The Handymen

Are you enjoying the challenge of navigating slippery sidewalks and driveways after the recent snowfall? I walk every morning, and this week’s snowfall has left a treacherous layer of ice, especially on sidewalks that haven’t been shoveled. With conventional boots or shoes, slipping feels almost inevitable.

This morning on my walk, I heard the siren of a fire truck, followed shortly by an ambulance. As I turned the corner, I came upon the scene: a man sitting on the icy sidewalk, surrounded by firemen. Next to him was the bag of trash he’d been carrying out to the curb. A simple chore turned into what could be a life-altering moment.

Sadly, I’m sure this scenario has played out countless times over the past few days. Slip and fall—it happens in an instant.

For years, I’ve relied on ice cleats for my boots whenever there’s snow or ice. Over time, I’ve tried various types. Some have spring-like coils on the bottom, while others use chains, but neither works well on slick ice. Now, I use cleats with spikes, similar to the studs on snow tires. They perform exceptionally well on powdery snow, slick ice, and the uneven surfaces of sidewalks and streets.

I imagine if he could go back in time the man taking out his trash this morning would gladly invest in a pair of ice cleats before his ordeal. A pair of ice cleats might seem minor, but they could mean the difference between a safe walk and a life-changing fall. How do you plan to stay steady on your feet this winter?

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Applewood Plumbing: stay away from it. This is just another example of a company that consistently overcharges, especially with older people and people who don't understand what needs to be done and how much it should cost.

Aurora couple charged $13k to replace water heater Steve On Your Side has tips on how to get the best deal when you have an emergency plumbing problem.

I have had a handyman business for 34 years. As I went to install a garbage disposal today I saw this price estimate from yesterday for the same job.

Here is a warning about companies out there that take advantage of people not knowing how much a repair should cost. Many of these companies advertise flat-rate pricing. If you have a competent and honest worker, time and material is always going to be cheaper. Also beware if a plumber shows up in a white shirt - more of a salesman than a worker.

Here is an example of a ripoff. Look at the picture. Their basic charge for a standard disposal installation is $655.00. The deluxe model is $1057.00. What you need to know is that the standard disposal costs about $110 and the deluxe one is around $300.

So, labor on the standard is over $500 and if you get the deluxe it is over $700. Both take the same time to install which is under an hour. That may not be illegal but it is certainly an overcharge.

My minimum charge is $118.00 for the first two hours of time. With the disposal and tax my charge to the customer was $237.00.

It always makes me sad to see people being overcharged.

I thought this was a really good article on decluttering. I received it from a realtor friend of mine. If you need help buying or selling a home, Garland Thurman is one of the best. His contact info is at the bottom.

But most important, great advice on getting rid of the junk!

Taking down Christmas lights today. Thankful that it's warmer than the day I put them up.