Let your knowledge of repairing investment properties grow like plants in a garden. Follow my advice and you will be prepared to respond to any problem.
This is how I learn new skills:
Stick to experts like Glue
Always be available to help when handymen or contractors work on the house. Ask questions. Take mental notes of how things work. For example, every time a technician works on my air conditioner, I’m right there on the roof with them, watching them analyze problems, asking them what the different components and parts are called, and asking them how to identify others. types of air conditioning problems. Now I know what to look for and can do what he did, if the same problem comes up.
Take community college classes
Community colleges offer a smorgasbord of useful classes for the fixer-upper. I’ve mainly taken electrical wiring classes, but I’ve also done some plumbing and carpentry. Classes are in the evening to accommodate working people’s schedules. Don’t fall asleep in the back of the class during boring lectures because classes focus on hands-on learning.
start a library
Take seriously the old saying “A house without a library is like a body without a soul.” I have at least 100 books related to buying, selling, repairing, taxing, and managing real estate tenants, as well as several instructional videos. Whenever I’m at a book sale, I always walk down the aisle with the real estate books and down the aisle with the home repair books.
I have more home repair books than any other type of book. Before starting a new project, I refer to a book to show how the pros demonstrate how to do it. During a project, when I get stuck, I refer to a book to find the answer to my problem.
Sometimes when I’m not working on a project, I like to flip through my repair books for ideas for the future.
Ask for help at hardware stores
I’ve always had better luck getting my questions answered at smaller hardware stores like ACE than at big box stores like Home Depot. When I was learning how to lay rugs, a salesperson gave me great advice on how to secure the rug to the floor. The people who work there generally seem to have the hands-on experience to offer helpful advice.
Internet
This is an area I often overlook, but it is potentially the most useful tool for finding repair information.
To find out how to fix repair issues, I just type what I want to do into Google. For example, “I want to change a washer on a kitchen faucet.” There are usually several good links that offer solutions to my problem.
When you need help repairing your superior houses, don’t get frustrated, get ready!
