Spring into action with home repairs

Spring is my favorite time of year. The grass is green, flowers and trees are blooming, and Mother Nature is coming out of hibernation. It is fantastic—until you do that first real walk around the house. Those rose-colored glasses quickly get put back into their case, and reality sets in. You begin to notice the wear and tear the harsh winter weather has had on your home.

This is when the pen and paper come out, and I begin to prepare my to-do lists. It is very easy to become overwhelmed, but there is help out there for you.

Here are some important tips:

  • Analyze your repair needs and make a list focusing on the most important repairs first.
  • Research your repairs. Find out what needs, how it should be done and what can go wrong.
  • Get several bids. Home Repair Resource Center (HRRC) recommends two to three bids per repair. If the prices are comparable, you are in the right ballpark.
  • For major repairs, check out financing options through local banks and agencies, such as HRRC and Cleveland Restoration Society, to help make the repair more affordable.
  • For do-it-yourself jobs that require tools that you may not own, consider renting instead of buying. There are a few local places that rent tools. See if you qualify for HRRC's tool loan program.

HRRC offers a resource library with contractor evaluations and handouts that will help make contracting for a repair easier. Instructional DVDs, videos and workshops are available for DIYers who want a refresher on specific repairs. Stop by HRRC to help take some of the stress off of your “honey-do” list. Then get ready to put your rose-colored glasses back on, grab a glass of lemonade and enjoy the summer.

Allison Urbanek

Allison Urbanek is the financial programs coordinator at Home Repair Resource Center and enjoys working one-on-one with residents to solve their home repair problems.

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Volume 4, Issue 6, Posted 12:19 PM, 06.01.2011