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DIY vs Professional Home Improvement Services

DIY vs Professional Home Improvement ServicesPhoto by Roselyn Tirado

Originally Posted On: DIY vs Professional Home Improvement Services (meganewsmagazines.com)

 

There’s something fun and rewarding about DIY home improvement projects. From gathering the required materials to stepping back and appreciating your work once you finish, it’s no wonder they’ve become so popular in modern society.

Unfortunately, not all situations are DIY-friendly. There are some times when it’s better to hire an expert to come and help you out.

To help you know when those times are, we’ve put together this guide. By the time you finish reading, you’ll know exactly whether you can do it yourself or you should hire someone.

Read on to learn all about how DIY home improvement stacks up to home improvement services.

When Can You DIY Home Improvement?

While DIY doesn’t work all the time, there are situations where you can get away with it. When you do, you’ll get to sharpen your skills, problem solve, and potentially save money.

Let’s take a look at when DIY home improvement might be okay.

You’re Confident You Can Do It

You know what you’re capable of better than anyone. Before you embark on any home improvement project, ask yourself: Can I do this? If you know that you can, then DIY should be fine.

Tasks like assembling furniture and applying a new coat of paint to something are things that most people can do. You might need to follow an instruction manual or watch a tutorial on YouTube beforehand, but you shouldn’t have a problem after you do.

The great thing about these types of home improvement projects is that they’re usually not time-consuming or expensive. You can complete most of them in a few hours or an afternoon.

Home Improvement Services Are Too Expensive

Price is something that turns many people away from working with professionals. If you’re certain that you can’t stretch your budget to meet the rates a contractor is charging, then DIY might be a good option.

Provided you don’t make a mistake, you might even end up increasing the value of your home. This can get you more money if you ever decide to sell.

Keep in mind, however, that home improvement services might not be as expensive as you think. Before deciding to DIY anything, first get some quotes for home improvement.

You Have the Time

Most people only think about the financial cost when weighing whether they should do something or hire a professional. While that’s important to consider, make sure you also factor in how much time you’ll need to complete the project.

If you estimate that a project will take you six hours to complete, that might not seem like a lot of time. But what else could you use that time for? If a project is forcing you to step away from something else you need to do, you might end up setting yourself back in more ways than one.

On the other hand, if you’re certain you have the time (and the skills, as mentioned), then DIY might not be a bad idea. Just make sure to get everything you need beforehand so you don’t end up making multiple trips to the home improvements store.

When Should You Hire Someone for House Repairs?

While DIY works in some situations, there are also times when you’re better off leaving a task to the pros.

Here are some situations where that’s the case:

The Project Requires Technical Knowledge

Does your project require you to handle electric wiring, plumbing, or your HVAC system? If so, you’re not going to be able to learn what you need to from a ten-minute YouTube video.

Contractors spend entire careers learning about the technical knowledge behind these sorts of things. Unless you’re certain that the fix is a simple one, don’t waste your time trying to do it. Hire a professional who knows what they’re doing.

You Want Everything to Be Perfect

Doing it yourself can be fun, but most projects come out looking a bit more amateurish than they otherwise would. This isn’t always a bad thing, and in some cases, it can even add character to your home.

However, if perfection is the goal, let a professional tackle the project.

In some extreme cases, DIY projects gone wrong can even hurt the value of your home. You don’t want to try and save money in the present only to harm yourself later on.

You Can Get Hurt

Did you know that 300 people fall off a ladder each year and die? While not every home improvement project requires you to scale walls, the fact remains that many projects can be dangerous.

If there’s even the slightest chance of you getting hurt while working, save yourself the pain later on by letting someone else do it. A professional has the tools, knowledge, and experience to stay safe—even in risky situations where normal people could get hurt.

Most contractors also have some form of insurance. This protects both them and your home in case something happens.

Home Improvement Made Easy

Whether you’re looking to throw on a fresh coat of paint, replace your HVAC system, or fix a plumbing issue, you always have the option to do it yourself. However, there are some instances when doing so isn’t a good idea.

If your home improvement project is difficult, dangerous, or needs to be perfect, hiring an expert to come and help you out is always a good idea. Do some research to ensure you find the top contractors near you.

Are you looking to learn more about home improvement services? If so, check out the rest of our site for more great content like this.

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