topic Re: repairs needed live alone in Home

repairs needed live alone

pattiewaddle — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 17:22:20 GMT

I live alone now and need some repairs inside the home. Husband always handled this and now that he is gone I have to.I feel so lost making these decisions as can,t really afford some of the ones we used before...having repair men in and being alone bothers me.....family lives out of town so its just me.....neighbors all work and only at home at night....I know I need your advise .Thanks so much.....

Re: repairs needed live alone

lolakimono — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 17:23:39 GMT

@pattiewaddle

Have you tried HomeAdvisor or Angie's List to find people?

Re: repairs needed live alone

tends2dogs — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 17:28:11 GMT

I feel for you, @pattiewaddle. My husband handles all this either by lining up repairmen or doing it himself.

I have to recommend HomeAdvisors. We have used them several times and have never been disappointed.

I hope you can get the affordable and reliable help you deserve.

Re: repairs needed live alone

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 17:38:37 GMT

I would still ask some neighbors, either for help or if they know someone that they recommend. Also, if you are a church goer, you could ask your pastor, lots of times the men at church are more than willing to help.

When you do find someone ask a girlfriend/church member, etc to be at your house when the repairs are being done.

If you use the Home Advisor or Angies List to get recommendations I doubt very much if you would have anything to be afraid of.

Good luck

Re: repairs needed live alone

RedTop — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 18:39:20 GMT

@pattiewaddle,

Also, if you have a Senior Center in your area, you could call them for information, and possible assistance. Many seniors in my area of southern WV receive assistance for home repairs thru a state run program.

Re: repairs needed live alone

geezerette — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 18:45:20 GMT

@pattiewaddle

Being a recent widow myself, I can commiserate with you. My husband also used to handle all our repairs. Even if he couldn’t do them himself, he dealt with any repairmen. Now it’s all up to me. Fortunately, one of my very good friends is a contractor, so he does a lot of things for me and if he can’t do them himself, he knows reliable people to send.

I would echo the idea of asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. Don’t be afraid to mention your concerns about finances and being alone with a repairman. Oftentimes a neighbor can do small things for you, or may have another friend or relative that can. Also, check the local repair businesses in the yellow pages or their websites. Some will offer senior discounts. Most places that are genuine business operations will have employees that can be trusted. And again, when calling, tell them your situation and don’t be afraid to ask about cost. Many times once people know you are a widow, they can offer more than one solution to your problem for different prices.

Unfortunately, sometimes you just have to try a few different places or people. I try to use the same places my husband did. And you may have to pick your priorities. I have a lot of repairs that need doing around my home that are going to stay undone as long as possible. I don’t plan on staying in this house forever and don’t want to put a lot of money into it now. I’m putting up with things that just a few years ago I never would have dreamed of accepting. Also, I have to try to not be so critical of the repairs. Nobody does things like my husband used to. He spoiled me.

I feel for you, @pattiewaddle. It’s just one of the many things that we have to accept as our new reality. I’ve found that while a lot of people are considerate and understanding of my new situation, others will definitely take advantage of me. I try my best to avoid those, but sometimes I have to write them off as a learning experience.

My sympathies for your loss. It’s hard.🕊🙏

Re: repairs needed live alone

Nightowlz — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 19:15:54 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
I would still ask some neighbors, either for help or if they know someone that they recommend. Also, if you are a church goer, you could ask your pastor, lots of times the men at church are more than willing to help.

When you do find someone ask a girlfriend/church member, etc to be at your house when the repairs are being done.

If you use the Home Advisor or Angies List to get recommendations I doubt very much if you would have anything to be afraid of.

Good luck

@Imaoldhippie

ITA. I would not just let anyone in my house to do repairs.

Ask your neighbors if they know who could do the repairs for you.

Re: repairs needed live alone

GCR18 — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 19:21:01 GMT

My mother is in the same situation. She won't let service people in if I'm not there. We schedule work when I visit. She has grandkids in the area, but that's another story. I have a couple ideas for you.

Are you on Facebook? There is a site called nextdoor. It's a site that connects neighbors. You can ask does anybody have the name of a reasonable plumber, etc. I found a 13 year old a couple streets over to mow my mother's lawn. It was all coordinated through his mother. I

Another resource is angies list. I found a fellow on there to regrout my mother's shower. You pay on the website, so no money is exchanged.

Also, Amazon has services. Type home services in their search bar. You Also pay on the website. I hired a guy to put in a job at my house.

Re: repairs needed live alone

Snowpuppy — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 19:30:05 GMT

What types of repairs do you need?

Re: repairs needed live alone

VaBelle35 — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 19:34:12 GMT

My development is on Nextdoor.com and it is a great way to ask neighbors for recommendations.

Many times, the people who do this work are actually my neighbors. I have a master plumber next door to me and a licensed electrician one block over. There are probably 20 general contractors who can do everything and come in a range of prices.

Angie's List and Home Advisor are good for larger companies, but for smaller, single person general handyman types, there usually aren't any people local to me.

Re: repairs needed live alone

grandma2pkmh — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 20:03:52 GMT

@pattiewaddle I also suggest you join Nextdoor.com.(Free) I also live alone and I understand your concerns. Neighbors are a great source for getting the best repair people. Also at Nextdoor.com it's not just people who live close to you but surrounding areas also.

Re: repairs needed live alone

RetRN — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:09:31 GMT

I learned of a local handyman through word of mouth at my exercise class. He is very nice and his prices are fair. He has replaced my smoke detectors, installed a tub/shower grab bar, painted front door, done trimming of shrubs and a tree, done landscaping, repaired a squeaky door, got rid of an old dehumidifier for me, and oiled my garage door opener. I'm so glad I found someone who is honest and reliable. He really loves what he does and is very neat.

Re: repairs needed live alone

geegerbee — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 20:16:09 GMT

I am in your same boat. I needed a roof replaced and new bathroom. I asked my local lumber store for suggestions. I wouldn't recommend Home Advisor. I was referred to 2 of their recommendations and they were way higher than the person I contracted with.

The advice of nextdoor.com is also very helpful.

Re: repairs needed live alone

shaggygirl — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 20:31:32 GMT

Same boat here. I have 2 sons and one is my IT go to person but as far as repair stuff goes, pffft, just no talent in that area. The other son works almost 7 days a week and has his own home to tend to so I only ask when I 100% need to. Seems every other week it's something, WITHOUT FAIL. Something falls apart, falls down, stops working, leaks, peels, squeeks, craps out......whatever. I'd move to a condo but the thought of what it would involve gives me more anxiety than having to deal with the constant needing of some fixing of something.

Re: repairs needed live alone

kivah — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 23:47:55 GMT

@pattiewaddle

I'm alone as well. For the last year, I made a list of things that needed repair. I'm on nextdoor dot com and asked my neighbors to recommend a handyman. One woman recommended Daniel and I called him and he came over and gave me an estimate. A couple of weeks ago he came over with his brother. Daniel is also a licensed contractor.

He unclogged my stall shower, unclogged one sink in master bath; cleaned out all the sinks and tubs in my house; removed and replaced 2 furnace filters; oiled my garage door (I thought I needed a new door); polished all my faucets; caulked downstairs tub and kitchen sink (and grouted the tile counter around the kitchen sink); fixed the right handle on large oval bathtub which was dripping (a plumber messed it up last year); he cleaned all the vents in my house - and vacuumed the large open area above each one; adjusted the latch on my master bedroom door (never closed properly).

Several months ago, I had him paint my upstairs bedroom/bath. So when it was time to pay for this job, he reduced his price by $85. as I've gotten him customers on nextdoor. He charged me half of what I expected - and he and his brother were AMAZING!!!! I posted this information on nextdoor and got him several more customers.

I like this site as these are all people in my community - and the neighbors recommending service people - have already used them. If ur not on nextdoor - I highly recommend it. It's been a lifesaver for me (literally). Two years ago, I was in a lot of pain with diverticulitis and my doctor wrote a prescription to be picked up at Walmart. I wasn't able to leave my house and I posted my need on nextdoor --- and 5 minutes later, a woman living on the next block came over - and picked up my prescription. Several other people also offered.

If this doesn't work for u, check out Yelp. I've found several very good service people on there. Read the reviews!!!!

Re: repairs needed live alone

kivah — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 22:07:22 GMT

@lolakimono

A neighbor called Home advisor since she had a few sprinklers that needed to be cleaned out. She doesn't have sprinklers in her backyard - and the guy charged her $200 (exhorbitant). I guess the worker has to pay them.

Re: repairs needed live alone

lilypadfrog — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 22:33:44 GMT

Pattiewaddle, I live alone too and my paranoia about having strangers in my home knows no bounds. I looked at Homeadvisor but didnt like the fact that they gave my name, address, phone to repairmen before I could decide who to hire. I would get 3 or 4 calls from people before I had a chance to even look at reviews. I used to belong to Angies List but I just dont trust them anymore. So, I added the Nextdoor app on my tablet. Yes, its gossipy, full of lost cats, but there is a spot for your neighbors recommendations of repairmen. I found a handyman through this app about 2 years ago. He lives less than a mile from me and has stopped by to change filters or lightbulbs I cant reach for no charge since he says he can just stop on his way home. He has also done tile work, painted, hung up ceiling fans and updated my shower etc. So check out Nextdoor.

Re: repairs needed live alone

AuntG — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 22:41:29 GMT

Luckily, we get a small town newspaper that serves a city of 5000 people. There are ads for handymen and painters that I've used. In a small town, everybody knows each other, so elderly people are not as likely to get "taken" because bad entrepreneurs are weeded out quickly.

Re: repairs needed live alone

Daysdee — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 23:07:28 GMT

I'm in the same situation too. My DH could do everything. I have no sons, brothers, etc. I have learned to do a few easy (and safe) things, but I rely a lot on a local yahoo site where people in the neighborhood ask about finding a painter, etc. and others recommend who they have used. That works out well. Also have a friend in the neighborhood that is alone too and we share information of people/services we have used and if they are good. It's not easy, but once you find someone (especially a general handyman) it will make you at ease. I did try one of the sites where they find someone for you. A guy came out the same day, but I wasn't impressed and felt the price he quoted was way too high.

Re: repairs needed live alone

LilLadyNJ — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 00:48:52 GMT

I used Angie's list. I would recommend reading reviews and contacting them via email to ask if they are available and if they provide the services you need. I would also recommend getting multiple estimates to do the work. I had to find someone to trim the trees in my yard earlier this year and you wouldn't believe how very different the estimates were for the same work.