Wednesday, December 18th, 2024
You need to paint the house, install a new bathroom sink, replace your drafty doors and windows or go solar. Maybe it’s time to replace that inflatable pool in the backyard, with a real concrete ground level sunken pool. What you need to ask yourself is, do you go DIY and take on the project yourself?
A big factor to consider in any home improvement project, renovation or repair is whether or not you can afford to hire a professional to do the work. Or at very least, help with the job.
Paying for labor can add to the cost of any project, at times doubling it.
There are a lot of variables you need to consider. It depends on the size of the project, your budget, your time and your skill level.
At times, it’s possible you might end up spending more money by not hiring a contractor or subcontractor, to do it properly the first time.
Is It A Do-It-Yourself Project
If you do the project yourself, you may have to buy or rent tools to get the job done. Most likely, you’ll end up paying a lot more for building materials.
Most contractors get special deals for buying in bulk, or by having built up a relationship with a variety of suppliers.
You will most likely be paying retail prices, while your contractor gets it wholesale and on credit.
Finally, if your skill level is not up to par, you may end up having to pay a contractor to come fix your mistakes. Your costs could then shoot through the roof (the one you just tried to replace!)
When doing an estimate, always over budget when taking on a remodeling or do-it-yourself project.
If you don’t have access to proper tools, special discounts, or how-to knowledge, you might need a pro to come in and do the job for you.
If it’s a simple project and you have the tools and the skill, then hiring someone to do it for you could be the wrong move.
Do I Have The Time
You always need to consider how much time will be involved to finish your construction project. Replacing a faucet might only take you a few hours if you have the proper tools and know how.
But if you’re going to tackle a larger task, factor in how much of your time it will take up. Can it be done over the weekend.
It’s not just the time you’ll spend actually working on it, but the time it will take to find the right prices, shopping for any special tools and materials, and to clean up after the job is done.
Whatever project you have in mind, always estimate how much time it will take to complete. Once you’ve got your time estimate in mind, double it.
What never fails are unexpected problems, as they always seem to crop up at the most inopportune time, which adds delays.
For instance, say you start a simple bathroom remodel project, which should only take say three days.
If an unseen problem occurs, the completion could easily get pushed to the following weekend. Imagine if this happens and it’s the only bathroom in the house.
If you’re short on time, it might be a good idea to bring in a professional to handle the workload. If you have too much time on your hands, then I could use help installing a ceiling fan.
Do I Have The Know How
If you ask anyone who drives a car whether or not they’re a good driver, nearly every person will tell you they are.
You know they can’t all be right. Some people don’t realize they’re a bad driver, the one everyone complains about.
Most people also think they’re extremely skilled around the house with tools. They will tell you they’re “good with their hands.”
It’s a good idea to make an honest assessment of your true “handyman” skill level, before beginning any new remodeling project.
The danger of watching too many “home improvement” shows, similar to watching a cooking show, is they always make it look so easy.
What they do is edit it down until each project looks clean and simple, and only takes a half hour to complete.
If you are installing new tiles on your shower walls or a new backsplash in your kitchen, you’ll be working with expensive materials.
A trial-and-error approach or learning on-the-job could really increase your costs. One wrong cut and it’s back to the store.
Know What Your Options Are
You can do it yourself, you can hire a contractor for the entire project, or you can do some of the grunt work yourself.
To save on the amount of money you have to pay someone, and to save time for the professionals, you can do the prep work yourself beforehand.
For example, if you’re hiring professional painters to paint your house, you could scrape and sand a lot of the paint, before they get there.
Or, if you’re renovating a bedroom or the basement, you could handle the cleanup yourself after the project is completed.
There are a number of ways to do this type of “prep work,” to save time and money on the project, while still bringing in an expert to do the job right… where it counts.
One other thing to keep in mind is when doing it yourself, be careful not to void any warranties on labor or the products. A detail any contractor would be aware of.
Whether you do-it-yourself or you do-some-of-it-yourself, make sure you think about everything involved in the project.
Ask yourself if you’re up to doing the DIY home improvement project yourself, and answer honestly. Hiring a professional contractor could end up saving you time, money, and embarrassment.