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Old 02-15-2015, 02:42 PM
 
16,368 posts, read 30,128,764 times
Reputation: 25417

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^^^


I have to admit that I do NONE of the work myself. In my neighborhood, the going rate among most of the handymen is $30-35 per hour out the door. Licensed plumbing and electricians are about twice that.

When I bought my house, I budgeted $1,000 for landscaping as the house had been neglected for 20 years and the place was an eyesore. We used the guy who handles the HOA landscaping. In about four house, he and his assistant cleaned up the mess, moved a lot of rock around, and made it look quite attractive for $250. He will plant a couple of cacti in the coming weeks to complete the look.

If I were to try to do it, it would take far longer and it would never satisfy my DW.
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Old 02-15-2015, 03:32 PM
 
Location: Central Massachusetts
6,533 posts, read 7,024,571 times
Reputation: 9275
Quote:
Originally Posted by brightdoglover View Post
I'm almost 62 and I do my own shoveling (although used to have a neighbor who came over for a nice check). I expect I will hire someone or a service of some kind when it becomes onerous. I already hire out for lawn service and handyman work because I just don't like it. My plan has always been to have enough money to hire help for whatever I might need, or enough to move to a CCRC when the time comes.

I'd hire a cook if I could afford it!
Agreed and I am almost 58 and do mine but the writing is on the wall. Then on top of that I would like to have nicer weather more often so I am not stuck inside because of the extreme cold.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider View Post
Yes! One of the great advantages of living modestly and having a comfortable financial cushion is being able to stay in one's own home by hiring work done. I am able to do some handyman work myself, and I enjoy it because it gives me a feeling of satisfaction. For example, I can do simple plumbing work such as changing washers in leaky faucets and removing the stopper thingy in the bathroom sink to clean everything out when the drain starts to run slow, but I cannot do "serious" plumbing work. Recently I removed the 34-year-old exhaust fan in one of my bathrooms and lubricated it so that it stopped squealing.

We are fortunate if we know a handyman who is competent, honest, and willing to do small jobs at an hourly rate. Our townhouse complex HOA has just such a man, and I have watched him work. He is a master carpenter, but also has amazing competence in doing plumbing, electrical, drywall, and other such things. He is available to work for individual homeowners on the inside of their units as well.

I suppose I have a bit of an advantage in knowing enough to watch someone work and judge their competence, even when the work goes beyond something I would want to tackle myself.

I am getting over feeling mentally retarded when I decide I am better off hiring work done. About a year ago I paid a plumbing firm to change out my garbage disposal with a new unit. It was embarrassing to have the men there knowing I decided I couldn't do that job, but I would have been struggling to figure things out and it would have taken me five times as long. I have the money, so why not take the easy way out? Well, OK, yes, I am mentally retarded; it's just something I need to learn to accept with good grace.

There is something for that. Look for "Shark Bites"

You are not mentally retarded. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Mine is plumbing too. I can admit it too.
Oh and I will not do roofing.
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Old 02-15-2015, 03:33 PM
 
Location: NC
9,346 posts, read 13,977,542 times
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I am a great believer in having the right tools for specialized jobs. Since there are a lot of jobs that are specialized, it is actually cheaper to hire someone with the right tools and knowledge than to attempt something on our own with a DIY manual in one hand. Anyhow that's my story. The hard part is lining up a bunch of experts to rely on, and moving to a brand new location starts that process all over again.
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Old 02-15-2015, 06:39 PM
 
Location: State of Superior
8,733 posts, read 15,895,282 times
Reputation: 2869
Quote:
Originally Posted by golfingduo View Post
All of that depends on whether or not you have to clear the snow and your age. Honestly I was pretty adamant about staying until a few years ago when I started thinking ahead. I know I do not want to be shoveling 6 feet of snow every winter or even every other one. I even have two snow throwers but the older you get the harder on the body this gets.
This is my first snowbird winter, it's been fun so far. 75-80 everyday is wonderful ! We did not leave until Dec. 3rd and there was a big storm in November, I had sold my tractor thinking I would not need it ! We had to be creative, good thing I have a friend , but that one month was very expensive ! Now I am looking for another tractor in April when we get home. I hate not being in control ........that's the down side of growing old.,
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Old 02-15-2015, 08:54 PM
 
Location: Port Charlotte
3,930 posts, read 6,412,097 times
Reputation: 3457
Wife and I has considered moving to Florida for many years. January a year ago, with both of us now 65, we looked at each other, and moved to SW Florida. Winter cold in NorthTexas, 105 degree heat, enough.

Now we are 30 minutes from the beaches, moderate temps, no ice or snow.

Loving every minute. We downsized the home, have a motorhome that we can work on, small lot we can handle, lower taxes, utilities. All is good.
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Old 02-16-2015, 08:47 AM
 
Location: St. George, Utah
755 posts, read 1,114,724 times
Reputation: 1973
Quote:
Originally Posted by Restrain View Post
Wife and I has considered moving to Florida for many years. January a year ago, with both of us now 65, we looked at each other, and moved to SW Florida. Winter cold in NorthTexas, 105 degree heat, enough.

Now we are 30 minutes from the beaches, moderate temps, no ice or snow.

Loving every minute. We downsized the home, have a motorhome that we can work on, small lot we can handle, lower taxes, utilities. All is good.
Every time I think I'm well-settled on remaining in Phoenix for retirement (and I do love the desert and all that Phoenix has to offer--in Phoenix we are, as the thread title requires, "Happy where we are"...), I read another post on this forum like this one, and the beach calls.

As I've said before, it feels like such high stakes, this decision of where to be in retirement. I love this thread full of posts from people being happy where they are! And when I'm in Phoenix I'm happy! But can we give up the beach for good?

Wow, I thought the teen years were supposed to be the angsty ones...this retirement decision making is WAY harder than picking a prom date or a college, with your whole life ahead of you, lol.
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Old 02-16-2015, 09:17 AM
 
Location: State of Superior
8,733 posts, read 15,895,282 times
Reputation: 2869
Quote:
Originally Posted by Montanama View Post
Every time I think I'm well-settled on remaining in Phoenix for retirement (and I do love the desert and all that Phoenix has to offer--in Phoenix we are, as the thread title requires, "Happy where we are"...), I read another post on this forum like this one, and the beach calls.

As I've said before, it feels like such high stakes, this decision of where to be in retirement. I love this thread full of posts from people being happy where they are! And when I'm in Phoenix I'm happy! But can we give up the beach for good?

Wow, I thought the teen years were supposed to be the angsty ones...this retirement decision making is WAY harder than picking a prom date or a college, with your whole life ahead of you, lol.
Same too you , Snowbird in reverse. Summers on Lake Superior , winters where you are one....best of both.
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Old 02-16-2015, 06:21 PM
 
Location: West Virginia
515 posts, read 775,502 times
Reputation: 1238
Born, raised, worked and retired in Putnam County, WV. I couldn't be happier. I've been to many other places on vacation and for work but I was always glad to get back to my home in West Virginia.
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Old 02-16-2015, 06:28 PM
 
Location: State of Superior
8,733 posts, read 15,895,282 times
Reputation: 2869
Quote:
Originally Posted by HomersBoy View Post
Born, raised, worked and retired in Putnam County, WV. I couldn't be happier. I've been to many other places on vacation and for work but I was always glad to get back to my home in West Virginia.
As John Denver sang , " West Virginia , almost heaven"
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Old 02-17-2015, 04:34 PM
 
Location: Near the In-n-Out
30 posts, read 34,817 times
Reputation: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Montanama View Post
Every time I think I'm well-settled on remaining in Phoenix for retirement (and I do love the desert and all that Phoenix has to offer--in Phoenix we are, as the thread title requires, "Happy where we are"...), I read another post on this forum like this one, and the beach calls.

As I've said before, it feels like such high stakes, this decision of where to be in retirement. I love this thread full of posts from people being happy where they are! And when I'm in Phoenix I'm happy! But can we give up the beach for good?

Wow, I thought the teen years were supposed to be the angsty ones...this retirement decision making is WAY harder than picking a prom date or a college, with your whole life ahead of you, lol.

Lol! So true!!
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