getting on-site, in person skilled repair advice.....

[Brenda OH]

I hope the moderators allow this post to stay on the board....

In general, for electrical issues, plumbing issues, etc if you can find an aquaintance or a friend of a friend, through your job, church, etc. that does that type of work, you can offer them dinner, or ask if for $20, they would do a "safety check" of your wiring. plumbing etc.

Tell them you just want to know what repairs may be urgent, and what things can be done over time.... And what things you could do, and what things a professional would need to do.

It is ok to say you have a limited funds to get into updates at this time... emphasize you are trying to be safety conscious.

This approach shows that you respect that contractors time is valuable, that they are professionals that have taken a lot of effort to train to do quality repairs. And that even just going out to look something over has a cost in gasoline, and time not doing another paying job.

You may get bad news, (worse than you thought it was) good news (no major problems) and sometimes you may catch a break, and the contractor will arrange to do some limited repairs at a discounted price, if you can be available to let him do the work at his choice of schedule...

If it is very bad news, if the contractor will list what needs to be done, and the costs, you may be able to get assistance from a charity, government organization, your family etc because they then can see the specifics of the problem, not an unknown gray hole of possible needed repairs.

Do not use this approach if you are not willing to follow-through with paying THE VERY DAY the inspection or repair is finished..... Nothing loses good will quicker than making a professional of any kind wait on a payment....

Brenda (OH)