5 Contractors Every Homeowner Should Have on Speed Dial

Being a homeowner or a landlord are particularly responsible tasks. There are many things that can go wrong but these situations can all be put into two categories. The division is based on urgency. You see, there are some problems that can be resolved in a matter of days, weeks and sometimes even months. On the other hand, there are some tasks that just can’t wait. Moreover, they require professional help, which is why there are five types of contractors that you need to have on the speed dial. Here’s a brief list of who and why!

General contractor

Provided that there’s any structural damage to your home you would need someone who can help you fix it. We’re, of course, talking about a general contractor. Now, the reason why this is usually not seen as that urgent is due to the fact that a lot of people see these projects as something that you do every 5, 10 or even 15 years. For instance, a roof remodel may not be necessary for the next 20 to 25 years, so why is this particular number speed-dial-worthy? Well, if the property is not exactly new, chances are that an emergency remodeling might be much more likely than you think.

Plumber

In the case of a major flood or anything similar, you need to do two things. First, you need to locate and shut off the main valve. Second, you need to call a plumber. Sure, DIY plumbing work is something that a lot of homeowners try to do on their own, however, when your home is already flooding, chances are that the time is of the essence. The sooner the situation is fixed, the less damage the leaking pipes are going to make to your floor, walls and furniture. Moreover, the sooner you can use the plumbing fixtures in your home like before. 

Spending hours without clean water is completely unacceptable by the standards of modern, urban society, which is why you should have a plumber on speed dial. What you need is someone who can be there as soon as possible, meaning that you need to look for local talent. For instance, if your household is situated somewhere in the Australian Capital Territory, your main objective should be getting in touch with reliable Canberra plumbers.

HVAC/furnace

The hospitability of the place mostly depends on the temperature which is controlled by your air conditioning system and your heating system, depending on the region and the part of the year. For this very reason, it is smart to do a quick service of these two systems every year. Still, a heating system could malfunction in the middle of winter, which would create a huge problem for the inhabitants. We’re not just talking about their convenience but their health, as well. Fortunately, if you have reliable specialists on speed dial, this problem can be resolved quite expediently.

Electrician

Ideally, you would recognize an electrical hazard before the sparks start flying, the appliances start dying or the fire starts catching on. The biggest problem with this idea lies in the fact that people seldom pay enough attention to the warning signs. We’re talking about weird noises, odors and discoloration around the socket or the malfunctioning of electrical appliances. Even if you did recognize this immediately, you would still have to contact an electrician to help you out. We can’t stress out enough just how dangerous it is to try and fix faulty electrical installations on your own. What you need to do instead is shut the power off at the power panel and dial your electrician.

Lawn care/snow removal

Now, this part is mostly concerning the surrounding of your home and while it may not appear as an emergency, you need to keep in mind that you never know when you will have unexpected visitors announce their arrival. Ideally, you would have an arrangement with landscapers and snow removal experts, however, keeping contact on speed dial can facilitate up some things. 

Previously, we’ve mostly discussed these issues in the property of a homeowner, however, what if you are a landlord instead? Imagine a scenario where your previous tenant has just left and you are left with a property whose surroundings are in a ruinous state. Until this situation is resolved, you would have a hard time finding a future tenant (at least for the rent that you intend to ask for the place). In that particular case, it would be paramount to act with utmost urgency.

In conclusion

The biggest problem with what we’ve suggested above lies in the idea that people want to be self-sufficient, therefore, completely negating the active amount of work that they need to invest even if they were to contact professionals. First, they need to handle immediate safety precautions (shut off the valve, turn off the power, etc.). Second, even though they’re supposed to call the experts, the choice of who to call falls completely on them. This alone determines the quality of the outcome, which is what this was all about. It’s what being a homeowner is all about.