Home Repairs: Do-it-Yourself or Hire a Contractor?

Whether you are  remodeling your existing home, or considering buying a new home that needs some work, consider the pluses and minuses of either doing the work yourself as opposed to hiring a contractor.

If you are patient,  don't mind physical labor,  and have knowledge of building,  it may be a consideration.  If not, it may not be the best idea.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)  created a pretty good 17 question quiz, "Home Improvement Projects: Do It Yourself Or Hire A Professional?" to help you decide what is best for you.

The quiz  is interesting, and brings up many points that  do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) tend to forget about, or overlook.  Most  often, the DIYer considers how difficult the job is,  how much money they will save, and what type of remodel/repair  needs to be done.

There are many different aspects of any remodeling job, and a lot of unforeseen snags can happen along the way. Compounding  that is another issue- if you realize that you got in too deep and need contractor assistance,  many professional builders/contractors hesitate to repair a homeowner's mistakes. Also consider that fixing a remodel/repair done by yourself can easily prove to be more costly than hiring a professional to do the project in the first place.

A recent survey indicated that  40 percent responded that their decision to go  DIY had to do with overall cost, and 25 percent indicated the level of perceived difficulty led them to make that decision. Safety was surprisingly  not a factor, as only 2 percent indicated a concern  on that front.

Take the quiz here-  and many thanks to NARI for creating it.

http://www.nari.org/consumers/homeowner-resources/diy-or-hire-a-pro/

If you answered yes to eight or more of these questions, it may be an interesting option for you to go DIY. However, before you head out to go get your supplies and equipment, take a second look at your "no's". A good contractor will save you more than you realize if you attempt to do the job yourself, and then need to hire one anyway. Best of luck with your decision, and if you happen to decide to sell rather than remodel, I am just a phone call away :)

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