When it is time to complete a project around the home, deciding if it is something that you’ll tackle yourself or a project better-suited for the professionals is always a decision that you must make. Both options offer a plethora of advantages as well as disadvantages to consider to determine if you’ll hire a pro or take the DIY route.
Pros Offer the Best Service, Many Times
Many times, hiring a pro is your best option. Although labor is the biggest cost associated with hiring a professional contractor, it is sometimes worth the expense when the work is simply out of your realm of expertise or safety. Skilled laborers are trained to handle even the most complex of matters safely and efficiently. Leave the hard work to the pros and sit back and relax for a change. Jobs such as those involving electricity and/or plumbing are those you should leave for the experts.
However, this is not always true. What if you’re installing interior glass French doors or completing another easy project? Do you still need to endure the expense of a professional when most regular Joe’s can complete this work? If you’re confident in your skills, you have the time and the tools, why not go ahead and give it a shot? You know that if something goes terribly wrong, your only option is to call the pros and eat the expense. If you’re comfortable with that risk and your skills, go ahead and install that door or that cabinet yourself and save the call to the pros for the next job.
To DIY or Not to DIY… That is the Question
Sometimes we like to think that we can do work that we really cannot. This is not the time to play macho man. It is okay to sit back and observe while those specially trained to handle a particular project put in a little sweat and hard work. Is DIY acceptable for your project? Should you hire an expert? Here are a few tips to help you better decide which option is best.
- Safety First: Nothing is more important than your safety. Consider if the job is safe enough to handle yourself or if it’s better left to the experts.
- Time: Do you have enough time to thoroughly complete the job? Rushing through the work certainly isn’t ideal because this could cause damages.
- You Could Make Things Worse: Always keep this on the top of your mind. If you are not an expert, there is a risk that you’ll cause more damage than you started with. Experts usually provide a warranty with their work, so if something goes wrong, you will not pay a second time to make the repairs.
- Do You Need a Permit: If the work being performed at your home requires a permit, as many projects will, you need to hire a professional to complete the work.
- Costs: Request an estimate from a few professionals and compare these costs to the amount of money you’d spend to DIY. You might be surprised to learn that sometimes the costs of a professional is just a little bit more than DIY.
Completing repairs and projects around the home is fun and it is rewarding. It also saves a considerable amount of money in many cases. However, DIY repair is not always advisable or wise. Use the information provided above to better determine if your household project is one that you can complete yourself or if you need to hire an expert. It is better to make the right decision from the start and get the work completed satisfactorily the first time around.
Author: Damien Justus
