Should you DIY or hire a pro?

Here is how to decide if you should DIY or hire a pro

It can be fulfilling to complete an upgrade to your home yourself, and it’s always enticing to try to save a few bucks especially if you’re planning to sell your home soon.  However, some projects are better left to the professionals.  Here is how to decide if you should tackle that task yourself or hire someone to get it done.

Skills and resources. The first step in evaluating whether you should attempt your project yourself is an honest inventory of your skills.  Experts cited by Bankrate suggest you ask yourself, “Do I enjoy physical labor and do I like getting dirty?”  Consult reference materials to become familiar with the steps involved with accomplishing your goal.  Talk with friends who have completed similar projects, and if you know someone who works in the trade, discuss your project with that person.  By knowing exactly what is involved with the whole process you can make a better informed decision on whether you are up to the task.  You also might be able to get assistance from your friend if you hit a bump along the way. 

Test drive your abilities.  If you think you can do a project but don’t have experience in some of the steps involved, try a smaller version of it first.  Instead of staining your new hardwood floors, purchase a piece of unfinished furniture and stain it yourself.  Instead of rewiring a room, install a new light switch and electrical outlet. 

Costs involved. Complete a cost analysis before committing to your project.  Doing a project yourself can save between twenty-five and fifty percent on labor.  However, if you make mistakes, repairs and do-overs quickly inflate costs.  Also, contractors usually can purchase materials at a discounted rate and already own their tools.  If you can’t or don’t want to purchase tools but do want to go forward on your project, most power tools can be rented from home improvement stores. 

Projects to try.  The experts at Huffington Post suggest attempting these projects yourself:

• Painting. Painting your walls is probably a task you can handle, and it doesn’t involve extensive training or elaborate tools. Do proper prep work for a better finished product. Tip:  Some professionals suggest choosing a finish that will be appropriate to the room.  Shinier finishes, such as gloss or satin, hold up better to high-traffic.  Flatter finishes cover imperfections better but will show fingerprints and other wear.

• Floors. Clean and repair small nicks yourself. Puckered laminate can be fixed with glue and a heavy brick. Scratched hardwood floors can be prettied up with a same-colored crayon.  However according to HouseLogic.com, a full refinishing of your hardwood flooring is better left to professionals. 

• Bathroom. Replace toilet flappers and install new shower heads yourself.  You can also try other small plumbing projects such as removing minor clogs and replacing a faucet washer.

Projects to avoid. Some projects are inherently dangerous for amateurs, and some simply require more skill or training than most of us have. 

• Electricity and gas. Electrical lines and natural gas lines are better left to licensed professionals.  Errors in your work and lack of skill can lead to serious injury or death.
• Plumbing.  You might be better off leaving plumbing projects to professionals.  Mistakes can mean clogs and flooding, and potentially causing more damage than what you could save on the labor costs of hiring the work done. 

• Flooring. Some projects are fairly simple but can look shoddy without proper training.  Laminate flooring is an example, which looks more polished with less cuts. 

Still thinking of trying a DIY?  The professionals at The Spruce have put together a chart of projects they suggest you could try and projects to avoid.  Note that if you are not familiar with operating power tools, it is advised that you should not wear loose clothing, oversized gloves, jewelry or accessories that can catch in moving parts or blades. 

To DIY or not to DIY?  Do an honest evaluation before attempting a project. Consider your skills and resources and investigate the costs involved. You might be able to save a few bucks, but a professional might save you some headaches in the long run.

Absolute Construction is a multi-year Parade of Homes Gold Medal winner in Chatham county North Carolina, who builds award winning custom houses in Pittsboro, Chatham County, NC specifically in Chapel Ridge.