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Do-it-yourself home improvement: always a good idea?

Once a homeowner decides to go ahead with a particular home improvement project, they have the difficult decision of whether to do it themselves or call in a professional.

There is no hard and fast rule here. Every potential fan will need to ask themselves a few questions and be totally honest with the answers in order to be satisfied with the end result. They will also have to do the necessary research to make sure their answers are based on reality. Don’t say you can build kitchen cabinets just because you’ve made some bookcases. It may well be true that you can, but research the steps and tools required to build those cabinets and compare them to your previous experience, plus your desire to learn new skills and obtain the necessary tools, before you decide.

If you are considering doing some home improvement work yourself or thinking about using a professional contractor, here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you make an informed decision.

Am I able to complete the job?

This is the most important question and also the most difficult one and you will need to honestly consider whether or not you can do the job yourself.

If you haven’t had previous experience doing work like this, or if you haven’t had the opportunity to help others complete a similar project, or if you’re just not confident in your ability to do this job yourself, then it may be worth calling to a professional.

Conversely, if you have no prior experience in this particular home improvement, but have researched the job thoroughly and are still excited and optimistic about taking it on, then go for it, especially if you can muster a helper with some experience. . Be sure to always consider all security issues when researching the project. Having a kitchen cabinet door that won’t close isn’t good, but it’s not as bad as finishing the job without a finger, or worse.

Can I afford it?

It’s easy to underestimate the costs involved in a home improvement project. If your project is small, like broken faucets or painting a bedroom, chances are you can save big.

If the project is one that involves a major disruption to your living space, such as a total kitchen remodel, then you should consider the impact on your home, life, and career as you work on this project nights and weekends. Also try to anticipate extraneous costs like, in our example of a kitchen remodel, eating out or ordering almost every night when comparing DIY vs. professional home improvement work.

It will take you a lot more time than it would take a professional even if you are as skilled as him (obviously not very likely) because he can work on it full time. This may end up costing him more financially, because as the project progresses, he may be tempted to buy his supplies from the most convenient place, rather than the least expensive, or call in professionals to finish small jobs that only he can do. Not finding the time to. However, if you’re really motivated to take on the project, if you have time to focus on the job at hand, and if you’re prepared for the stress of living without a kitchen for a month or two, then try that once again, make sure having identified all security issues related to the project.

Do I need a building permit?

Check with the local building department. In many places, any work involving wiring or plumbing automatically requires a permit and that the work be done only by a professional contractor.

In the end, what is often the best solution is to do labor-intensive jobs yourself (such as demolition) and let a professional handle tasks that require experience and skill. This will usually get you professional quality work at a price well below the typical professional quality price.

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