330-333-9869 Do I need a Monthly Home Maintenance Service?
Regular, scheduled monthly home maintenance service makes a lot of sense for a lot of homeowners. Here are just a few reasons:
- I maintain your major systems and appliances to keep them operating at peak efficiency and to prolong their lives.
- I keep your family safe by servicing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers and by checking your chimney and cleaning your dryer vent line.
- I prevent issues that lead to wood rot and other structural damage.
- I resolve problems with caulking and grout, leaky water lines, clogged drains and other causes of water damage in your home.
- I identify ways to better weatherize your home and as a result save you money on your heating and cooling bills.
- Finally, I’ll take care of that “honey-do” list for you so you can relax and enjoy your free time.
Why should I sign up?
I believe there are three key reasons you should consider joining Advantage:
- I’ll take care of the preventive maintenance that is often neglected but that is needed to keep your home in prime condition.
- I free up the valuable time you might otherwise waste waiting for a repair man or searching the yellow pages for a painter, carpenter, plumber, electrician.
- I can be your trusted, professional single source for dealing with anything that goes wrong in your home.
What is the basic monthly service?
The Advantage “Basic” monthly service inspects and maintains your home so that you don’t have to. I accomplish that through offering a customized, proven preventative maintenance program. I will conduct a monthly maintenance visit during which I will inspect and maintain the major systems of your home. I will do the tasks necessary in order to maintain these systems and keep them operating in tip-top condition. I will consult with you when repairs are needed and be a trusted advisor when choosing reliable, outside contractors.
Is there a service beyond basic?
In addition to the services performed in the “basic” monthly program, Advantage offers a “Plus” level of membership in which I will additionally include monthly handyman services for your personal “honey-do” list! Also, at this level, I will schedule any necessary larger scale repair or improvement (outside the scope of basic maintenance) for you, through a reliable, outside service partner. I work with specific, vetted, local, service partners to deliver other services needed to maintain, repair and enhance your home, including HVAC service, lawn care, interior design, window and gutter cleaning, etc..; and I can consult, advise, schedule and manage work on your home.
What happens during the monthly maintenance visit?
Each month, I will complete a thorough inspection of your home and conduct the basic maintenance tasks required to keep the house in good shape. I check and maintain your water softener, water filters, change light bulbs and furnace filters, check fire and CO2 alarms, clean your range hood and inspect fire extinguishers. Throughout the year, additional systems will be inspected and maintained as part of an extensive maintenance checklist. I also complete seasonal items that are done once or twice a year, such as inspecting the home for ice dams, water and pest damage, flushing out water heaters, winterizing outside faucets and AC, checking gutters, roofs, chimneys and cleaning dryer vents. Once the maintenance is complete, for “Plus” members, I spend time on “honey-do” repairs such as replacing light fixtures, hanging pictures, repairing hardware items, basic plumbing/electrical or other small tasks requested by the homeowner.
How long does the monthly visit last?
The monthly maintenance appointments range from about 2 hours long up to a full day, depending on the size of the home and the service level you have selected. Most of the visit is spent completing 9-12 of the over 40 different tasks on the monthly maintenance checklist and the other is dedicated to completing minor repairs and honey-do type projects.
Do I need to be home for my appointment?
You do not need to be home during your monthly maintenance appointment. In fact, some customers will provide me with keys or garage codes so that I can get in when they are not home. This allows me to provide your service without disrupting your busy schedule. I will leave a detailed checklist (on paper) in your house as well as communicate information via email.
Are larger repairs included in the monthly maintenance visit?
Most repairs that take 30 minutes or less to complete are included in the basic monthly maintenance cost. Also, maintenance products (filters, batteries, water softener salt, etc.) are covered under the basic fee. If a needed project or repair falls outside the scope of “Handyman” and would require hiring an outside professional, (remodeling, construction, furnace repair, AC repair/replacement, etc.) a locally trusted, licensed and insured, professional contractor will be recommended. For “Plus” members, I can schedule the appointment and represent your interests so you can attend to more important things.
I already have an HVAC service. Would I need to switch?
I recognize that homeowners may already have a trusted plumber, electrician or landscaper, and I encourage them to continue to use those providers if they want. I am still available to be your representative for scheduling purposes or overseeing any additional projects with them. (I am fluent in “Contractor Speak” and enjoy translating!)
Do you get multiple bids for larger projects?
I try to balance the need to find competitive pricing with my goal of providing high end results. For that reason, I will recommend service providers from a local pool of pre-screened and qualified service partners on all project work. The service providers I recommend will all have a locally vested interest in being responsive, thorough and fairly priced.
Do I need to sign up for all of your services?
The only required service is the basic monthly maintenance program. Through this service I get to know you, your home and take care of the little issues that arise before they become big issues. This arrangement also serves you to have someone you can trust for good advice on house matters.
How do you price the service?
Pricing for the basic monthly service starts as low as $200 per month depending on the size of your home and the amount of maintenance it will need. The basic maintenance price includes the labor and consumable materials (light bulbs, furnace filters, salt for water softeners, batteries for smoke/CO2 detectors, etc.) needed for your appointment. These items are priced during your “Maintenance Audit” (initial visit) and are included in your quoted yearly contract.
How do I pay for the service?
I send out invoices via email within a few days of each monthly visit. The invoice includes that basic monthly maintenance cost and any costs relating to additional services completed since the previous invoice. You can pay by check, online banking or credit card.
What if I decide after a few months that the service is not for me? Am I stuck for the rest of the year?
While I am confident that you will love the service, I understand that life happens and that you might need to terminate the service before the contract is up. While I will be sorry to see you go, I certainly will not hold you to the contract if the service no longer works for you. I do ask that you give me one month’s notice of such a change.
