Why should you use a contractor vs DIY?
Who has an incomplete DIY project that you started, last month, last year, last decade?
Come on, be honest….you’ve got one right?
Let’s talk about when to DIY it and when to get out of the way and hire a professional.
A quick google search for DIY fails will provide some much appreciated levity and social media sharing but in reality what you see can be dangerous or destructive and it is clearly not the correct way to repair things. When I looked this up myself, I found everything from duct tape holding up a toilet tank, a ceiling fan installed too close into the corner of a room, and the blades sliced into the adjacent walls to kitchen drawers that won’t open due to poor layout planning and many electrical no-nos.
Clearly there are some DIYs you can take on, learn about, or do by trial and error. Replacing door hinges and locksets, interior wall painting or installing closet organizers – Sure go for it!
Installing a new sink and faucet?
Bring it on! IF you feel confident and have done a few jobs prior. Just make sure you know the basics, like where your shutoffs are. If you don’t know what they are – put the wrench down, back away, and google plumbers in your area!
The siren call of all those remodeling TV shows is that you is that you too, can do it yourself!
You think. Sure, I can do that. You become really inspired. You think, what’s the worst that could happen? Right?
Well – It could kill you. It could destroy your home.
THREE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF BEFORE EVEN ATTEMPTING TO DO IT YOURSELF:
- What is the worst possible thing that could happen if you mess it up? For some jobs, such as roofing, gas or major electrical work, the answer is, “I could get killed.” That answer is an obvious red flag – a warning sign that this is a job for a professional.
- Could it Destroy My Home? Major plumbing jobs, such as moving bathroom fixtures, fit into this category. If you don’t get everything properly installed and tightened, you can end up with a water leak – possibly one that goes unnoticed for years until it weakens a wall or floor to the point of collapse. Of course, that would also be true if a plumber hired by you made the same mistake – but in that case the plumber would be at fault and would have to pay for the damage.
- Does It Require a Permit? One warning sign that a job is probably too complicated for a DIY job is that it requires a building permit. Each city has its own rules about which jobs require permits, how much they cost, and how difficult it is to get one. In some areas, it’s fairly easy for a homeowner to apply for a permit for DIY work. In others, you can’t get a permit at all unless you’re working with a licensed contractor. However, even when getting a permit is no problem, the fact that you need one is a sign that you should think carefully about whether this is a job you really want to tackle yourself.
THERE ARE A FEW KEY REASONS TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRE A PROFESSIONAL:
- Some jobs are specialized and take years to learn.
Experts know the code, have the skills and tools for the job and will do a better job than what a weekend warrior may think he or she wants to take on. Especially, if it’s a technical job involving structural work or could be a dangerous element like gas lines
There is a reason why the “safety first “ tag line exists.
- Mistakes are costly
Even with no safety concerns, if you try to do the job yourself and then find you are in over your head and call a contractor in to fix your DIY mess, you have now paid 2x for the job and perhaps a bit more as the contractor has to undo your attempt.
- It could hurt your home value when you sell.
If the work is not up to standard, or left unfinished, it will hurt your listing price and could also turn away potential buyers who are concerned about what potential nightmares a homeowner special has left behind the scenes.
- Time is Money.
What is your time worth? What would you prefer to be doing with it? Do you have the tools for the job? By the time you spend the money to purchase materials at retail rates, the tools for the job, and spend 3x-4x more time a professional would, ask yourself- will it be worth it? Will you complete the job? Would you rather have put in a few extra hours at work or forgone the lattes for a bit to find the money to pay a professional so you can spend time at the park with your kids, hike with the dog or watch the big game instead of pulling your hair out on something that is not your specialty?
Don’t get me wrong, if you really enjoy working with tools, want to build your skills, and feel fulfilled by being able to say you did that, then fill your boots! That’s awesome. Just take stock and be realistic about your skills and the time you have available to do the project or who knows, you could have a partner who is very unhappy with you.
- You’ll have a completed project!
The keyword is COMPLETED!
- Your insurance could be void if something goes horribly wrong.
Insurance is for anything sudden and unexpected – which does not cover playing around with the pipes or whatnot. Water might unexpectedly start gushing if something is done incorrectly. Also, the trades that go into the homes have their own policies to cover them if they do something incorrectly or if it fails.
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