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The Hazards of a DIY Handyman

Local Plumber Fixing the Sink at a North Providence Rental PropertyOn the off chance that you are a North Providence rental property investor who also happens to have a few handyman skills, there’s a good chance that you handle a significant number of your property maintenance responsibilities yourself. While quite a few property maintenance and repairs are ok for the do-it-yourself landlord, some carry higher risks. When it comes to electrical and plumbing work, your lack of expertise could cause you to accidentally injure yourself or even result in the problem getting worse. For this reason, even do-it-yourself rental property owners should figure out how to avoid many of the hazards of electrical and plumbing work – and when to call the professionals.

There are numerous reasons why property owners choose to do their property maintenance and repairs themselves. At times, you are trying to save money by solving simple problems. Sometimes you feel better knowing you accomplished the work yourself. And sometimes, you might simply enjoy it. But for plumbing and electrical tasks, it is important to know which repairs you can safely do yourself and when it’s smarter to hire a licensed professional.

About electricity, the more you know, the safer you are. Simple maintenance tasks like replacing light bulbs, outlets, and breakers can often be completed quickly and safely. You can keep injuries away as long as you take proper precautions and shut off electricity before starting the job.

In any case, any repair or maintenance tasks involving electricity carry inherent risks. Regardless if you think you’ve shut off the power, you might not be right. And if you aren’t entirely sure about your wiring job, you could damage light fixtures, appliances, and more. Even small mistakes can result in you electrocuting yourself or cause an electrical fire. Either way, rather than setting aside some cash, you’ve now made new, more expensive issues – and possibly endangered your tenants as well. These are all good reasons to consider hiring a licensed electrician to perform even basic electrical repairs and maintenance.

It is just the same for plumbing repairs. Simple fixes like replacing a toilet stopper or installing a new shower head are things that most do-it-yourselfers can handle safely. Especially if it is more of a maintenance task than an urgent repair, basic plumbing fixes shouldn’t take a lot of time or expertise.

Be that as it may, the more serious the circumstances, the more likely you will be better off calling a professional. When your tenant calls you in a frenzy over a broken pipe, a backed-up drain, or malfunctioning garbage disposal, this is not the time to try and figure out how to fix it yourself. The longer water is flowing unchecked into your rental home, the more damage it will cause. As a property owner, you need to address urgent plumbing repairs in the most professional, most efficient way possible. And most of the time, that implies calling a plumber who can provide high-quality service.

Even if you aren’t confronting a critical situation, sometimes calling an electrician or plumber is still the best choice. Although it will cost you more than if you did the work yourself, it’s important to remember that hiring a professional comes with valuable benefits. Professionals typically carry the right insurance, have the proper tools and equipment for every job, and can complete the work more quickly and efficiently. All things considered, it might be best to hire someone to handle all of the electrical and plumbing work your rental property needs.

To avoid the hassle of finding a maintenance team, contact the North Providence property management professionals at Real Property Management Providence and ask about our services.

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