Are you considering a home renovation project? It’s an exciting time, especially since you’re improving the value of your home (if someday you decide to sell) and the quality of life of everyone currently living in that home. However, it also goes without saying that it’s a challenging time as renovations are challenging without a plan. This article discusses the pros and cons to help you decide whether to DIY or hire a professional when planning a home renovation or repair.
DIY Renovation: Pros vs Cons
DIY – Pros:
1. It could potentially be cheaper. According to MoneyCrashers.com, “the labor costs of professional contractors generally run between $30 to $125 per hour, so their work can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars.” That’s why in most cases, a DIY home renovation is going to be cheaper. Essentially, you’ll be exchanging your time with the money you saved.
2. You have control of the outcome. Fulfilling your visions of a house is achievable if you’re the one doing it. For those who value complete control over the project, design, budget, and materials, going DIY is the best way to go.
3. It’s a good project to use up free time and achieve a feeling of accomplishment. A successful renovation you managed yourself can give you a feeling of satisfaction and improve your mood. It’s also a good way to spend your time learning a new skill or applying those you haven’t used for a while.
DIY – Cons:
1. Risk of potentially hurting others. Moneycrashers.com says that the most important question you ask yourself when considering a DIY job is, “What’s What’s the worst possible thing that could happen if I mess it up?” If the answer is, “I could get killed,” then that’s a clear sign a professional is better off handling it.
2. Time-consuming. You’ll end up spending more time (and money) if you don’t get the results right.
3. Lack of expertise. As an amateur, there’s room for error that could result in potential damage that you’ll be responsible for fixing.
Hiring a Professional: Pros vs Cons
Hiring a Pro – Pros:
1. Safety. Remember that the danger component is an important consideration for any home renovation. Certain jobs require technical knowledge that is too dangerous to DIY.
2. It could be potentially time-saving as permits could be approved faster for certain home improvement projects that require it.
3. You are also assured of high-quality results with insurance guaranteed by reputable contractors.
Hiring a Pro – Cons:
1. Lack of control with timeline and design as you will be relying on the contractor.
2. Generally more expensive as you’ll be paying for labor and expertise, as well as material costs.
In summary, you can opt for DIY if you have the right skills, tools, and enough time but defer to a profession if you don’t want to risk safety or spend your own time.
