(close this window to return to www.homerepairremodeling.com)

Should you “do it yourself”?

When it comes to home improvements, many of us have champagne tastes on a beer budget—we noodle-out the perfect plan for a project, then the contractors’ bids come in at twice what we can afford. So we become do-it-yourselfers. We know that, by eliminating the labor expense, we can often chop a project’s cost in half. 

But should you do the work yourself? The answer depends upon a number of factors, including your abilities, your collection of tools and safety gear, your time, and your inclination to roll up your sleeves. 

Unless you are a highly skilled do-it-yourselfer, avoid taking on jobs that may be dangerous, particularly difficult, or where a mistake can be quite costly. Some jobs simply are not worth the risk. For example, think twice before doing:

• Extensive electrical work
• Plumbing that involves crawling under the house
• Roofing work on a steeply-pitched or high roof
• Difficult or laborious work, such as chopping out and pouring a new concrete floor
• Siding work that requires scaffolding higher than two stories
• Work where there may be hidden mysteries
• Any other task that you’re not confident you can handle.

Consider you skills, tools, and time. Then take a closer look at your options before you make a final decision.

Skills. Be realistic about your skills. Don’t try to take on work that you won’t be able to finish or that may end up looking unprofessional. Avoid intricate work or work that requires a high degree of craftsmanship unless you’re competent at the job. For example, don’t plan on building raised-panel cabinets unless you have the necessary cabinetmaking skills.

Tools. Be aware that you’ll need special tools for some jobs. You can rent tools, and you can often buy tools with what you’ll save on labor, but if you don’t already own the tools, you probably don’t have very much experience at using them. Once again, think twice before jumping in with both feet unless you have experience with the necessary tools.

Time. Don’t forget to take your time into consideration. Even spare time has a value—and the value of yours is worth factoring into the equation. Although a professional repairperson can probably do the job considerably faster than you can, you actually may complete some jobs sooner by doing them yourself because you won’t have to wait for professionals to show up.

A closer look at your alternatives. There is definitely something to be said for hiring a pro to handle a project from start to finish—particularly if you find a professional who gives you a quality job at a good price.