Seeing is Not Believing Part 15

Others Charge More – Do It Yourself

Have we gotten so lazy that we no longer attempt to do the simple things ourselves? Americans have become the slaves of advertisements so much that even in this time of recession, when many of us are cutting back on purchases, we still hire expensive companies to change a dripping faucet, to mow our lawns, and to do the things our parents and grandparents would simply do themselves.

Three years ago, we were frustrated with our inability to grow grass in one part of our lawn. Falling for the advertisements, we responded to a national advertisement stating that the company will turn our lawn green, get rid of weeds, and all we had to do was sit back and enjoy. Their price was about twice what I would have paid for the “organic” fertilizer that I had been using, but they would do the work and guarantee it.

The franchise owner visited us and walked the yard. Their price (based on a minimum square footage) would cover the front and side lawns only. To do the back yard would be an extra $90 for the year. Not bad, we agreed. Two days later one of their employees pulled up, took out a spray tank, and walked the yard spraying. Twenty minutes later he was done, put up warning signs, and left. According to those signs, they did not use the non-toxic chemicals they had advertised. It was a warning to keep children and pets off the lawn for three days.

I complained. The contract I signed was for the chemical they used. They never offered the option of the non-toxic product, but should I desire, I could now switch to it. They cost would be almost five times what was originally agreed on.

The next time they came, the worker was using headphones and singing while working. He sprayed the side of the house, some of my flowerbeds, and a few shrubs. Within a day the flowers were wilted, the shrubs turning brown, and the side of the house stained. I complained. The owner came back and looked. He said he would fire the worker for being so careless (I saw him at another house, still working for the company, two months later), but there was nothing he could do about the dead flowers and shrubs.

I told him to cancel the contract; I’d take the loss. Even this summer there was one area where they sprayed that, with the original soil removed and new dirt and flowers put in, nothing grows properly.

As soon as I fired the company, I did what I should have done originally: Googled them. There were web pages filled with similar complaints, people who had negative experiences not only with this company but also with other “lawn experts.”

Using the Internet to research lawn care, and taking a few books from the library, I discovered that by trimming some branches that were shading part of the lawn, using a few bags of lime, and removing the thatch in the spring, my lawn should improve. It did.

Today, with plumbers and electricians charging almost or over $100 just to come to the house to give an estimate, with service contracts costing $400 and up, and with $40 oil changes, we need to stop depending on others, to take the time and the pride and learn to do many things ourselves.

Many school districts, colleges, libraries, and community organizations offer low cost or free adult education courses. If you no longer have the maintenance manuals that came with your lawn mower, leaf blower, or similar product, try the Internet. Companies offer free or inexpensive replacements. These manuals will show you how to change the oil, sharpen the blade, and replace fluids. If you cannot get a replacement from the company, try a bookstore. Ask the hardware store owner or worker. Lowes and Home Depot have done a good job training their employees. They also have many low cost do-it-yourself books.

Use the Internet. There are many online forums where people share their knowledge of small repairs and product reliability. One great online resource (see below for more) is newsgroups. If you have never used one, see TechFAQ first. Google Groups is a good place to start.

Other online Do-It-Yourself resources:

Slightly Creaky’s Leaky Pipes

Michigan State University: Home Maintenance & Repair

DoItYourself.com

How Stuff Works

How Things Work

This Old House

AutoZone

Lowes How-To Library

Home Depot Know-How Center

Monkey See

DIY Network