U-Fix-it shop turns laymen into handymen

by Senior Airman Austin Willhoit
JBER Public Affairs

4/15/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- For those with a permanent change of station date right around the corner, worrying about a base housing move-out inspection can add to the stress of the process. Children, whether human or four-legged variety, may have done their fair share of damage around the house and repairs may be needed.

But there is a remedy to help residents become inspection ready: the U-Fix-It shops on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. From carpet shampooers to hedge clippers, the shops on JBER feature many tools for loan to ensure base houses stay in tip-top shape.

"The two main benefits are saving money and time," said Brandy Little, Aurora Military Housing Tenant Relations manager. "It helps residents get service faster by doing it themselves, if they're capable."

Service members who are able to complete their own repairs save money by not having to go off base to buy supplies. They also save time by not having to wait for a maintenance technician to come to their house on a service call.

The U-Fix-It shops even loan out the same type of black light the inspectors use to find stains on the carpet. Any resident moving out who has small children or pets should take advantage of the loans to make sure they properly clean their carpet, Little said.

"When a resident moves in, we want them to perform their own black light inspection just to see if their findings are the same as ours, and if there are any discrepancies we can fix those," Little said. "We also offer it at the time of move out in case they're curious if they have an animal or toddler in potty training so they can see the spots themselves. Everything shows up under a black light."

Toilet seats, fluorescent lights, furnace filters and other replacement items are available at a one-for-one exchange rate. If people bring in their old fluorescent light bulb or broken toilet seat they can get a new one for free.

"The U-Fix-It clerks are trained to assist residents, to show them around and to show them how to do things," Little said. "They have supplies available to perform self-repairs, but if residents are uncomfortable with that then they should call the maintenance technicians."

The shops also offer seasonal items such as ice melt, ice chippers, grass seed fertilizer and landscape timbers. Departing residents should leave any extra items for the next tenant, as long as the item is still usable.

Residents can also return unused items to the U-Fix-It stores to be given to someone else.

The JBER-Elmendorf shop is located behind the Aurora Military Housing office on Arctic Warrior Drive and the JBER-Richardson shop is located in Building 338.

The JBER-Richardson shop is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The JBER-Elmendorf shop is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a closure from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.