The Creative Nest

There comes a point in adulthood when you realize that having a good handyman is almost as valuable as having a good hairdresser, a trustworthy mechanic, and a doctor who actually calls you back. If you have one, you know exactly what I mean. You find someone who shows up when they say they will, does what they said they were going to do, charges a reasonable amount, and—this is important—doesn’t leave you standing in your driveway wondering if you just paid someone $400 to make the problem slightly more interesting. And then you have a decision to make. Do you call your trusted handyman and say, “Hey, can you take a look at this?” Or do you get three quotes? I have discovered that there are apparently two kinds of homeowners. There are the “I have a guy” people. Then there are the “I need at least three estimates so I can compare the labor, materials, warranty, and the astrological alignment of Mercury” people.  I understand both sides. Getting multiple quotes makes sense. Sometim...

When I bought my house, I had this adorable little fantasy that once I made my mortgage payment each month, I would simply enjoy homeownership and live happily ever after. The reality, however, is that owning a home is less like making a purchase and more like entering into a long-term relationship with a very needy, very expensive roommate who constantly finds new ways to spend your money. One day, everything is running smoothly. You sip your coffee, admire your home, and think you've got things under control. Then your plumbing decides it would like some attention. A few weeks later, the roof reminds you that it exists. Not long after that, the water heater starts making noises that sound suspiciously like a cry for help. Then the furnace gets involved, followed by a sump pump, an appliance, or some mysterious issue that wasn't there yesterday but suddenly requires immediate attention. Homeownership often feels like playing a game called "Guess What's Broken Now?...