- Low Budget Repairs: A simulation game where you play as a handyman cutting costs to earn maximum profit.
- Core Loop: Accept jobs, clean/repair/renovate client locations, and manage your budget.
- Aunt's House: Your dilapidated home base that requires gradual renovation.
- Super Handyman Contest: The late-game competition to prove your skills against rivals.
- Ghost Companion: Your deceased mentor, Mr. Valdec, guides you through tasks.
Getting Started: Arrival & Aunt's House
Your journey begins when you arrive in town to claim the residence gifted by your Aunt Helena. However, you quickly realize the property is a disaster zone occupied by squatters.
Video Highlights:
- The protagonist meets Aunt Barbara to find the house.
- The initial state of the house is cluttered and occupied by two squatters.
- The first task involves removing trash and clearing the path.
Before you can start renovating, you must deal with the two squatters living in the house. You cannot interact with them peacefully; you must throw objects at them to chase them away.
Initial Cleanup Steps
The first order of business is making the house livable. This involves manual labor and basic cleaning.
Clear the Entrance
Move boxes and debris blocking the front door to gain access to the interior.
Remove Squatters
Pick up a chair or object and throw it at the squatters to scare them off.
Trash Removal
Collect trash into bags and locate the dumpster outside the gate to dispose of it.
Scavenge for Cash
Look for loose change around the house to afford a phone call for work.
Don't buy tools if you can find them. Scour the environment for items like paint buckets, scrapers, and hammers left behind by previous occupants or clients.
First Jobs: Pine Street & The Accident
After securing the house, you need income. Contact Mr. Zbigniew (Zbishek) for your first assignment at Pine Street.
Job 1: Pine Street Apartment
This job serves as the tutorial for painting and electrical work.
| Task | Tool Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paint Wall | Paint Bucket, Roller | Use foil on the floor to avoid mess. |
| Clean Floor | Rag | Wipe up any paint spills immediately. |
| Fix Electrical | Tape, Wire | Warning: Risk of electrocution. |
During the electrical repair task at Pine Street, Mr. Zbishek may get electrocuted and die. This is part of the story. He will return as a ghost to guide you for the rest of the game.
Job 2: The Balcony Repair
After the incident at Pine Street, a neighbor complains about a sofa falling on her balcony. This job introduces tiling and debris removal.
Tiling Process:
- Prepare Surface: Smash old tiles with a hammer.
- Mix Glue: Combine glue powder with water in a bucket (ratio is critical).
- Apply: Use a spatula to spread glue sparingly.
- Place Tiles: Position tiles and use spacers (crosses) for alignment.
- Grout: Fill gaps between tiles once placed.
Your ghost mentor teaches you to use minimal materials (e.g., thin glue layers, fewer tiles) to maximize profit. However, sloppy work may result in penalties or callbacks.
Renovating Your Base
While completing jobs, you must improve your own living conditions. The house starts as a dump and requires significant work.
Renovation Priority List
| Area | Priority | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Living Room | High | Remove trash, fix walls, paint over stains. |
| Kitchen | Medium | Fix electrical sockets, clean surfaces. |
| Bedroom | Low | Unlock later with lockpicks; store trophies here. |
Paint Stains
Use leftover paint from client jobs to cover wall stains in your house.
Wall Repairs
Use plaster to fill holes where debris was removed.
Unlock Rooms
Find lockpicks to open locked doors, such as the trophy room.
Display Trophies
Assemble furniture (like the display case) in the "Astral Repair Room" dream sequence.
When assembling furniture, you enter a dream state where instructions are clear, and parts fit perfectly. This is a reward for your hard work.
Super Handyman 95 Contest
The mid-game revolves around the "Super Handyman 95" contest. You and your ghost mentor enter to beat the rival, Kalbasa.
Competition Jobs
These are larger, more complex renovation projects.
| Job Location | Issue | Key Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Station | Fire damage | Put out the fire, clean soot, repaint walls. |
| Future Locations | TBD | Varying tasks like plumbing or roofing. |
Fire Station Strategy
The fire station job is chaotic. The firefighters are drunk, and the station is burning.
Extinguish Fire
- Use available equipment.
- Focus on the main fire source.
- Prevent spread to vodka tanks.
Debris Removal
- Haul burnt BBQ and furniture.
- Use trash bags for small ash.
- Throw heavy items out the window.
Renovation
- Scrub soot from walls/floor.
- Patch damaged wall sections.
- Paint over scorch marks.
Your ranking improves based on speed and quality. Moving up the ranks (e.g., to 5th place) unlocks new opportunities and rewards.
Progression Checklist & Tips
Success in Low Budget Repairs depends on balancing client work with personal renovation.
Essential Milestones:
- Clear Aunt's House of squatters and trash
- Complete the Pine Street painting job
- Survive the Fire Station incident
- Renovate the Living Room to 'Good' condition
- Reach Top 5 in Super Handyman 95 contest
- Unlock and furnish the Trophy Room
Pro Tips for Maximum Profit
| Strategy | Benefit | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Steal Supplies | Free materials for home | Lower job rating / less pay |
| Minimal Glue | Save money for next job | Tiles may fall off (fail) |
| Sloppy Paint | Faster completion | Client may refuse to pay |
| Scavenge | $0 cost for tools | Time consuming |
If you steal items (like TVs or paint) from clients, you may lose the job payment or gain a bad reputation. Only steal when the reward outweighs the risk.
FAQ
Q: How do I get rid of the squatters in the first house?
You cannot talk to them. You must pick up an object (like a chair or box) and throw it at them. Repeat until they flee the house.
Q: What happens when Mr. Zbishek dies?
He becomes a ghost companion named Valdec. He continues to give you tasks and advice, and you can still interact with him, though he can no longer perform physical tasks.
Q: Can I fix the Fire Station fire?
Yes, but it's urgent. Use the fire extinguishers or hoses available immediately. If the fire reaches the vodka storage, the station will explode, ending the job in failure.
Q: How do I unlock the locked room in my house?
You need lockpicks. You can often find them in client locations or buy them from the pawn shop mentioned by Valdec after specific jobs.