Before hiring a babysitter, handyman or tutor do a background check, you can check their criminal history for free at www.criminalsearches.com and www.brbpub.com

Before You Call the Repair Service

If you have an issue with your appliances, like washing machine or even the coffee maker, you can often save a service call by doing the following: go to a search engine and type in the appliance name and the symptoms. Many times, you will find that it is a common problem, and people have offered simple instructions on how to fix it. In some cases, it is a simple adjustment that you just need to know where to find the screw to tighten or the panel to take off and clean behind. Other times, you may find that you can fix it by replacing a part that costs less than $50. Many times, this has even included detailed instructions on where to order the part and how to install it. Occasionally you will find that it is a complex problem that costs more to fix than to replace the item, or it is a complicated or delicate repair that requires an expert and well worth the service call charge. Sometimes, it doesn't give you any help, but since it takes only a minute and doesn't cost anything, you will not be any worse off for doing it! You can even do this with your computer when you start getting weird messages. Type in the message and find that it is a simple fix or that it is a complex fix you don't want to mess with, or find nothing at all.

At www.repairpal.com you can see if you are getting a fair estimate or price for fixing your car. You can compare a quote for any mechanic repair to industry standards. Just enter the make and model of your car as well as your location and the free site gives you a fee range breaking it by parts and labor so you can make sure your mechanic is giving you a fair estimate.

Steps when moving:

• Hire and agency certified by the ProMmover's program (Find a ProMover - Moving.org) they agree to follow a code of ethics... it doesn't mean that some issues will arise or something will not break but it eliminates any scam

• Ask for a binding estimate for interstate moving which means it cannot charge you more than this estimate

• Insure it: buy your own coverage instead than from the mover,  called replacement coverage in the event of a loss

 Find a ProMover - Moving.org

https://www.moving.org/home/find-a-promover/

Up to six ProMovers can contact you for an in-home or virtual estimate. Many ProMovers (but not all) participate in this service. If you have already started movers and/or identified a mover, you can verify a company is licensed and insured by entering their motor carrier number here, or review an alphabetical listing of all ProMovers here

Home improvements
The IRS has information to help taxpayers take advantage of potential tax benefits for home improvements. If taxpayers make qualified energy efficient improvements to their home after Jan. 1, 2023, they may qualify for a tax credit up to $3,200. They can claim the credit for improvements made through 2032.

These types of improvements include Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credits for things like water heaters, exterior windows and doors and heating and air conditioning installations. Residential Clean Energy Credits are available for taxpayers who install solar water heaters, fuel cells and battery storage or solar, wind and geothermal power generation. Taxpayers can visit the Home Energy Tax Credits page on IRS.gov to learn more.

More Information
How to claim these credits can be found in these step-by-step guides:

• Energy efficient home improvements

• Home energy audit

• Residential energy property

QUOTES: 

Shun Google When Hiring Local Pros Such As Electricians and Exterminators:

It’s hard to find trustworthy local mechanics, exterminators, electricians, locksmiths, appliance repair and other pros.

National rollups – where private equity buys out dozens or hundreds of small local businesses in the same industry – are one factor. Because they often retain the name of the local business, you may not know you’re dealing with a company that may be anything but local at heart.

But a real underlying issue is that Google’s search results have become more and more ad-driven.

“Doing a Google search for a local service provider is a recipe for disaster,” Clark says.

“It’s the kind of thing Google could clean up. They have made no effort in this area because obviously all they’re chasing are the dollars.”

Instead, Clark recommends you turn to Nextdoor, a gated neighborhood app that can help you fetch recommendations from real people. He also suggests joining local Facebook groups and asking members for various recommendations.

Another solution is Angi (formerly Angie’s List), which specializes in finding vetted options in your area for these types of jobs.

You could also try an alternative search engine such as DuckDuckGo. Clark Howard

Cheap-O Drain Cleaner: Many years ago I met an old timer who worked for the city sewage department. He told me a story about clogged drains in the city's buildings as it was his job to unclog these different drains in the various buildings. He had a sure fire method and it only took a big bucket! When he went into the bathroom, the first thing he did was to run the hot water full blast and filled his bucket with the hottest water he could get. Poured it down the toilet. He did this three times. And voila! Cleared the toilet slick as a whistle. I tried this and it works. The only difference is I boil my water to a rolling boil and it clears our drains quickly and easily. I live in an apartment building. Even though the other tenants are always calling for the plumber, we have never had to. We just pour three buckets of boiling water down the spout. Clears it every time. Try it and see for yourself. The cost is a lot cheaper than a plumber's housecall. John D. from Dollar Stretcher Tips

A Cheaper Kitchen Cabinet Facelift: As a former small businessman whose "Cabinet Facelift" company specialized in re-facing kitchen cabinets, I think a "facelift" is an affordable alternative to the ultra-expensive replacement. Briefly, re-facing leaves the cabinets in place, removes and replaces the doors (usually with a raised panel door front) and applies veneer of the same wood type as the new doors. I usually replaced flat surface doors with raised panel ones, usually oak, and usually stained the new veneer and finished it with a wood sealant. The cost - even the retail cost to my customers - was less than $2,500 for a complete kitchen, including the occasional replacement of a solid door with a glass one. The huge benefits to the homeowner were 1) the cabinets remained in place during the entire procedure, and 2) the cost was a fraction of the replacement. Tom L. from Dollar Stretcher Tips

FINDING AFFORDABLE HANDYMAN HELP: I call the senior center in my area when I run into a project at home that I can't complete, or can't complete without some help. They have a list of available handymen who worked as plumbers, carpenters, etc. before retiring and they want to stay somewhat busy as well as make some money. I find that they do not charge large amounts and they take on jobs such as hanging a door or painting a bedroom that contractors don't want to be bothered with. WV from Dollar Stretcher Tips

Dry Carpet Cleaning:  For quick, dry carpet spruce-up, I use three cups of baby talcum powder, two cups of corn starch and one cup of baking soda. I mix these up and sprinkle on my carpet before I go to bed, and then I vacuum it up the next morning. This does a good job, and there are no damp carpets to avoid. This works great for baby's little accidents, as the baking soda helps eliminate smells. I made the sprinkler container by putting a few holes in the lid of a mayonnaise jar. D.B. from Dollar Stretcher Tips

Reducing the Cost of a New Fence:  We had to replace our fencing recently, and I did a little research to try to reduce the cost. Wood fencing provides immediate privacy, but will deteriorate after awhile and need to be replaced usually before metal fencing. Metal lasts longer and is usually less expensive to install. The variable cost is the installation, and the difficulty in installing either is about equal. Cementing posts with wood or metal is about the same. Dig the hole, level the post, and fill with cement. It is quite a bit of work, and harder than it seems. Since the wood fence comes in sections, it is bulkier, but so is chain link. Professionals will want to measure before giving an estimate. There are lots of options to bring the cost down like removing the old fencing yourself, clearing the area where the new fence is to be placed, knowing your materials so you know what is and is not a good buy, and keeping old posts that are still good. Also, hauling the old fence away will save money. Our pickup service charges for removing large pieces of fence material. You may even save money by providing some of the materials, but it's a good idea to ask. The best way to start is to measure the area to be fenced and price materials. Once you have an idea of the cost of supplies, you can then "test" price installers. We found a reliable installer to put up a cypress fence. We already had a solid, reliable gate with cement footers, which my husband had put in place, and that also helped keep the cost down. After the fence was up, I put plastic edging material under it all the way around to deter water absorption, which is what hastens wood rot. Jane S. from Dollar Stretcher Tips

A Simple System for Cleaning Mini-Blinds: This is how I wash my mini blinds without taking them down. Working top to bottom, first, dust them. Then place a towel on the sill. With blinds closed, spray lightly with a liquid cleaner. I use lemon Lysol diluted from concentrate in a spray bottle. Use a damp dustpan brush to gently scrub. Flip and repeat. Spray generously with water to rinse, using the rinsed-out brush to help remove the dirty water. Towel dry. Lastly, raise the shade to clean the window then lower it to air dry. Lorraine from Dollar Strtecher Tips

DIY Home Repairs: One of the biggest savings tools I've found is learning to do some basic home repairs myself. When something breaks (like a lamp or faucet), I search on Google and YouTube to see how to fix it. Sometimes the repair is beyond my comfort level or the tools that I have, but at other times, I can do the repair for a fraction of what it would cost to have an item replaced or have someone repair it for me. Rick from Dollar Stretcher Tips

A Good Place To Find a Good Handyman:  Last year, we removed the ceramic tile in our family room. We bought our new ceramic tiles from a wholesaler, but we weren't willing to install the tiles when we discovered that our room was out of square. Experienced tile setters were booking months in advance and we needed a solution. I called our local Seniors Job Bureau. The job bureau keeps a list of retired tradespeople and acts as a central agency for them. They gave us the numbers of two tile setters and we hired a nice elderly gentleman to do the work. He was a real craftsman who took great pride in doing a good job. He let me help, which reduced the cost. Our new tile looks fantastic. Call your local Senior agency if you have any job requiring a skilled tradesperson. Our city has two organizations. One is a service to seniors, and the other is the job bureau. We would gladly hire a retired person anytime.
Jerry from Dollar Strether Tips