Home Maintenance Workshops

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The Henrico County Department of Community Revitalization Home Maintenance Workshops are a series of free instructional workshops targeted to low-income homeowners designed to provide hands on instruction in basic home maintenance. Topics covered include regular home maintenance, weatherization, basic plumbing repairs, minor electrical repairs, patching holes in walls and ceilings, landscaping and yard maintenance, strategies to improve curb appeal, and advice for how to hire a contractor when necessary. The intent of the program is to provide practical instruction to enable homeowners to save money by undertaking small repairs themselves and understanding how the systems in their homes function so that when contractors are necessary they have a better ability to evaluate the work proposals that are being suggested. Workshops were held on four Saturday mornings in 2015-16 and feedback based on written comments provided overwhelmingly positive responses. Respondents were appreciative of the information and were able to use the knowledge gained to save money and better maintain their homes. Such knowledge and establishing an increased level of comfort in home maintenance supports the ability to age-in-place, and decreases the demand on public and non-profit service providers.