Hiring a Contractor vs. DIY

When doing a home improvement project, there are generally three ways it can get done. You can hire a contractor to do it, do it yourself or your family can secretly nominate you for a home improvement show that magically transforms your room while you are out grocery shopping. But the chances of that last one happening are pretty slim, so let's go with the idea that there are generally just two ways to do a home improvement project.

As Americans, it often seems to be part of our DNA to fix things ourselves. Who hasn't felt the feeling of triumph when completing something from start to finish? Recently it has become very trendy to "DIY" due to a multitude of home improvement shows, home improvement store seminars and how-to's on the Internet. These things combined with a recession, and home owners wanting to save money, have led to many folks trying to tackle home remodeling projects on their own. Despite the best intentions, the reality is that certain limitations do exist for most people when it comes to "handyman" knowledge and ability. Without asking yourself the right questions first, you might find yourself in more of a sticky "Tim the Toolman Taylor" situation and less of the intended "Bob Villa" successful scenario.

Here's how to determine the best route to take on your next home improvement project:

1) Assess your skills. If you have done the project before or have done something similar with the same set of skills, that is a good sign that you are in the DIY group. If you are dealing with simple, general tasks such as changing fixtures or installing a ceiling fan, you may be able to perform these tasks yourself. Keep in mind, some things are just better left to the professionals.

2) Assess the safety risks. We may laugh about losing a finger when doing the work alone, but there can be serious risks involved with DIY projects. Projects involving electrical, gas, and plumbing are generally tasks that you shouldn't try to tackle yourself if you don't have adequate experience. Not only can they make a big mess for you or someone else to clean up, without the proper knowledge they can be even more serious, resulting an injury, death, or your wife's wrath.

3) Assess the costs. Many people assume that DIY can save you lots of money, which is true in some cases, but make sure that you have a clear picture of everything involved in your DIY. Do you have the tools that you need to complete your project? If not, will you have to buy them, or can you borrow or rent them instead? Do you have the actual time to complete the project? Many projects that on paper say it will take a few days, end up taking weeks or more in real life. Squeezing in a few hours after work and on the weekends to work on the project won't exactly speed up the process either. Hiring a contractor will mean someone is there all day and someone who has contacts in the industry available to help resolve any problems that arise.

Given all the assessments above, choosing to hire a contractor to get the job done typically makes the most sense. Contact us today to get a risk free consultation from our bathroom remodeling and kitchen remodeling experts.