some pages with big letters and others with small ones? Oh, to be handy and technically inclined…
photo credit: Google images
19 comments:
Hire a maintenance staff!
I kid.
I know what you mean, though. When something needs to be done it IS an emergency. Good idea to to email your repairman a list, that way you can both come up with a prioritized plan. Getting at least some of these done will feel so much better, won't it?
Moving is such a pain and chances are any new place you move to will have a list of maintenance issues too.
At least you know what needs repairing. The genuinely neglectful householder doesn't realise anything is wrong until the plaster starts falling on his head.
You are part of the "norm" I'm afraid. Home ownership is a pain -- it's great but it's constant. Maintenance creeps up on you - we're so busy taking care of all the big things that the little things tend to pile up.
I'm with Trish -- getting most of the little niggling things done will make you feel better and what's the rush to move? Just more expense...in getting everything ship shape to get the best price on what you've got now and then all the other expenses of moving and repairs where you go. Let's face it, you'd want to paint wherever you would go and that's just for starters.
xo
Trish:
Some people think of moving as a great adventure – I think of it (like you said) as a pain. Just imagine packing all the books!
And I love my house...
GB:
I stay on top of things just to the extent that they don’t start falling on top of me. ;)
Sherry:
If I moved, I probably wouldn’t bother getting this place “ship-shape.” In this neighbourhood, it would be a tear-down – prompt a builders’ bidding war!
My list is a mile long too. I try to prioritize it by things that absolutely have to be done like the roof to things I'd really like done but aren't likely to cause major damage if they aren't like the hideous fence around the pool that I have hated since we moved in. But then of course my second last post was about how maybe I'd rather just move than deal with it all.
Looks to me like you own a house! There's always a list, but at least it's your own list and you can decide when to work on it, not like with a landlord.
Cid:
I prioritize AND put things off...
My family moved a lot when I was a kid – I think that’s why I like the idea of staying put.
oreneta:
Yup, I’m my own landlord – and a pretty lax one at that!
moving is a pain. all that packing and unpacking. urgh. well, at least you have a list now, Beth. it's a good start to repairing all that needs to be repaired.
Jaya J:
Making lists creates order from potential chaos – and keeps me sane.
However, this does not translate into getting all items on my (many) lists actually done... ;)
I much prefer denial when it comes to home repairs, that and not being a home owner. Yikes. There mere thought frightens me. It does look like your list is doable, though, especially for someone who'll be taking your money to do it.
xoRobyn
no emergency i can see...
water leaks would be one
- air leaks, tho a pain, can be plugged on a temp basis - just beware they could invite pests, as do water ones [which you don't have]
Will you be angry with me if I laugh out loud at this post? I hope not! Oh my, but this is the common lament of the home owner. And, by the way... I really hope that wasn't a photo of the exterior of the house in question. Unless a homeowner is particularly flush (and if they are, they are usually penny-pinchers anyway) it is the emergency work that gets attended to only. When the roof leaks (and not before when it starts to look dodgy) does it get fixed. Etc. And so I will congratulate you on being a perfectly ordinary, run of the mill homeowner! And I didn't even try to read the list. I was afraid of some items I might see that I should attend to myself! Happy Easter Beth!
Robyn:
I prefer denial, too – as evidenced by the length of my list. ;)
But there finally comes a time...do or disaster...
LW:
Argh! Now I’m going to be looking for air leaks! I KNOW there’s one in the bathroom window.
One of my sons bought me a moisture-detecting thing-mee – which is now one of my most cherished possessions!
The Bodhi Chicklet
Could never be angry with you!
In fact, I’d like to thank you for your kind words – I LOVE being considered ORDINARY when it comes to home ownership and repairs. ;)
And a very Happy Easter to you and yours…
Right now I'm happy to be renting
Since I'm homeless, I'll have to check my tent to see if there's any holes in it.
I find I obsess about the item at the top of my list...once it's done, I move on to the next item to obsess about. It takes work to actually appreciate the item that gets crossed off of the list.
I hope the repairman works out -- that's always my fear...so I tend to focus on the stuff I can do myself. Currently installing quarter-rounds in the basement.
My house is nonexistent but actually getting my landlord to take care of something with my apartment is a pain in the ass all to its own.
I hope your repairman is cute. He's going to be there for a while. :)
You started me thinking about all the little and not so little things that need to be done around my house. It's extensive! Amazing, too, the annoyances we learn to put up with. How the knob hasn't to be turned just so for the dishwasher to switch on, for eg.
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