Greetings!
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Last weekend, I volunteered at our local Habitat for Humanity fundraising event. With my husband leading the International Sidewalk Astronomy night in Portsmouth, I went to the fundraiser as a guest and volunteer. At checkout, people gave me their auction bid numbers. I was surprised and told them "we value you as the generous people you are, and I prefer learning your name." They smiled and introduced themselves.
I find it sad that we accept being a number. Life is about people, about the relationships we have with family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances in the communities where we live. As technology becomes more prevalent in our lives, we have to maintain a balance between systems that require numbers and relationships that re-charge our emotional batteries.
At My Handyman, we recognize that a successful project starts with a good relationship. We try to understand your problems and work with you to find the best solution. Sometimes we may even refer you to a specialty contractor (see our list of plumbers) based on complexity and/or materials. Our priority and value are the relationships we build with you, our customers.
Beginning this month, our newsletters will include customer stories that show how we strive to be so much more than your average handyman. This month we focus on a soundproofing project we recently completed. Of course, we will continue building our library of handyman articles, with new ones each month. This month, you'll want to review our new Spring Home Maintenance Checklist and take care of any damage done over the winter.
We hope you like this change and always appreciate your feedback on how we can better serve you.
Happy Spring!
Tina Gleisner, My Handyman of Southern NH
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Eric wanted to hold band practice at his Seacoast home. An unused room in his house seemed perfect, if only it could be soundproofed. When his girlfriend, Marguerite, called My Handyman for advice, they were unsure of the steps to achieve their goal or how much the project would cost.
"We of course knew that My Handyman was reputable from our first small repair projects. When we went into the [soundproofing] project, it was you who really helped us get our bearings, and through your attention and research, we were able to identify exactly what would provide the best results and what we could accomplish within our budget," reflected Eric after the project was completed.
Over three weeks, My Handyman helped Eric and Marguerite refine their project goals, budget and project plan. The couple agreed they weren't attempting to make the room completely soundproof, but wanted to minimize the transfer of noise to the living spaces on the other side of the walls from the music room. To help manage costs, they decided to focus their soundproofing efforts on the two interior walls and the ceiling, and leave the exterior walls untouched.
To stay within budget, Eric decided to do the demolition work, which included removing the dropped ceiling and wood paneling on the two interior walls. My Handyman also suggested that he act as the "helper" in order to learn how to hang drwall from an expert.
This phase of the project achieved its desired results, finishing on time and on budget. Next steps will include installing new flooring and a soundproof door. "We know it isn't easy to find a contractor who can do everything that My Handyman did at such a high level of quality," reflected Marguerite. "We hope to employ My Handyman in the future for any projects too daunting for us to tackle on our own."
For more information on this project and soundproofing your home, read the complete case study.
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What's New in the Handyman Library
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NEW! in the library since last month's newsletter:
If you think you have exterior wood rot, you should also review:
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