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.
Please use extreme caution when confronted with the following warning signs of a potential scam:
(1) Door-to-door salespersons with no local connections who offer to do home repair work for substantially less than the market price.
(2) Solicitations for repair work from a company that lists a telephone number to contact if it is an out-of-state company.
(3) Contractors who fail to provide customers references when requested.
(4) Persons offering to inspect your home for free. Do not admit anyone into your home unless he or she can present authentic identification establishing his or her business status. When in doubt, do not hesitate to call the worker's employer to verify his or her identity.
(5) Contractors demanding cash payment for a job or who ask you to make a check payable to a person other than the owner or company name.
(6) Offers from a contractor to drive you to the bank to withdraw funds to pay for the work.
(1) Get all estimates in writing.
(2) Do not be induced into signing a contract by high-pressure sales tactics.
(3) Never sign a contract with blank spaces or one you do not fully understand. If you are taking out a loan to finance the work, do not sign the contract before your lender approves the loan.
(4) Remember, you have 3 business days from the time you sign your contract to cancel if the sale is made at your home. The contractor cannot deprive you of this right by initiating work, selling your contract to a lender, or any other tactic.
(5) If the contractor does business under a name other than the contractor's real name, the business must either be incorporated or registered under the Assumed Business Name Act. Check with the Secretary of State to see if the business is incorporated or with the county clerk to see if the business has registered under the Assumed Business Name Act.
(6) Homeowners should check with local and county units of government to determine if permits or inspections are required.
(7) Determine whether the contractor will guarantee his or her work and products.
(8) Determine whether the contractor has the proper insurance.
(9) Do not sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until the work is done to your satisfaction. (10) Remember, homeowners should know who provides supplies and labor for any work performed on your home. Suppliers and subcontractors have a right to file a lien against your property if the general contractor fails to pay them. To protect your property, request lien waivers from the general contractor.
BASIC TERMS TO BE INCLUDED IN A CONTRACT
(1) Contractor's full name, address, and telephone number. Persons selling home repair and improvement services should provide their customers with notice of any change to their business name or address that comes about prior to the agreed dates for beginning or completing the work.
(2) A description of the work to be performed.
(3) Starting and estimated completion dates.
(4) Total cost of work to be performed.
(5) Schedule and method of payment, including down payment, subsequent payments, and final payment.
(6) A provision stating the grounds for termination of the contract by either party. However, the homeowner must pay the contractor for work completed. If the contractor fails to commence or complete work within the contracted time period, the homeowner may cancel and may be entitled to a refund of any down payment or other payments made towards the work, upon written demand by certified mail.
Homeowners should obtain a copy of the signed contract and keep it in a safe place for reference as needed.
To Whom it May Concern:
We had a fire, which started via spontaneous combustion, in our new home. We were devastated, our home was less than 5 months old. Jerry came out and looked at the job. He reassured us that he could put the house 'back together again'. He started the job right away.
Mr. Casey had to replace a header beam, install new gutters, recondition the brick and concrete, install a new garage door and paint. He completed the job, restoring the house back to it 'new' condition. In fact, he did such a wonderful job, we had him to complete several other projects for us. Jerry put in some 12 v outdoor lighting, in the front and back of our home.
Added security lighting on the garage and on the west side of the house. He installed a ceiling fan in the master bathroom, a door bell on our back patio, changed out and installed several light fixtures through-out our home. He also poured a concrete pad on our back patio.
Every job Mr. Casey has completed for us has been very successful. Jerry is trustworthy, honest and dependable. He even cleans-up after himself. What more could a woman want?
Thank you Jerry, for everything you have done for our family. We enjoy it everyday.
~John and Sherry
NRH, TX