With all the great television coverage available now on cable, DIY jobs seem easier than ever to start and complete on your own! The reality of the situation is the people who are showing you how to do these jobs yourself are usually professionals. When doing a job yourself seems like a good idea, consider 3 important factors before you begin.
Factor #1: Your Skills
Be realistic about your skills. Don’t take on work that may end up looking unprofessional as this may have an impact on the resale value of your home. Also, frustration leads to procrastination, which leads to the never ending renovation – the project you will never finish. 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 cabinet making skills.
Factor #2: Your 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.
Factor #3: Your 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. Time away from your family, time away from other duties, or just time away from relaxation should all be taken into consideration. Some DIY projects may take longer than expected, especially when factoring in the learning curve, research, trial and errors.
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. Unfortunately, that isn’t always easy. The best way to find good people is through personal recommendations. Talk to friends or neighbors who have had similar work done and were happy with the results and the service. However this is not always the case, so look for directories like KWContractor.com, that offer more information other than just a slick picture and nice tagline. Ask questions, know what you are looking for, and do your due diligence. For more help on knowing what to ask, see the ‘How to Hire a Contractor’ articles found within the KWContractor.com website.