Fraud Blocker

When to DIY and When to Hire a Pro

By October 10, 2016 Home Improvement
graphic title - When to DIY

As a homeowner, one of the things that is most feared is an unexpected repair that may seem simple enough to fix yourself, but turns out to best be left to a pro.  For those seeking to place their home for sale, real estate agents usually recommend making updates or remodeling a few key rooms, like the kitchen, bathrooms and the flooring, in order to sell their home quickly and for top dollar.  Once you have assessed which rooms really do need an update, now you can assess which projects you can do on your own and which ones require a professional’s touch.   Whether you are looking at plumbing, roof repairs/replacement or updating your windows, with a bit of research you can determine which projects to handle yourself and which ones you will need to hire a professional for. 

When to Hire a Pro

Often times home repairs are undertaken by homeowners who at first believe they can do the work themselves, only to end up having to hire a professional to rescue them from the disaster they have created.  This kind of mistake can end up costing you more in the long run than if you had hired a professional to begin with.  Professionals you usually see on television make repairs look so easy and doable that you often underestimate how much work and skill it really takes to actually perform these repairs and updates.  By taking on something like a kitchen remodel on your own, without knowing or having any skills to actually accomplish a successful remodel, you can end up lowering the value of your home or damaging the structure.  By hiring a professional contractor to remodel your kitchen you will end up adding value to your home and avoiding many headaches and saving money in the long run.

A good example of a project that is best left to a pro is the installation of a new roof and windows.  This usually requires spending time in possibly dangerous environments for someone who does not know how to safely install a new roof or window.  Every homeowner should hire a professional for these types of projects and home repairs to avoid a fall or serious injury.  On the other side of the coin, there are other smaller projects where a homeowner can easily undertake themselves without the possibly of suffering a serious injury. 

When to DIY

If you are equipped with the correct tools and a little know how you can fix small plumbing issues that do not require the attention of a professional.  It is important to remember that a professional plumber or contractor may be able to complete the repair quickly and be able to provide a longer lifespan for the repair at hand than if you do it yourself.  In general, the installation of a new dishwasher or water heater completed by an experienced technician will have a longer lifespan than a similar installation completed by a homeowner who may not know how to properly do the install.   

Conclusion

At the end of the day the choice to do it yourself or to hire a professional is up to you.  Although the choice of hiring a professional or completing the repairs yourself can be difficult; a homeowner should always take into account the extra skills that a contractor will bring to any job.  The contractor will understand when and if a permit from the city is required or if you are able to repair or remodel without one and without hurting the structure of your home.  When considering a repair or remodel always ask yourself if you have the skills, knowledge and proper equipment to complete the job correctly.  Understand the skills a professional brings to the table and how important it is when keeping the integrity of the structure of your home safe. 

Need a professional to install replacement windows? Click here to locate an Authorized NT Window Dealer.

Ready to get started?