Some Contractors Do Minor Repairs

but get several quotes first

DETROIT (Thursday, September 28, 2000) - I have been involved with home improvement shows for many years around the Detroit area, including the 2000 Fall Remodeling & Furniture Show, scheduled for Oct. 12-15 at the Novi Expo Center. I will be surrounded by smiling wonderful people and many will ask an appliance question and get a straight answer that I hope saves them money. Some homeowners will ask about something that doesn't fall under my expertise and on those occasions, I will acknowledge my own ignorance. Let me give you an example of what I mean and how I worked the problem into a solution. (I don't recommend you try this system unless your spouse has the patience of a certain Valorie.) A few years ago she asked me to install new hooks on the wall to put up some window curtains. I got the old drill motor out - usually used on washing machines - and started popping holes on each end of the window wall. Before I was done, a big patch of wall fell off. I ended up patching with some gunk from the hardware store. I then had to paint the whole dining room, ceiling and all. It was then decided (not by me) to add another lighter shade of green to the already freshly painted wall. This shade would give it some sort of "flickering" effect when completely dry. It truly looks good today because it was prescribed by a person on a certain television show, which I swear is the only thing she watches. Anyway, I swore that I would never touch anything else in that room again and true to my word, I have not. Guess what happened next? Six months ago, the woman I love so much ordered these bulky things that go over the top portion of the windows or what people call variances or something like that. (OK, they're valances.) She has asked me a thousand times to put up new hooks next to the old ones which started all this trouble and work. I simply refused, so she did the next best thing. She hired a handyman. This young presentable man named Roger came over to the house to give us an estimate of what it would cost and at the same time looked at the rod which holds up the clothes in a certain closet. He would have to drill new holes and remove the ropes I had attached to the ceiling which held the rod in place. He obliged to come on a Saturday to do the necessary work, quoted what I thought was a very reasonable price and laughed when I told him I was busy that day and wouldn't be around to give him some help. The point to this story is thousands of consumers tell me they can't find someone to do the small jobs around the house without hiring a major contractor. The list of complaints goes on and on: "They never come out when they're supposed to, they never finish on time, they charge too much." When this young man named Roger was finished doing the work, he would not accept a check for payment. I called his boss. He explained that 10 years ago I had done a background check on him and his new company for a television station which featured his new venture. I told him I appreciated his thoughts, but could get myself fired from ABC for using his generosity. He asked if I would donate the money to his favorite charity which is what I'm doing. Please keep in mind a certain fact. This company did not know who I was until after they gave us a quote for the work they did. I am so pleased by my Valorie's determination which let me discover that there is someone out there who is honest and fair and can do the small job for a homeowner. It would not be ethical to use this column to advertise the name and phone number for this business but let me assure you, at the home show, ask and you will receive. Stay tuned. Joe Gagnon can be heard Saturday and Sunday on 760 WJR. He is a member and past president of the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals. His phone number is (313) 873-9789. http://archives.oeonline.com/09-28-2000/nowto.d4.9_28_00.pdf Completed August 26, 2000. By HandyPro's Maintenance Technician Roger Yeager Proposal # 7326

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