Building Knowledge, Building Confidence: Inside RTGC’s First [Re]Build and [Re]Claim Workshop

On Saturday, September 27, Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte (RTGC) launched its new [Re]Build and [Re]Claim Home Maintenance Workshop at the organization’s new training facility. The space allows RTGC to expand services beyond critical home repairs and into preventative maintenance education, helping families avoid costly emergencies while advancing the 11 Principles of Safe and Healthy Housing.

For many homeowners, knowing where to start is the hardest part of home maintenance, as homes do not come with an owner’s manual. Too often, families attempt DIY fixes that only make problems worse with common challenges like taking poor measurements, using low-quality materials, skipping critical steps, or ignoring hazards such as asbestos and lead paint that can lead to safety risks, higher costs, and even a loss of property value.

This workshop aimed to fill that gap. Over four hours, participants learned how major home systems work, their typical life spans and costs, and how to budget for inevitable repairs.

“Every homeowner or every realtor needs to recommend this workshop because there are a lot of homeowners who don’t know how to take care of their homes. As a realtor, the job doesn’t stop after someone buys the home.” ~ Lourdes

The workshop was designed to be highly interactive, taking a learn by doing approach. In addition to examining real materials, such a shingles, water filters and attic insulation, participants rotated through demo stations where they:

  • Hung pictures and found studs in walls

  • Patched drywall and tested outlets

  • Practiced caulking to seal drafts

  • Handled insulation samples and learned about R-values

  • Used household tools like drills and wrenches safely

Participants also learn about smoke and CO detectors, practicing extinguisher use, and developing evacuation plans.

“This is a great intro class for new homeowners. It offers a baseline on what repairs they can do on their own and what repairs will require a general contractor.” ~ Juan

The class drew a diverse group: homeowners and renters, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, seniors and young adults. The impact was immediate:

  • 100% reported increased confidence across home systems (foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical, gas, HVAC).

  • 92% said they plan to budget differently for repairs.

  • 83% saw a stronger connection between home maintenance and family health and safety.

That last figure is critical. Participants linked maintenance to air quality, allergies, and carbon monoxide/fire safety, directly connecting to RTGC’s vision that everyone deserves a safe and healthy home and to its current initiative addressing unsafe housing as a social driver of health.

The [Re]Build and [Re]Claim series is just beginning.

“What we learn here can save us thousands of dollars,” ~Lisa

With strong engagement from this first session, RTGC plans to make these workshops a core part of its mission, preserving affordable homeownership, preventing displacement, and ensuring that every family has a safe, healthy home for years to come.