A quick google search for DIY fails can provide laughs and social media sharing, but in reality, what you see can be dangerous or destructive and it’s 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 to a ceiling fan whose blades were installed too close into the corner of a room. So should you go ahead and hire a contractor or do it yourself?
Obviously there are some DIYs you can take on, learn about on YouTube or do by trial and error. Replacing door hinges & locksets, interior wall painting or installing closet organizers? Sure, 100%, 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 slowly and Google “plumbers in my area”!
The siren call of all those remodeling TV shows is that you – like Yan on the cooking show Yan Can Cook in the 80s (“If Yan Can Cook, So Can You!”) is that you too can do it yourself. You think “yeah, I can do that”, you’re all inspired, and really….what’s the worst that could happen? Right? Well – you could DIE or you could destroy your home. So if the answer to “what’s the worst that could happen?” is either of those things, it’s time to call in a professional. Another indicator that the project isn’t for you would be that a permit is required.
Here are the top 7 reasons that eliminate DIY for most homeowners
Some jobs are specialized and take years to learn.
Experts know the building code, have the skills and tools for the job, and will do a better job than a weekend warrior. Especially if it’s a technical job involving structural work or a dangerous element involving gas lines or heavy duty electrical work.
There’s a reason why the “safety first” tag line exists.
Speaking of safety… This would be good time to talk about asbestos. Like it or lump it, asbestos is a huge safety concern. If left alone, like a sleeping bear, you’re all good. As soon as you disturb it, the gloves are off.
Asbestos was considered the wonder product for ages. If your home was built prior to 1990 it most likely contains asbestos. It can be in the oddest places, but the most obvious is in drywall/mud compound. It’s also found in the ducting tape for your HVAC system, window tape, roofing, insulation, linoleum, siding and more? It has been found to be carcinogenic so you should get professionals to remove the old materials for the sake of you and your family’s long-term health. It’s no joke.
The job is probably too complicated for a DIYer if 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.
Visit your city’s planning and development website for information on what types of work they require permits for. Or give the department a call, describe what you’re hoping to do and they’ll be able to tell you directly
Your insurance could be void if something goes horribly wrong.
The insurance company will not respond if you are the source of the damage, unless you have a COC extension on your home – which notes that you will be doing the work yourself.
Insurance is for anything sudden and unexpected – so if you are playing around with the pipes and something goes sideways because of your actions (flooding, fire etc.), insurance would not pay for the repairs.
Trades that go into homes have their own insurance policies in case they do something incorrectly or it fails.
Mistakes are costly.
Even with no safety concerns, if you try to do the job yourself and then find that you are in over your head, it’ll probably cost you twice as much or more for them to undo your attempt and redo it correctly. It will cost more money and will take more time to resolve…. We can’t cover up mistakes or code violations knowing that they’re there.
It could hurt your homes value when you sell.
If the work is not up to standard or is left unfinished, it will not only hurt your listing price but could also turn away potential buyers who are concerned about the potential nightmares left behind the scenes.
Time is Money.
This one is a big one. What’s 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 and tools at retail rates, and spend three or four times more time than a professional would have – 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 lattes for a bit in order to spend time at the park with your kids, hike with the dog or watch the big game?
You’ll have a completed project!
The keyword there being COMPLETED!
Don’t get me wrong, if you really enjoy being on the tools, and you want to build your skills and feel fulfilled by being able to say you did that project, (“hey, look at what I did!”), then fill your boots! That’s awesome. Just take stock and be realistic about what your skills are and about the time that you have available to do the project. Otherwise, you could have a city inspector, and most likely a partner, who’s very, very, very unhappy with you.
If you want to do a renovation, but know that you don’t want to go it alone please feel free to reach out to us at http://www.woodbeart.com/contact
For more information, check out our podcast All Things Renovation at www.AllThingsRenovation.com or click on the Podcast page at www.woodbeart.com. The first series of episodes focuses on hiring a contractor.
