Your home is the biggest investment in your life!", "We help you turn your house into a home!" - so say the ads touting invariably unbeatable house loan schemes, but whose interest rates are tantamount to daylight robbery that has most people purchasing property strapped to a life-long debt. And there's little you can do about it, for living on credit is the way of our world.

Moreover, we have to contend with utterly outdated rent laws courtesy of this tiny archipelago's entrenched insistence on doing things in total defiance of ethics, sanity, common sense and civic pride.

Unfortunately, this top-rung obstinacy cannot be correlated to the durability of stone, bricks, plastering, waterproofing, whitewashing, plumbing, wiring, and all the works that keeping your den habitable, comfortable and pleasant entails.

Of course there's no point in moaning and groaning about this because like anything else on this planet nothing is permanent. But enter house repairs (small or large scale) and believe it or not, you still have not sighted the apex of frustration that comes in the shape of a good number of 'professionals' specialising in home improvement projects.

Yes they do come in various shapes and sizes and so do their prices, standards and efficiency.

Now there's no point in wishing for the moon or crusading to change the innate mind bend of a good number of these so-called professionals, particularly when you're incapable of even hammering a nail into the wall and therefore depend upon their services. It's far more practical and gratifying to top up your intake of energy foods plus vitamins and minerals and put yourself on the offensive.

So think positively of what you can control. Here's how:

¤ Start by doing the sensible thing and shop around for services on offer, no matter how time-consuming it may be. This will save you a throat choked with tears plus a lump of regrets.

¤ Always obtain written estimates for the job (in detail) on paper with the contractor's, plumber's, electrician's or whoever's name and address on it.

¤ Agree when the work is to be carried out, although here you will have to make an allowance for workers not turning up on the fixed day. Now rather than letting a day go to pot and allowing your blood to boil, phone up a day or two before the agreed date and ask for a confirmation. It's not a foolproof guarantee, but it's the best precaution you can take against 24 hours going down the drain.

¤ Never part with money up front - except for building or other 'raw' materials, though you are most likely to find these prime costs included in the bill.

¤ Never agree to even the smallest extra job without getting a quote first.

¤ Don't assume that a workman is honest just because anyone you know recommended him.

¤ Don't be rushed into accepting a quote because "I could fit it in tomorrow", and don't be bullied into inspecting finished work when you're in a rush or if the light is bad.

¤ Always be present when there are workmen in the house. Arrange to take leave or work from home, so that they have instant access to you. You have only yourself to blame if you leave them to it, then come back and find they've used their initiative...

¤ Before the 'professional' puts in an estimate ask what his daily rate is and how many days the work will take, so you can assess if the figure is a fair one.

¤ Remember: an estimate is a just that - an approximate price for the job. A quote is a definite figure for the work and must be renegotiated with you if it increases.

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