Rental deposit return

[sundaymorningstaple]

My local hardware stores are used to me. After all, as JR8 can attest, you cannot grow up on a farm, especially a working dairy farm with several hundred tillable acres as well, without getting a healthy dose of skillsets of all the hard engineering fields before you get out of high school (O levels) that will follow and hold you in pretty good stead throughout your life on the normal homeowners front.

[JR8]

I get some really odd looks when I go into the local hardware stores here and buy parts to repair a toilet cistern mechanism. I know its because most locals don't do their own repairs and they would definitely not expect a foreigner to do that kind of work.

Ironic isn't it. Here getting 'labour' in is so cheap they mostly seem to never learn to DIY even simple things. But then they don't understand that many FTs can do this stuff, precisely because 'labour' can be so expensive back home.


-- By coincidence I have had to repair a toilet cistern here. I have to say I not a fan of push-button cisterns versus the far simpler handle/lever mechanism. I remember having a hell of a job having to lift up a part of the internal cistern mechanism, whilst having the lid on top and screwing the button mechanism into it. Long pieces of bent wire hanger were used etc... hope not to have to repeat that exercise!

[JR8]

My local hardware stores are used to me. After all, as JR8 can attest, you cannot grow up on a farm, especially a working dairy farm with several hundred tillable acres as well, without getting a healthy dose of skillsets of all the hard engineering fields before you get out of high school (O levels) that will follow and hold you in pretty good stead throughout your life on the normal homeowners front.

I think you're making a good point. If you grow up 'in the country' you tend to be exposed to manual skills and hence can end up adept in at least the basics (and/or more inclined to try and learn). If you're sitting on a combine at 10pm with just 20 acres of wheat left to bring in, and rain is forecast tomorrow, one way or another you're going to get the damned thing going


https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SG&hl= ... b63PdPweDc
The Wurzels - Combine Harvester [1976]

.... never mind the music, check out the John Deere tractor... ooh ah ooh ah!

[add to meme: 'Daddy, why did the punk music era happen?']

[the lynx]

I'm pretty much handy on simpler stuff but boy, the renting scenario makes it a b*tch for you to DIY. The landlords here are so afraid of you ruining their property that they insist on having paid labour doing it for you. Luckily for now the cost is usually on them but the bureaucracy involved takes way too much time (me > agent > landlord > agent > me > agent > landlord > contractor > agent > me > agent > contractor > landlord > agent > me > contractor > me > contractor > me > contractor > landlord > agent > me)*. And this "pampering" doesn't help to keep the DIY skills honed.

*Good luck trying to guess the process flow in this. First one with correct/closest process flow gets a pint from me.

[Steve1960]

I'm pretty much handy on simpler stuff but boy, the renting scenario makes it a b*tch for you to DIY. The landlords here are so afraid of you ruining their property that they insist on having paid labour doing it for you. Luckily for now the cost is usually on them but the bureaucracy involved takes way too much time (me > agent > landlord > agent > me > agent > landlord > contractor > agent > me > agent > contractor > landlord > agent > me > contractor > me > contractor > me > contractor > landlord > agent > me)*. And this "pampering" doesn't help to keep the DIY skills honed.

*Good luck trying to guess the process flow in this. First one with correct/closest process flow gets a pint from me.

I have not found this an issue the landlord seems to have confidence in my work. I think it was a simple thing at the beginning that swung it.

I asked if we could move a screw on a wall so we could hang a picture centrally and the landlord was not too keen on me drilling holes in the wall. She eventually agreed and when she next visited I showed her the holes her monkey contractor had filled before we moved in which you could see even squinting with sunglasses on. Then I asked her to find the hole I had filled after I centered the picture. She could not find my repair

After that she agreed to let me do every repair that has been required.

[x9200]

I get some really odd looks when I go into the local hardware stores here and buy parts to repair a toilet cistern mechanism. I know its because most locals don't do their own repairs and they would definitely not expect a foreigner to do that kind of work.

Ironic isn't it. Here getting 'labour' in is so cheap they mostly seem to never learn to DIY even simple things. But then they don't understand that many FTs can do this stuff, precisely because 'labour' can be so expensive back home.

Is it really cheap? Hanging a single light from the ceiling for $40 or more? A hole to drill in the wall, $5-15 if I am not mistaken?

Expensive, low quality, terrible to arrange and follow any appointment. If you don't know by yourself what to do, they will rip you off at the first possible occasion. It's a SOP regardless you are an Angmoh or a local, with the only difference being the amount of money.

[PNGMK]

Since I bought my place 3 years ago I haven't had a repair man or woman in the place. Our maid is usually bemused by me fixing things (and looks at me out of one eye expecting me to either electrocute myself, fall off the ladder or drill through the wall I think)... but the other day brought something of her own to be repaired to me. She cleaned all the tools in my tool chest (8 drawer snap-on rip-off roll away) for me as a return favour and neatly arranged them.

I do find car servicing here still to be a good deal though (at least at the independents).

[rajagainstthemachine]

I get some really odd looks when I go into the local hardware stores here and buy parts to repair a toilet cistern mechanism. I know its because most locals don't do their own repairs and they would definitely not expect a foreigner to do that kind of work.

I did the same, i went and installed a bum gun in the bathroom myself. bought the washer for it, a wrench, the white tape to wind round the threading etc etc.
my gf thought i'm was going to end up flooding the whole place down, everything worked like a charm,

/squeaky bum time

[x9200]

I do find car servicing here still to be a good deal though (at least at the independents).

^1, for motorbikes too. If one finds a reliable mechanic. For the effort (including cleaning yourself after) it requires it is often really reasonably priced or even cheap. I only fix/replace the lights and battery by myself and this already attracts enough attention.

[x9200]

My local hardware stores are used to me.

At the Masterpro below your working place Anghmos are pretty common.

[QRM]

Spent ages waiting for contractors to give a quote and samples etc. Got so fed up in the end I just dug out the old tool box and did all the electrical and carpentry panelling work my self with the help of my 7 year old daughter and our helper.Turned out quite nice if you don't mind me saying.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Not bad at all, Steve.

[JR8]

Lookin' good!

[Fine acreage she has too!]

p.s. what's the panelling, some kind of 'formica'?

[Brah]

I get some really odd looks when I go into the local hardware stores here and buy parts to repair a toilet cistern mechanism. I know its because most locals don't do their own repairs and they would definitely not expect a foreigner to do that kind of work.

On the contrary, this should be a source of pride for oneself and envy from those who can't or won't. That's the kind of house I grew up in anyway.

[QRM]

Lookin' good!

[Fine acreage she has too!]

p.s. what's the panelling, some kind of 'formica'?

Wife thought it looked brilliant sort of like the interior of Gucci shops, then i told her I just glued ( liquid nails) a load of Ikea Door panels to the wall, then she thought it looked crap

That is why I needed a huge wide artwork to cover the rawl bolts I fitted right back to the RC wall, incase the glue failed over the years it will stop one on those heavy panels falling, not what you want while sleeping.