I am blessed to get leads regularly. I visit prospects several times a week, and I can easily classify them into several buckets. In this article, I am talking about preventative maintenance space that allows someone to, for whatever reason, not deal with things until they become overwhelming.  I would say unsafe is the line for most folks.

Where Do You Draw The Line

When it comes to pain, I liken it to an ingrown toenail. It comes on so slowly that you can take it up until it becomes distracting. If left unaddressed, it becomes debilitating. I know you know what I’m talking about.

Home ownership has some downsides; this is a biggie. Houses are being priced out of the market for young adults who are choosing to rent and let others deal with the hassle of maintenance.

There is also a group of homeowners who bought at a good time and have a good interest rate, who are being shocked at the prices to repair,  maintain, or try to improve their homes. I have compassion and empathy. The family budget takes care of everything else. Let’s see, vacation or water heater replacement? Tough call! Emergencies like a flood or fire get everyone’s attention, but it is the less preferred path than, say, replacing a 20-year-old water heater before it causes a flood.

I understand the temptation to call the “truck with no name” contractor. Often, shortcuts are taken. Imagine your surprise when a shower fails on the second story after your tile guy leaves town. It seems the more rules and regulations that are required… the more resistance is felt, and the more covert remodeling is done.

Without all the experience, you could reach a dead end and still not solve the problem. This is where a trusted advisor comes in. Here is a classic example that just happened. A client was complaining that their house was not cooling down. They contacted an HVAC contractor who serviced the unit, changed filters, etc, and gave the unit a clean bill of health. Always willing to sell, they offered her a larger replacement unit for a bunch of zeros after double digits. I checked the attic and found no insulation to speak of. New insulation and viola. Problem solved and comfort restored.

Having a trusted family contractor addresses all of these issues. I am proud to say that this company thinks like I do.  Have the work done by folks who know what they are doing, and get the necessary permissions/permits to do the work. They follow the rules, use the right equipment, and follow assembly procedures to make a long-lasting improvement.

Things Have Fallen Apart, And We Are Desperate

I hate coming to the rescue after all options have expired. Ok, I lied, I love coming to the rescue. The point is that maybe we can help spot or solve several problems that could save you a small fortune. Maybe something can be ignored, or maybe a simple fix now prevents a disaster later?

Over The Line

• Intolerance of the lack of functionality and the safety threshold has been met in many situations I have been involved in. Here are a few samples.
  • I once remodeled a bathroom for a client who had to step over a hole in her floor to get into the shower. The rotted boards fell away, and the crawl space several feet below was visible.
  • I once remodeled for a client who had a frightening toilet in the middle of a one-lightbulb basement room, which had tiny earthworms floating in it.
  • I once remodeled for a client whose garage failed over time because supporting boards had been removed. “Well, they didn’t seem to be serving any purpose, plus they were in the way.”

Where Does the Money Come From to Fix It?

It comes from all those years of not spending a dime on your home. So, as the saying goes, “Pay me now, or pay me later.” Sometimes it is fair, and sometimes a punishment tax needs to be paid. When something fails and is ignored, then other things fail downstream. This is the punishment.

How Can Levco Help?

We often advocate for you and share our special lending institution relationships that we have developed over the years. We often provide plans and specifications to make their work easier for the lender to say yes. Of course, you’ll ultimately need to pay it back.

Normally, the equity you have in your home is what you can borrow against, which makes the most sense. Probably the most powerful thing that we can offer is value engineering ideas for the design and for the finish materials that you select. Faucets, for example, can sell for $50 to $500, and they essentially look and work the same. When funds are tight, I like to suggest a means of prioritizing how to direct the funds.

Pearls Of Wisdom We Espouse

1. Reversing negatives of your home being the highest priority, (making things work that don’t)
2. Preventative maintenance (it is cheaper in the long run to replace a roof before it leaks). Understanding that roofs, like everything else, have a life expectancy.
3. Proactive things like creating an addition. (Staying within the envelope of the home is the best value.)

In Closing

I am not a nagging parent, I am a realist, I am ready and willing to be a part of the solution if that is what you are looking for,… As Woodie would say, “You’ve got a friend in me.”

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, click here to email me directly, or call 208-947-7261

If you or someone you know is considering remodeling or just wants to speak to a trustworthy remodeling contractor, please contact me. You’ll be glad you did.