When it comes to your home, “later” can cost a lot more than you think. Daniel Edwards, owner of Handyman Connection of South Shore in Hanover has seen firsthand how putting off repairs multiplies the damage — and the headaches — since he first opened his franchise in 2017. 

Daniel aptly compares the exterior of a house to a winter coat: “Think about it, if your coat has a hole in it, you're going to get wet and uncomfortable. It protects you vitally from the outside, and neglect can lead to long term damage in many ways, especially around doors and windows which are essentially holes in your house,” he explains.

This is why window and door trim are so important.  They cover the small gaps that can lead to big problems. “Too many times water gets in between the wood and the window and starts to seep into the structure of your house,” he elaborates. 

Once moisture sets in, rot takes over. And as Daniel bluntly puts it: “Rotting wood might not smell good to you, but it’s lunch to unwelcome house guests.”

He recalls one regretful homeowner who deferred work after receiving a quote from him. 

“We went back the next year and termites had gotten into the wood rot on the side of the door and made their way into the subfloor; we ended up having to pull back a third of the tile to get to the extent of the damage,” Daniel remembers. “It costs them 3 or 4 times what it would have originally cost, as well as a call to an exterminator.”

Living near the coast means homeowners should also keep drafts and energy loss in mind. 

“If you go into a drafty house, not only will it feel uncomfortable, you’re basically going to have money flowing out of those holes — your heat or air conditioning,” Daniel notes. 

Trim, often overlooked, is critical for covering the edge of the windows and doors. “It not only looks great, it is essential for plugging those holes,” he emphasizes. “Consider bringing in an expert before the winter to make your house comfortable and save money.”

Above all, don’t ignore subtle warning signs. 

“If your siding is wavy, the wood is starting to rot. Painting over the wood does not stop the rot,” he cautions. 

A quick tap test can help with assessment: “If you take a screwdriver to a piece of wood and it gives a firm, solid sound when you tap, that’s good. But when you hear a ‘thunk thunk’ sound, that means there’s moisture in there.”

Ultimately, Daniel’s advice is simple: “Maintenance isn’t just about keeping your house pretty, it’s about keeping things functional.”

Even more important than price, Daniel stresses, is protection. 

“One of my big beefs as a licensed contractor is to make sure anyone you are hiring to work your home is properly insured,” Daniel advises. “Insurance covers general liability to any damage incurred in the home. And worker’s compensation is another must-have, although it can be expensive. 

“Workers comp protects the workers, but it also protects the employer/homeowner,” he continues. “If my worker falls off a ladder and hurts himself, we have worker’s comp to protect his livelihood, but it also protects me as the business owner and the homeowner; otherwise, insurance companies can come after the homeowner and/or the business owner, which I’ve seen happen.”

Daniel adds too many homeowners don’t even know to ask about insurance when comparing estimates. 

“We often give quotes and compete with other contractors and although we’re fully insured, they’re not, so it’s not a fair playing field,” he concludes. “And home owners don’t know to ask about that when comparing quotes — but regardless, I always carry the full amount of insurance.”