When money is tight, as it is for many of us today, it is often attractive to think that tackling some of those home projects yourself will save you some money. While this may be true of some things, it is not always the case and there are some things that really are better left to the professionals. Before you decide to take on a project, you should ask yourself questions like:
- How concerned am I about the quality of the finished product? For some jobs this isn't a concern, but for painting the outside of your house or replacing carpeting this may be a big factor.
- What specialized tools do I need to complete the job? How much will they cost me and will I ever use them again? Some things you may be able to borrow, but it may be that the cost of tools and materials that a professional would commonly have would make the cost of doing the project yourself much higher than just hiring a plumber or electrician, for example.
Keeping those questions in mind, let's look at some do-it-yourself projects that may not be worth the time you will put into them, especially if you have to call a professional to clean up after you;
- Kitchen Countertops. Anyone who has ever had any work done in their kitchen knows how unpleasant and time-consuming it can be, and one of the worst parts of the process is replacing the countertops. Removing them is tricky enough, although not that bad in the long run, but getting the new ones in and making sure all of the openings -- the sink, for example -- line up can be a nightmare. Doing this project yourself can cause more problems than you know how to deal with if you are not a professional carpenter and can be be even more problematic if the materials you are using are difficult. Leave this one to the pros so that you don't end up living with a barely functional kitchen or an upgrade that doesn't look any better than what you started with.
- Install a Fireplace. Winter is coming fast in the Northern hemisphere, and many of us are thinking about ways to save money on heating bills. What better way than to install a new fireplace or wood-burning stove. This is one that is better left to the professionals, though. Someone who installs fireplaces on a regular basis is going to know all of the safety rules and local codes for making sure they are safe. Just a couple of the things you will need to think about are proper insulation so that you don't start a fire and making sure it is vented properly so you don't suffocate. This one is definitely a job for the professionals.
- Exterior Painting. In many ways this seems like a great do-it-yourself project; it's not that hard to put on a coat of paint and make it look halfway decent, and professional painters are expensive. They are expensive for a reason, though. If you're like me, there are plenty of steps that you don't think about like power-washing the siding to make sure it is dirt, mold, and mildew-free and letting it dry sufficiently before applying the paint. Then there are all of the hours that you will put into this, not to mention climbing up and down the ladder, stretching to reach that just-reachable spot that you almost missed, and the clean-up afterward. Hiring a professional will assure that this job gets done in short order and it will look good for years to come. Plus, you can devote the 20 or more hours that you save to other projects around the house.
- Electrical Projects. While there are some electrical projects that are good for doing yourself, like replacing an existing fixture, when it comes to adding fixtures, switches, or fans to your house, put down the tools and call the professionals. There are too many things that can go wrong, that will have the electrician out to your house later to fix, to really make many electrical projects worth the time and money you will put into them. There is nothing worse than being without air conditioning or fans on the hottest day of the year because a poor wiring job melted the wiring in your breaker box, leaving you without electricity until it gets replaced.
- Replacing a Garbage Disposal. Call the plumber. There is nothing worse than having water filled with food and garbage particles back up into your sink every time you run the dishwasher or rinse your cookware. Garbage disposals are more complex than just putting a new pipe in place, and the combination of water, electricity, and spinning blades can be a very bad one if you don't know what you're doing.
While there are many great ways to save money and complete projects around your house, some things are better left to those with the tools and know-how. Know when you are out of your element and call the professionals to save yourself problems in the long-run.
Isabella York is a mother dedicated to living prudently but not giving up her life in the process. Along with raising her son, she works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of artificial Christmas Trees and Christmas decorations.
Cheryl @ Swap Savers
Great article. My husband (who is actually very handy and finished the basement himself without an issues) did the trim work in our dining room, hit the hot water pipe without realizing it and we had a slow leak for over a month. The repairs were much more expensive than if we had hired someone. Definitely do your homework before you do it yourself!!!
niki
Nice article. I agree with a lot of it. We are very fortunate to have a carpenter in the family (my FIL) so we can get by with many household projects with him. But I can totally see how other people might want to avoid DIY jobs.
Stop on over and visit Free 2 Be Frugal sometime soon!