The do-it-yourself, or DIY, movement is a great way to be creative and may save some money remodeling your home. However, if you don’t have the right skills to get the job done properly, then you could be setting yourself up for a disaster and possibly cause damage to your house in the process. Due to the prevalence of home improvement shows, we often times find ourselves thinking, I can do that too… But how do you know when you should really hire a pro instead of DIY-ing your home remodel?
Questions to Ask Yourself
· Is it Safe? – If it could hurt you, cause major damage to your property, involves electrical or plumbing or tile work, or if it requires a building permit, then leave it to the pros. Better safe than sorry!
· What is my Time Frame? – What may start out as a quick fixer-upper could turn into a long process with half-finished projects and a ton of frustration. Do you really have the spare time to be doing these projects? Some can take more time than you think, especially if it is your first time doing any kind of repair-work. Bottom-line: what you think will be a weekend project could be weeks and months of agonizing…
· Do I have the Experience? - Do you have the experience and the tools? You wouldn’t want pipes bursting or tilework to come out crooked.
· Will it really be Cost effective? – A bathroom gut and remodel could take a huge chunk of money from your wallet if you hire a pro, but in the end it may be worth it to get the best quality workmanship. It may cost you more money in the end just trying to fix DIY mistakes.
· Could it Hurt Your Home’s Value? Sloppy work may be a “turn-off” for future buyers and they will be more skeptical of DIY improvements vs. if you hired a professional.
So what can you do?
You can do some of the work yourself and leave the big/technical stuff to the professionals. You can paint – it makes for great family bonding time, plus if friends and family pitch in it will be a lot faster and more fun. Instead of buying brand new tools that you may use once in 10 years, consider renting tools from your local hardware shop. If you are doing a kitchen remodel, try doing the demo yourself; you can try replacing faucets, light fixtures and bulbs and other accessories; you can try re-facing your cabinets and installing new modern hardware.
Just like with real estate transactions, the pros often save you a lot of time and headache. We have all heard contractor horror stories, so finding the right one is key. Feel free to reach out to me for advice on which renovations can add value to your home and also install my HomeKeepr app on your smartphone where you can browse through my personal local (Monmouth County NJ) recommendations for electricians, plumbers, heating/cooling experts, contractors, etc. Download app here - Homekeepr
