About Me

HouseDr is a family owned & operated small business fully Liability Insured. With backgrounds in plumbing and real estate and over 25+ years experience in renovations and rehabs, we offer our clients reasonable rates on general home repairs, maintenance and renovation projects. Work done with integrity toward offering an honest days work for an honest days pay.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Gotta LOVE what you're doing!

From whoa to WOW! with just a little stronger paint color and contrasting trim, this house goes from dull to DARING!

The first time we came around the corner, it was easy to drive right past the house without even seeing it!  Light shade of yellow, light colored trim - the owner told us even people who HAD been to the home before tended to drive right past and have to turn around!  AMAZING what the right colors can do for your home!



The beautiful stonework on the front of the house just "disappeared" into the washed out color it previously was.  Now, it stands out and WOWS 'em!  This isn't the first house on this block, but now it's the first one that draws your eye when you come around that corner!

SOMETIMES, ALL YOU NEED IS THE RIGHT TREE COLOR FOR YOUR HOME TO POP!

 
HAPPY FALL YA'LL!
HouseDr
WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS!

Monday, October 1, 2012

It ain't work if.....

If you really love what you do, can it still be called work?

"Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life"

Know who said that?  Confucious.  Strange name, great ideas.
 
I used to have a J - O - B and I was not a happy person.  I was a trapped person.  I was a grumpy person, but I was not truly satisfied with my life.  NOT ANYMORE!  I made the decision to stop having a J - O - B and yes, it was and still is slightly less stable in terms of weekly paychecks.  The payoff though, is that LOVING WHAT I DO means I am satisfied and happy.  Being satisfied and happy with how I earn my living has led to many other very wonderful changes.  Like not being grumpy, or at least not AS grumpy in other areas of my life as well.  Things just don't seem to "get on my nerves" like they used to.
 
Another wonderful side effect has been how it affects the rest of my family.  When I am calmer, my whole family is calmer.  Since giving up the J - O - B there is a new peace and tranquility in my home life.  And I like it!  I sleep better at night.  I'm eating healthier - could that be because food was a "comfort" when I was upset and tense and I no longer am tense, so I don't eat as much bad for my health "comfort" food?  Probably.  All I know is, I'm eating healthier and without dieting or trying, I've lost weight as well! 
 
I'm not saying everyone should become a handyman.  And I'm not even saying everyone should be an entrepreneur and start their own business.  What I am saying is that everyone should make a little effort to find WHATEVER type or kind of work makes them feel good about what they are doing and do everything you possibly can to put yourself in the position necessary to make that type or kind of work HOW you make your living.  So even if you are going to an office, factory or shop everyday of your work week, you aren't going to a J - O - B that makes you miserable, but you are going to spend your day doing what you love to do to make a living and then going home to peace, happiness and tranquil family relations.
 
 As a "Handyman" I claim no privilege or grand insight into human nature.  I'm just sharing with you what has worked for me.  I hope you find it will work for you, too.  Oh, and if you need repairs, updates, remodeling or maintenance, I hope you'll let ME work for you, too.
 
 

HouseDr; 

  WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS! 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

What's taking so long?

I'm going to post my Pet Peeve, and then you can comment and post your Pet Peeve, okay?  Ok! 

Over the years of doing maintenance and repair work for folks, I have found this over and over again.  I switched from an hourly charge to Project Bids for just this reason, and yet, I find this still holds true! 

People show me their repair need, and after asking price they inevitably ask "how long will this take?"   There are so many variables that come into play!  Take as a for instance putting in a new countertop.  Sounds straight forward, right?  Yet, there are several things that may change as I begin the project!  Sizing and shape and accommodating other factors may change as I go!

So my original estimate of one day or two days, may overflow into a third morning.  I don't work slowly, so much as I try to work CAREFULLY.  So that the final project is more than just "satisfactory", but instead is pleasing to the client.

When I worked by the hour, if I stopped for a bathroom break, it seemed like people felt like I was cheating them.  "Are you done yet?" I would constantly hear.  What a TOUGH question!  I felt like I had to rush, but rushing causes mistakes so that wasn't the way I wanted to go!   I switched to charging by the Project, thinking this would eleviate this little PET PEEVE of mine.  Then when I take a lunch break, hey, no sweat, your not paying for it!  If I run into a difficulty and take longer to finish in order that the project is done correctly, there shouldn't be an issue, right?

NOT SO!  Even when I say 4-5 days to complete something, on day 2 I inevitably hear that tough question "are you done yet?"  This is the grown up version of "are we there yet?"  I understand, truly, I do, but this is still a tough question!

I have 2 rules in my business. 

Rule One:  DON'T RUSH!  Do the job right, whatever amount of time it takes. 
Rule Two:  Always go the "extra mile".  Do a little something more than expected.

Clients don't always notice right away, but that's alright.  Eventually they will.  Then when I ask for references or referrals, I'm more likely to get them.  I don't get everything done perfectly - perfect just doesn't exist this side of Heaven.  But I do my very best to get everything done RIGHT!
 It just might take longer than a minute, that's all.....

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

PAINT; Colors, Textures, Styles - HELP!

One of the great things about PAINT is that if you don't like it - you can easily change it!  It's not so expensive that you should feel like you HAVE to live with a color or a "style" of painting that you decide you aren't that comfortable with!

Paint is so easily covered up - no need for messy "demolition" or expensive "removals".  A coat of a good primer and your ready to go again!  With all the samples available now, it's so easy to try out a few color choices, or even textures and styles - and live with it a few days.  See how it looks in different light, at different times of the day - THEN choose!

And if you STILL don't like it - DO IT AGAIN!

So go ahead, PAINT, experiment - try a color you NEVER thought you would.  LOVE that wall now?  Go ahead and paint the whole room - or the whole house!

Need help?  Give me a call - HouseDr: WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS!
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HouseDr does remodels, repairs, PAINTING, maintenance and Kitchen and Bath Updates!