Honor System

Home Improvement

PLAYERS

For two to six players or teams. Players should be referred to as “Handymen” and/or "Neighbors" throughout the course of the game.

OBJECTIVE

To earn $50,000 IN EQUITY by sucessfully completing home improvements.

SUMMARY OF PLAY

Handymen proceed around the outer track of the board purchasing tools and supplies required to complete the jobs described on the Home Improvement Cards. When a Handyman has all the supplies and tools required to complete one or more jobs, they may proceed to the home squares. When they land on the room indicated on the Home Improvement Card they then take a “Tool Time” Rating Card. Handymen add the equity indicated on the Home Improvement Card to their equity score sheet, if successful.

TO BEGIN

Select one player to be the banker. Each Handyman starts the game with $5,000 in cash, (3 - $ 1,000 bills, 3 - $500 bills, 4 - $100 bills, 4 - $20 bills, 4 $5 bills) and an Equity Score Sheet. Shuffle the Home Improvement Cards and deal four to each player. Place the rest of the deck at the center of the board. Shuffle the remaining decks and place on their designated spaces.

Each Handyman chooses a token and places it on the “Payday” staring squares. All Handymen roll the dice with the highest roll going first.

MOVEMENT

Shopping Squares (outside track)
Handymen travel in the shopping squares by using the total of both dice and move in a clockwise direction. More than one Handyman may occupy the same square.

Home Squares (inside track)
Unlike the shopping squares, Handymen may travel in either direction on the home squares. Direction of travel may be changed with each roll of the dice.

Handymen roll both dice, but may use only one of the two dice for movement, or, move any number between the numbers rolled. e.g. if a two and a five are rolled, the player can move any of the following: two, three, four or five, (NOT THE SUM OF BOTH DICE). This rule applies only when rolling from the home square area.

Handymen must follow the directional arrows when travelling to and from the shopping/home squares and may exit whenever it is possible. Handymen must always remember to follow the rules of movement pertaining to the square their movement started on. ROLLING DOUBLES

A Handyman rolling doubles has the option of paying 100 times what was rolled towards their home’s equity in lieu of their turn. The sum is paid to the bank and added to their Equity Score Sheet.

HOME IMPROVEMENT CARDS

The Handyman Home consists of 24 rooms. Home Improvement Cards contain various jobs to be done around the house. Handymen landing on a Home Improvement Card square have the option of drawing an additional card, discarding one to the bottom of the deck, or ending their turn. The maximum number of Home Improvement Cards a Handyman may possess is eight. These cards are to be kept face up. Handymen are not allowed to read the back of the card until they have earned the right to pick up a “Tool Time” Rating Card. Handymen need only read the front of the Home Improvement Card> to find out the details of the job. The back of the Card has “Tool Time” Ratings one to four. These rate the Handyman’s workmanship of a recently finished job. When a job is complete> or deemed incomplete, the tools and supplies checked off must be erased and the Home Improvement Card is to be returned to the bottom of the deck.

TOOLS & SUPPLIES

Tools or supplies can be purchased only when players have a Home Improvement Card requiring them. The Home Improvement Card will specify which store the Handyman must go to in order to purchase the tools and supplies required for that particular home improvement. You must land on a store with an exact roll. Upon doing so, pay the bank the specified amount for the tools or supplies and, using the dry erasable marker, check off the tool or supply purchased. If you have multiple Home Improvement Cards requiring tools or supplies from the same store, you may purchase them all at once upon landing on that store. Tools and supplies are purchased for one job only and may not be transferred to other Home Improvement Cards, Tools and supplies must be erased when the job is completed and/or the card returned.

COMPLETING A HOME IMPROVEMENT CARD

A Handyman thaws a “Tool Time” Rating Card when landing on the appropriate home square (room) as indicated on the front of their Home Improvement Card. Then they take the top “Tool Time” Rating Card. The number determines which “Tool Time” Rating is to be read on the back of the, Home Improvement Card. Handymen then READ ALOUD the job they have just finished and the “Tool Time” Rating that was drawn. To complete the job, Handymen follow any instructions which the “Tool Time” Rating indicates. If the job is complete, they add the equity indicated to their Equity Score Sheet. if a Handyman has more than ohe job to complete in the same room they may complete them all in one turn by drawing separate “Tool Time” Rating Cards for each Home Improvement Card..

POWER CARD

A Handyman draws a Power Card when landing on a Power square and follows the instructions given. These are played immediately or can be saved until needed if indicated. Saved >Power Cards must be kept face down.

A Handyman required to move to another square due ta a Power Card must travel directly to the nearest square requested. $2,000 is not, collected if “Payday” is passed. Power Cards are returned to the bottom of the deck when used.

"GO ASK AL” CARD"

When a Handyman lands on a “Go Ask Al” square the neighbor to the right takes the top card and reads it. The Handyman is to answer the question or complete the quote and, if answered correctly, collects the bonus listed on the card. If the answer given is incorrect, the reader can earn the bonus if their response is "I don’t think so Tim”. The card is then returned to the bottom of the deck.

“HIDY-HO, GOOD NEIGHBOR” CARD

.Handymen landing on this square take the top card and follow instructions given. The purchase price of tools or supplies at a Garage Sale is 50% off the purchase price, payable to the neighbor having the garage sale. Neighbors must have a Home Improvement Card requiring those particular tools or supplies to be able to take advantage of a garage sale.

When a neighbor is asked to turn in a tool or supply, they must erase it from their Home Improvement Card and receive no money for it. “Hidy-Ho, Good Neighbor” Cards are to be used immediately, then returned to the bottom of the deck.

SPECIAL SQUARES

PAYDAY

Handymen collect $2,000 each time they pass “Payday”. Handymen landing directly on “Payday” collect a $500 bonus and have the option of paying the full $2,500 to the bank and adding this amount to their home’s equity. Handymen landing on or passing “Payday” with no Home Improvement Cards may take one.

WORK SQUARE

Handymen sent to “Work” must remain there for three full turns. Handymen who cannot pay their bills are required to go to “Work” in lieu of payment. Handymen still roll on their turn and may leave work early by rolling doubles. Handymen do not collect $2,000 for passing “Payday” on their way to “Work”.

MORTGAGE SQUARE

A Handyman landing on the “Mortgage Time” square rolls both dice and pays the bank 100 times the amount of the roll. Handyman who cannot pay the full amount must go to “Work”.

SPECIALTY STORES

BORLAND’S BARGAIN BASEMENT

Players may purchase any one tool or supply they require from Borland’s’ Bargain Basement at 50% off the purchase price by landing on this square.

K & B CONSTRUCTION

Rentals: Some tools can be rented but not purchased. Rented tools may not be sold or traded to “Neighbors” and must be returned when the job is finished. You can rent tools at K & B Construction only.

Contracting: There will be some “Tool Time” Ratings that will require you to contract out a job (usually because your first attempt was a fiasco). Handymen contracting K & B Construction for a job must proceed to that square, pay the listed costs to the bank, mark off the appropriate tool or supply, and return to the room where the work is to be done. The job will then be complete and the equity can be added to their Score Sheet.

“TOOL TIME” SUPER STORE

Handymen may purchase any tools or supplies (except rental items) from the Super Store and may buy as much as they wish to speed up their home improvements. But, speed costs money — all items purchased from the Super Store will cost double their list price.

WINNING THE GAME

The winner of Home Improvement is the first Handyman to earn over $50,000 EQUITY and pass “Payday”. For a shorter version, see VARIATIONS. Optional Version of Winning

To increase the element of strategy required to win Home Improvement, have players pass “Payday” without any Home Improvement Cards left.

STRATEGY

Collecting the tools and supplies required for more than one home improvement before moving into the home squares may speed things tip as it will be easier to land on the various desired rooms. This way, you’ll be working on more than one job at the same time.

VARIATIONS

For a game of Home Improvement with a set time frame, the following versions may be used:

1. Agree on a time frame. The Handyman with the most jobs completed at the end of the time limit is the winner. Handymen save their Home Improvement Cards when completed instead of returning them to the bottom of the deck.
2. Same as 1, except the player with the most Equity at the end of the time limit is the winner.

For a game with no set time frame:

1. Deal out a set number of Home Improvement Cards and the first Handyman to complete all of their jobs is the winner. Handymen do not pick up Home Improvement Cards when they land on a Home Improvement square.

For a game of 60 to 90 minutes, play to $30,000 in equity or see Team Play.

TEAM PLAY

Divide into teams of two or three. Each team receives four Home Improvement Cards and $5,000 in cash per team member. Each Handyman moves individually but shares job and equity with their partner(s). This version is useful if six or more players wish to play. Partners are required to sit opposite each other.

PLEASE NOTE:

Only a “dry erase” marker should be used in the Home Improvement Game for checking off items on the Home Improvement Cards. Please ensure any replacement markers you use are of the dry erase variety.

ENJOY THE GAME!

Graphic Design by Thomas Magee

Questions and comments, Write to:
BARANARAB INNOVATIONS INC. 111 Maple Way, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada T4A 2A2

Manufactured by Northern Games Co. Ltd. Printed in Canada