A Good Do-It-Yourself Handyman is Mechanically inclined

I have done installations and repairs most of my life. During this time I specialized in three different fields. Get tired of one, and then learn another quickly. I was an auto mechanic, installed and serviced commercial kitchen equipment, installed and serviced heating, cooling, and refrigeration. I am retired now, but still do a little occasionally, mostly consultation.

A Good Do-It-Yourself Handyman takes the time to do the job right the first time.

Some people just don’t get it. I have seen people spray paint a large machine shed in an hour or two. They turned the pressure up too high, stood back at a distance, sprayed the top half of a wall, them the bottom half. No way could they know how much paint they were applying. Thin spots would show up in time, and they did – quickly.

A job like this should lead to referrals to more jobs, but because of shoddy workmanship, it led to none. This type of work does not establish a reputation, at least not a good one.

A Good Do-It-Yourself Handyman knows when to call for help.

If you can’t figure something out, call someone that can explain what you need to do.

I have gone on calls where another firm worked on an appliance for a week, and did not cure the problem. They replaced at least one expensive part, with no improvement in performance.

If you know how it works and the sequence of operationsread this post here, the job is usually easy. Following the sequence of operations, I could see the only problem was a sensor. This particular job took two hours to complete. If you don’t know how to proceed, call someone that can guide you.

A Good Do-It-Yourself Handyman does not consider the job done until all the detail work is done, even if it is only cosmetic.

A Good Do-It-Yourself Handyman tests the job to be certain it works correctly.

A Good Do-It-Yourself Handyman cleans up afterward.

For most handyman jobs, your local hardware store probably has someone that can tell you how to proceed. In spite of the ads we used to see, almost all hardware stores have a “handy hardware (wo)man”. If you are working on any kind of specialty equipment, get to know the people in your supplier’s service department. They know the sequence of operations, so can tell you what to look for.

If you are starting a project you have not done before, check with your supplier before starting the job. Ask what you need to do to prepare to do the job.

For instance, if you plan to paint your house, you need to check the condition of the surface to be painted before starting. If a wall has dead paint on it, new paint is likely to peel if you don’t clean off the dead paint before starting a new coat of paint. Your hardware or paint store can advise you of the best way to proceed.