For a lot of people around the world that are entering retirement, the constant struggle to maintain a balance between saving and spending can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. It’s not such a big deal for those that have a consistent source of income every month and know that they can afford to pay any maintenance bills for their house, but a retiree might not always have that available, and will often need to perform maintenance on their own home.
Thankfully, home maintenance is fairly straightforward and easy to learn, and while there will always be times when a professional is needed, having the right skills can help a retiree fix simple problems that cost very little.
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Changing Light Fittings
Changing a lightbulb is easy enough that everyone can do it, but what happens when it’s not the bulb that’s broken, but the fitting that it’s sitting in? Changing a light fitting is more involved than changing a bulb, but it’s also easy enough that it can be done within a few minutes, and can mean saving a lot of money. Before changing a fitting, always make sure that the lights are turned off on the house’s mainboard, and make sure to have the right replacement fitting available, as it’s never a good idea to have live wires having loose while waiting for a new fitting to arrive.
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Changing A Tap
Another skill that’s worth knowing is how to replace a tap. Over time, the washers within a tap can wear down, and while it might be tempting to simply call in a plumber to fix the issue, it’s much more cost effective to replace it at home. This means investing in a small tool that helps to take the tap apart, and simply taking out the worn washer and replacing it with a new one. Take the time to make sure that there is no water leaking out once it’s in use again and be sure to turn off the mains to the house before taking any taps apart to avoid making a huge mess.
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Cabling
Most of a house’s cables are generally hidden away behind some plaster, but there may come a time when a homeowner will need to run their own cabling. This might be to a new socket on the wall, or even a network cable for internet purposes to enjoy streaming or wagering at New Zealand betting sites. Fortunately, this is a relatively easy feat to accomplish, but it can help to have some plaster available, and if the cable runs outside, make sure to enclose it in some PVC piping to protect it from the elements.
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Patching Drywall Holes
Doorknobs and accidents can cause damage to drywalls, but thankfully these are fairly easy to fix. Sandpaper, a putty knife, and mesh are usually included in drywall repair kits, and these kits will also come with instructions to make repair that much easier.