When you buy a home, it’s an incredible feeling. Whether it’s your first house or one of many you have owned there are always going to be challenges, unforeseen repairs, and renovations that will come up. It’s estimated that the average American homeowner spends between 1% and 2% of their homes value per year just to maintain the home and do basic repairs. That percentage will rise significantly if you should decide to remodel or do heavier construction tasks
Most homeowners become ‘do it yourself’ experts simply out of necessity. The reason being that most handymen and contractors charge the same amount per hour, regardless of the work being done. So something simple like changing out the screens in your windows could cost the same per hour as complex electrical work. But even if you can do something yourself, there is also great value in hiring a professional depending on the skill level involved in the job. The various factors and questions that go into deciding what you can do yourself and what should be hired out is precisely what we are going to talk about below.
1) Will the job affect my safety?
DIY jobs are generally going to be small and non-life threatening. If you are considering tackling something bigger you should begin with asking yourself what the worst-case scenario would be if you do it incorrectly. If the answer is something that could harm you and your family, then you should seriously consider hiring the task out before continuing.
2) Does the job require a permit?
The requirement of a permit should be a red flag on any DIY project. A building permit is a simple document that insures any construction activities were done correctly and the resulting building or renovation will be up to code. If you are confident you can complete the task and have the necessary skills to do it safely, then you can easily apply for a permit with the city. It’s important to note that if you should push forward with a job without first obtaining a permit you are putting yourself at risk down the road for possible fines or even difficulty selling the house.
3) Do you know the scope of the job?
Writing down the scope or the tasks required to complete the job before you begin will help you to visualize the process from start to finish. This will also be a good chance for you to tie in inspiration and solidify what you would like the final product to look like. From there just break down your costs for building materials, tools and how much time it will take to complete. Once the scope is finished it will help you to decide whether or not to continue on your own or to hire the job out.
4) Are you prepared to commit the time?
Most homeowners are ‘weekend warriors’ who work on house projects in the off-time between their jobs and family. One of the most important factors to consider is whether or not you will have the time to complete a DIY job. In some cases, a job that would take you weeks, could take a handyman for a couple of days. If you take the time to lay out the scope of the job, we discussed above it will give you a good idea of how much time you will need to set aside.
Whether you chose to do the job yourself or if you chose to hire a local handyman to help you with your projects, know what you are getting into either way. At The Handyman Company, we have years of experience that can help you navigate through any home construction project. Give us a call and we can give you an honest estimate and a helpful outlook.
