Same here, learned the hard way after a storm ripped off some shingles. Thought about insurance, but after crunching numbers, realized the deductible alone was almost as much as hiring someone local. Ended up patching it myself—YouTube tutorials to the rescue, haha. Sure, it took longer and wasn't exactly pro-level, but saved me from premium hikes and paperwork headaches. Insurance is great for the big stuff, but for minor repairs, DIY or local handyman usually wins out.
"Insurance is great for the big stuff, but for minor repairs, DIY or local handyman usually wins out."
Yeah, that's been my experience too. Last year, after a pretty nasty windstorm, I had a tenant call me about a fence that got knocked down. Insurance deductible was steep, so I figured I'd just get a local guy to patch it up. But then I wondered—at what point do you draw the line between minor and major repairs? Like, is there a specific dollar amount or type of damage where you'd definitely go insurance instead of DIY? Curious how others decide...
"Insurance deductible was steep, so I figured I'd just get a local guy to patch it up."
I get where you're coming from, but sometimes those "minor" repairs can snowball. Couple years back, thought I'd save a few bucks fixing some shingles myself after a storm. Looked easy enough—until I found water damage underneath. Ended up being way pricier than my deductible would've been. Now, if there's even a hint of hidden damage or structural stuff, I bite the bullet and call insurance... learned that one the hard way.
"sometimes those "minor" repairs can snowball."
Yeah, that's the tricky part, isn't it? Had a similar experience last year—thought I'd just replace a few siding panels after a nasty windstorm. Seemed straightforward enough, but once we pulled them off, found mold creeping behind. Ended up costing double what I expected. Makes me wonder, how do you really know when it's safe to DIY versus calling in the pros or insurance? Feels like a gamble every time...
That's exactly why I always tell folks to be cautious about DIY roof repairs after storms. Last summer, a homeowner thought he could patch a few shingles himself—ended up discovering water damage down to the decking. Sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and call in someone experienced...
