In this section we will address that not so simple question:
Do It Myself or Hire A Contractor – When Should You Do One & When Should You Do The Other
There are advantages and disadvantages as to when to do a home improvement job yourself as opposed to hiring a professional contractor. While it is true that for many projects doing it yourself may save you some money. There are three important items to consider before picking up that hammer or heading down to your local Do It Yourself center.
Item 1 – Let’s Examine Contacts
On the Contractor’s side – These days, especially when it comes to big jobs, the estimate the contractor gives you includes a list of professional contracts to assure that the job is done fast, right, and on time. As the old saying goes, “time is money” and for many it is smarter to pay someone to do what they do best leaving you free to do what you do best.
On the Do It Yourself side – In cases of small jobs they can save lots of money because, most small jobs don’t have an immediate deadline. The lack of experience will result in more time taken up, but can be a good experience because the Do-It-Yourselfer will gain valuable know-how in case the job has to be redone in the future. However, it should not be overlooked that some do-it-yourself jobs can run into some hassles from loved ones, such as, “how long will the kitchen sink be gone”, to neighbors, “how long will your yard look like a battleground”. Time is definitely a tradeoff to consider before tackling any do-it-yourself project.
Item 2 – Let’s Examine Guarantees
On the Contractors side – professional contractors carry insurance on the resulting quality of the job they perform, on their personal safety in case of personal injury, and their workers welfare. For example, if you have a contractor come in to tile your bathroom, the contractor will guarantee that you won’t have to worry about the tile falling into the tub during your next bath.
On the Do-It-Yourself side – The money that you save may quickly disappear if the job turns out wrong and has to be redone, or even worse, you may consider yourself an excellent part-time roofer, but you won’t wrack up lots of savings if you have to miss work because of a broken arm as a result of falling off the roof during your Saturday work session.
Item 3 – Let’s Examine Experience
On the Contractor’s side – A good experienced contractor will come with references in hand. They will be able to walk you through the job while telling you step by step what they will be doing and how long it will take. Their experience will not only guarantee a timely job but also a job that will not need to be redone.
On the Do-It-Yourself side – Unless you have previously done the type of job you are attempting yourself you are going to be at the mercy of your own learning curve. For small projects like outdoor sheds or painting lawn furniture you will probably find that time (or event the lack of it) is on your side because you can go at your own pace and stop with very little notice. But, as stated before, when it comes to doing a project that requires everyday use, such as a bathroom or a kitchen, serious consideration should be taken before tacking any new project as a novice.
It has been said that “experience is the best teacher” and I have found that to be true, but no one says it has to be YOUR experience that teaches you. When in doubt, I find that doing your “homework” is always a good way to go. Take out a sheet of paper and write up the pros and cons. A lot of times this simple exercise will let you know which one is the best direction to take. A professional or yourself.
Oh, by the way, if you have a spouse that says “I told you so” if a do-it-yourself project is botched up, then that definitely goes on the “con” side of the equation.
Happy Home Improving!
