Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibilities and things to keep in mind. There are bills and utilities to pay, your family to take care of, and a house to look after. For everyone’s safety, you need to keep your house in order, with no loose wires or broken parts. This also ensures that your investment doesn’t shrink in value, opening potential resale value in the future.
However, maintain a house is a lot of hard work. You need to constantly clean and fix things, and things are constantly getting broken or dirty. There are times when you have to renovate or remodel a house. This takes a lot of time and sometimes money. And with the popularity of DIY and equipment that come in kits, you’ve probably been tempted to go DIY before.
And why not DIY it? It can be a fun, fulfilling experience, provided you know what you’re doing. Despite its fun and self-empowering nature, there are some questions and considerations you have to mull over before deciding. You should be asking yourself whether it’s better to hire a professional or DIY it.
When to DIY
DIY projects can be a satisfying experience. If you do it with a loved one, it becomes a moment when you can bond over something. However, some tasks are better left to the professionals as the skill, expertise, and equipment required are often unavailable to hobbyists. What tasks can you DIY, though?
Painting
There’s an extensive list of painting-related equipment available at most hardware stores. From paint cans to brushes, from rollers to spray cans, you can whatever it is that you need for painting your wall. It’s a low-risk task that allows for mistakes since if you make a mistake in the painting process, you can paint over it.
Keep in mind to wear protective gear when painting, though. Wearing a mask when painting is necessary as there are dangerous oil-based or solvent-based paints that can cause skin irritation, eye irritation, or even nausea due to the smell. Prolonged exposure to the paint fumes can be dangerous to the lungs as well.
Minor Installation Work
For smaller-scale installation work like installing a kitchen backsplash or linoleum flooring, it can be worth it to do it by yourself. Provided you have all the materials necessary and have read the instructions on how to do them, of course.
Light Remodeling
If you’re looking to move a couple of lighter furniture around, like tables and chairs, or even sofas, doing it with a family member is more economical than hiring a pro. You’d most likely have the patience to go multiple rounds at changing the positions as well since family members who’ll be living in the house will be helping you. For heavier furniture, like large dressers and drawers, considering hiring professional help, especially if you think you’re not strong enough to do it alone.
When to Call the Pros
There are times where professional help is better than doing it yourself, as it is simply cost-effective when you factor in the equipment and skills needed. Some repairs are dangerous too, and they’re best left for professionals to accomplish.
Roof or High-Area Repairs
There will be times when your roof or chimney is broken and is in dire need of repairs. But climbing the roof is very, very dangerous. Especially if you don’t have the safety equipment needed to make climbing to the roof possible. During moments like these, it’s better to hire roof repair professionals as they would have both the skills to fix it and the equipment to make the process safe.
Plumbing Work
You might think that plumbing repair is easy to work as you only need to install and connect pipes. However, there is more to it than what it seems. Many of the ‘life hacks’ seen on the Internet are not effective, and they can sometimes make the situation worse. Because there are water and various kinds of pipes involved, it’s best to hire a professional who knows what they’re doing to avoid any potential plumbing disasters.
Electrical Repair
We all know how dangerous electricity can be, but this doesn’t deter some brave souls from trying their hand at fixing them. This is a bad idea, as lacking the equipment to properly address some electrical issues that can lead to severe bodily harm and is a potential fire hazard. Electrical repairs should be left to professionals as they will be better equipped to face the issue and have the knowledge to fix them.
With these in mind, you’d better understand whether you should repair something by yourself or call for professional help. This way, you can be sure that you’re properly handling a situation that needs repair.
