#1863269 - 09/07/23 04:48 PM
The first stage of home repair
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flatcat
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 07/11/01
Posts: 29061
Loc: Westborough, MA, USA
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I have a small project to attend to. We have like a drawer that holds our trash and recycling bins in the house. The sliders on one side came out. So I want to fix them.
I have since been reminded of the first stage of doing home repair, regardless of the size of the repair:
1. Go to the hardware store of your choice.
2. Spend 40 minutes looking around.
3. Find what you're looking for.
4. Buy it.
5. Go home, then realize it's the wrong size/color/measurement
6. Go back to the hardware store and return it.
7. Buy what you believe to be the proper size.
8. Get it home and unwrap it and look at the instructions.
9. Learn that actually, you had the right size the first time.
10. Also learn you need another part to properly complete the job.
11. Go back to the hardware store and try to return the item, but because you wrecked the packaging, they won't take it back.
12. Get the size you thought was the wrong size.
13. Realize that they don't have the other part you need.
14. Go back home.
15. Try again next week.
I think, if I remember, the next step is:
16. Say "Fuck it" and call your friend who is a contractor.
Edited by flatcat (09/07/23 04:49 PM)
_________________________
The internet, and the whole technology sector on which it floats, feels like a giant organ for bullshittery—for upscaling human access to speech and for amplifying lies. - Ian Bogost
Professor Truth T. Sweetness says,"Mind your manners!"
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#1863271 - 09/07/23 05:08 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: flatcat]
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Timster
Artist #'s - 130, 298, 412
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 03/06/03
Posts: 42609
Loc: Center of the Universe
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My son in law and I always always end up making 3 trips to Lowes for any project.
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#1863273 - 09/07/23 05:21 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Timster]
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pbrowne
Planeteer
Registered: 06/11/99
Posts: 6309
Loc: Loveland,CO,USA
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when i was younger and could work on my car i did exactly the same thing at the auto parts store.
the only thing i ever did correctly was go to the liquor store and buy a case of mechanic's oil (beer).
_________________________
Send two dozen roses to Room 424 and put "Emily, I love you" on the back of the bill. Groucho Marx
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#1863280 - 09/07/23 06:09 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: pbrowne]
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Popmann
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 05/23/02
Posts: 32549
Loc: Twangville, TN
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Yeah. It's funny--Ms Pop and I will be discussing some needed repair (or "upgrade")...and I'll say "set aside the whole day for that..." and she balks--"cmon, that shouldn't take more than an hour or two, right?"
...insert me explaining what you just listed out. SURE...an hour if I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING...and thus had all the needed parts/tools on hand.
Luckily, there's an Ace 3min and a Lowes 6min from the house. I would change the wording of #2 to "try to FIND the thing you're looking for"--the way you put it sounds like me going to the record store for a new release and spending 40min "looking around" while I'm there...
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#1863286 - 09/07/23 06:50 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Popmann]
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flatcat
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 07/11/01
Posts: 29061
Loc: Westborough, MA, USA
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Actually, Jamie, I stand corrected. It's spend 40 minutes looking around (only if your partner goes with you). Then spend another 40 minutes looking for the part you want.\
We went there and saw the new washer/dryer thing, looked at some plants, walked around the area that has like furniture moving stuff, etc etc etc. Then we started looking for the drawer thingie.
I love mrsflat, and I will say I am not above oohing and ahhing the 9' tall mummy they had at Lowe's which moves when you activate it, that shit was 100% fun. But ... yeah.
_________________________
The internet, and the whole technology sector on which it floats, feels like a giant organ for bullshittery—for upscaling human access to speech and for amplifying lies. - Ian Bogost
Professor Truth T. Sweetness says,"Mind your manners!"
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#1863289 - 09/07/23 07:26 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: flatcat]
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Popmann
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 05/23/02
Posts: 32549
Loc: Twangville, TN
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Ha. Making me feel lucky that Ms Pop considers all of the above “my job”….we have a leaking old faucet that I’ve explained I can replace —unlike another in an older section of plumbing that “fuck no I can’t—we’re hiring someone”…but I want her to pick out the replacement hardware.
Still dripping.
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#1863338 - 09/08/23 03:02 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Popmann]
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Timster
Artist #'s - 130, 298, 412
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 03/06/03
Posts: 42609
Loc: Center of the Universe
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Lowes is our go to for gardening, yard, wood, hardware.
Home Depot, which is out here, but maybe not in your srea, is my go to for all tools, and tool accessories. I am a huge Milwaukee too fan.
In Minnesota it is Menards all the way or maybe fleet farm.
I like ace, but spendy.
Edited by Timster (09/08/23 03:02 AM)
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#1863342 - 09/08/23 03:29 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Timster]
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ulank
Forbidden 404 Not Found
Planeteer
Registered: 02/03/08
Posts: 19705
Loc: Chicago, IL
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Word flat.
I think I’m done with Home Depot. Their product layout is stupid and it’s so large it takes forever to get in and out even if you know where you’re going.
Quality is also crap. I bought a bunch of hoses and sprinklers in the spring in hopes of being able to set up a semi-automatic sprinkler arrangement for the garden and lawn I overseeding and every hose I bought is total shit and I only got one functional sprinkler out of six. 
Menards seems to be slightly better and Loews is good for some select stuff as well but seems pricier than HD and Menards.
I have a true value close by that I frequent for basic shit. It’s more expensive but I always see the same employees there and they’re beyond courteous and helpful.
We were looking for a rototiller in the spring for the garden since I’m getting old and at risk of having a grabber if I try to turn over the whole thing with a shovel like I’ve always done. Ended up at an Ace Hardware in town that was under new ownership/franchisee.
Found a Stihl lightweight rototiller with wheels that made the spring tilling easy peasy. Again, probably pricier than elsewhere but the staff was super helpful, willing to assemble for free, and just really nice people.
We ended up getting the already assembled shelf model, which they said they just put on display that morning, and hauled it up front behind the registers while we shopped for other stuff. Then they loaded it in the car while being careful not to damage it or the car and extremely polite the whole time. One kid helping us was home from college and he was so nice and helpful he almost gave me hope for the future of humanity. Almost.
Still, the semi mom n pop places seem to rule, barring them not carrying as much stuff, especially lumber, as the big boxes, which invariably forces you to go to a big box shop. 
_________________________
Dismiss me at your own peril.
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#1863348 - 09/08/23 04:31 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: ulank]
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Xenophile
Planeteer
Registered: 09/27/00
Posts: 18435
Loc: Sacramento, CA, USA
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And the final stage is when you say “Fuck it,” take all the stuff back to the hardware store and call the competent handy-man that you should have called in the first place.
_________________________
"Bobby, I'm sorry you got a head like a potato. I really am."
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#1863357 - 09/08/23 05:35 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Xenophile]
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Tao Jones
Planeteer
Registered: 06/13/00
Posts: 14647
Loc: CA
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I have a decent clue how to build and fix things, a blessing and a curse.
Nearest hardwares are about 40 minutes.
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#1863368 - 09/08/23 10:09 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Tao Jones]
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SkyWave
Planeteer
Registered: 10/15/12
Posts: 14480
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Ugh. Seems that every home repair takes me and the husband twice the money we had estimate and three times the time we had allotted. I would like to just be able to hire pros to do all repairs and things like cleaning the gutters and trimming trees, all the awful side effects of home ownership.
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#1863388 - 09/08/23 03:10 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: SkyWave]
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Marty Gilman
Official Planet Sax Monster - Planeteer/Artist # 117
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 04/05/00
Posts: 26135
Loc: Palm Beach, Florida- U S A
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Thanks for the read in the inside, I have a few home repairs to attend to myself, one of which is beyond my skill. I will keep all this in my mind as a engage in my projects.
-m
_________________________
Can you play that an octave louder?
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#1864384 - 09/16/23 08:04 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Marty Gilman]
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Timster
Artist #'s - 130, 298, 412
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 03/06/03
Posts: 42609
Loc: Center of the Universe
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Son in law.and I went to lowes today, only one time and bought way to much stuff. lol
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#1864419 - 09/17/23 04:08 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Timster]
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Popmann
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 05/23/02
Posts: 32549
Loc: Twangville, TN
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Just because I complained on this thread….I had to be proven wrong as I replaced out kitchen faucet last weekend without any issues OR a single trip to the store (ms pop ordered the unit from amazon)….
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#1864420 - 09/17/23 04:15 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Popmann]
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pbrowne
Planeteer
Registered: 06/11/99
Posts: 6309
Loc: Loveland,CO,USA
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actually, i just changed a couple of locks in our house w/o a trip to the store or any problems. it's a miracle i tell ya.
_________________________
Send two dozen roses to Room 424 and put "Emily, I love you" on the back of the bill. Groucho Marx
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#1864474 - 09/17/23 04:56 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: pbrowne]
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Doofie
Doofie
Planeteer
Registered: 04/04/02
Posts: 13987
Loc: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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There is almost nothing in my century old house that I haven't fixed, or replaced, or filled/sanded/painted. And I've gutted about half of it. Not bragging, not complaining. It's just what I do.
_________________________
"On religion, the common man finds it to be true,
the wise man finds it foolish,
and the wealthy man finds it useful."
-Seneca The Younger ~76AD
I'm David McMillan. My friends call me Chuck.
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#1864480 - 09/17/23 05:50 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Doofie]
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Timster
Artist #'s - 130, 298, 412
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 03/06/03
Posts: 42609
Loc: Center of the Universe
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Our house was built in 1903. I feel ya.
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#1864481 - 09/17/23 06:13 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Timster]
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Marty Gilman
Official Planet Sax Monster - Planeteer/Artist # 117
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 04/05/00
Posts: 26135
Loc: Palm Beach, Florida- U S A
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We have a handyman coming over for an estimate today. That first.
Just hited him fir $25/hr to do tile work, minor plumbing, granite countertops repair. Smart move.
-m
_________________________
Can you play that an octave louder?
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#1865088 - 09/24/23 12:44 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Marty Gilman]
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Ismellelephant
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 07/10/01
Posts: 52217
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That is why I hire no one for anything that isn't dangerous, like a new roof. Pex made plumbing even easier.
If you own a house, it will become the poor house and there are plenty of people willing to help a person achieve living in a poor house.
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Archie Bunker was a lawyer.
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#1865091 - 09/24/23 05:42 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Ismellelephant]
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ulank
Forbidden 404 Not Found
Planeteer
Registered: 02/03/08
Posts: 19705
Loc: Chicago, IL
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Word.
I either first try to do it myself.
Or if it’s beyond my capabilities I reach out to my uncle for help and we collaborate together on the best solution for my given situation and we work together to do it right.
Absolute last resort is some shmuck off the street because that rarely ends well.
_________________________
Dismiss me at your own peril.
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#1865098 - 09/24/23 12:47 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: ulank]
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pbrowne
Planeteer
Registered: 06/11/99
Posts: 6309
Loc: Loveland,CO,USA
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i'm lucky to have friends and former band mates who are contractors - they have great contacts and experience to help us avoid the pitfalls of home repair.
_________________________
Send two dozen roses to Room 424 and put "Emily, I love you" on the back of the bill. Groucho Marx
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#1865111 - 09/24/23 05:07 PM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: Marty Gilman]
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Ismellelephant
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 07/10/01
Posts: 52217
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This reminds me of auto repairs. A tune up and the plugs used were $3 when they really cost $1. It seems to be accepted practice in the auto world? The flipside of this is when I have a mechanic work on my 67 Mustang, he has me buy the parts lol.
_________________________
Archie Bunker was a lawyer.
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#1865152 - 09/25/23 12:40 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: ulank]
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Ismellelephant
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 07/10/01
Posts: 52217
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Next time I go out for a burger, I'm bringing my own ground chuck.
_________________________
Archie Bunker was a lawyer.
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#1865155 - 09/25/23 12:51 AM
Re: The first stage of home repair
[Re: ulank]
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Wish
🌴 VSP Moderator 🌵
Planeteer
Registered: 09/09/00
Posts: 10890
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Well to be fair regarding material here’s an example. My neighbors garage door crapped out a few years ago. He called up a repair service, dude came out and did the repairs. As part of the repairs he gave them a new keypad. I asked my neighbor how the repairs went. “The guy overcharged me!” “What do you mean he overcharged you?” “He put in a new keypad and charged me $120 for it. I can go to Home Depot and get one for $60.” And I thought…but you didn’t.  It is totally not unusual for repair folks to upcharge for material because they have to a) buy the shit in the first place and b) keep it in inventory which is both an asset and a liability until it’s out of their inventory. They gotta take the risk that they may buy something and won’t use it on a job for X number of months so they’ve sunk the cost into it and have nothing to show for it for who knows how long. So. I totally get why they up charge for material and it doesn’t strike me as them screwing over customers. If you want to pay cost, go shop for the materials yourself. 
Or they buy the parts after coming over and looking at the job. No inventory. No carrying costs.
Go to Lowes, buy the parts needed for the job, and triple the cost billed for parts.
I understand some of the price inflation, as the guy is spending time buying the stuff, and time is money, so they should be compensated for that, but sometimes the price inflation on parts is a bit extreme.
Getting a written estimate is always a good idea, instead of a kind of loose verbal agreement with a handyman on the scope of the work and the ultimate cost.
YMMV
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