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Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays: these are some of those key occasions when we make an extra effort to do something special for the people we love.
I usually buy my wife, Bobbi, chocolates for Valentine’s Day. Not just any chocolates, mind you, but a crèmeless assortment of See’s dark chocolate nuts and chews. Handpicked? Absolutely! Uninspired? I’m afraid so. And I haven’t done much better on anniversaries. Traditionally, I’ve given her a dozen roses and added one red rose each year after the first twelve. I guess this was a good idea at first. But now, with more than two dozen stems in the bouquet, it’s time for something new—and something that will last longer than a week.
So I’ve been thinking: As a loving gesture for a special day, why not give her a gift that’s from my heart and hands? I’ve decided to finally take care of some of the broken, irritating nuisances she has wanted me to fix around the house. I figure I can box one a small component for each project and wrap it along with a note or certificate promising to do the job. And then I’ll DO IT! Of course, she’ll probably get the roses and chocolates, too.
You might want to try the same thing. If you’ve heard a repeated complaint about a room being too cold, a closet being too messy, or a faucet being too drippy, seize the opportunity to offer a gift of your time and energy. Here are a few possibilities, along with links to more information to help you get them done:
Take control of room temperature
If one or more of your rooms is never quite the right temperature, maybe the problem is with the heating system’s thermostat. For information, typical problems and easy fixes for thermostats, visit the Homeowner's Handbook. For a information on buying thermostats, see the Remodel Guide: Thermostats buying guide.
Childproof your home
If you have small children in the house, what better gift for the entire family than to make it safe for children? See Childproof Your Home. If you need additional help, buy a copy of Baby Proofing Basics by Vicki Lansky for under $7.
Fix a faucet leak
This project has more than one payoff. Leaky faucets are not only irritating, they can waste several gallons of water each day. See Fix a Leaky Faucet.
Fix a broken window
Do you have a windowpane that has been cracked or—worse-- broken? Now is the time to fix it. For information, see Glazing.
Silence a banging storm or screen door
To keep a screen or storm door from slamming shut, install a closer. See Storm and Screen Doors.
Give a gift of tools
I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. A great gift for a first-time homeowner or somebody whose just starting out on their own is an assortment of basic tools. See Tools That Make Great Gifts
Need a little help with your projects? Here are two books you can buy online to serve as helpful references:
The Home Problem Solver, which will help you find the easiest, most direct solution to nearly any home problem.
Lowe’s Complete Home Improvement & Repair, a heavily illustrated compendium of techniques.