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Doing home improvement projects yourself can save you money. My frugal father once taught himself how to put a brick mailbox back together after I backed into it with my car 鈥� saving us both $500.

Then again, DIY projects can also cost you more money if you end up DIW (doing it wrong) and then have to hire a professional.

So how do you decide when to go it alone or when to go with a pro? Here鈥檚 a checklist鈥�

1. Does the project take specialized knowledge?

Some projects 鈥� like installing an HVAC system 鈥� take more than practice. If the project you鈥檙e considering requires a special skill or inside knowledge you 诲辞苍鈥檛 possess, hire a professional. Here鈥檚 a quick list, although even the DIY projects aren鈥檛 necessarily for everyone鈥�

Do it yourself:

• Painting
• Crown molding installation
• Toilet installation
• Appliance installation
• Weather stripping
• Landscaping

Hire a professional:

• Heating and cooling installation
• Relocating plumbing
• Major electrical work
• Foundation repair
• Window replacement
• Driveway paving

2. Will you need special tools?

Many home improvement projects only require the tools you already own, or ones you can rent. If you 诲辞苍鈥檛 own them and can鈥檛 rent them, 诲辞苍鈥檛 buy them. Hire a professional who already owns the tool 鈥� and save yourself the cost of buying an expensive piece of equipment you鈥檒l only use once.

3. Is the project large or in a highly visible area?

If you鈥檙e not an expert at doing something in a key area of your home, it may turn out bad and look worse. For example, I built some shelves in my bedroom. They 诲辞苍鈥檛 look great, but no one sees them, so I 诲辞苍鈥檛 mind. But I wouldn鈥檛 have installed the tile in my kitchen. I see that floor every day 鈥� and so do my family and friends. I want it to look professionally done.

4. What would a professional recommend?

If you know a contractor, ask him if he thinks you can handle the project on your own. If not, ask a hardware store clerk. Some clerks know a lot about their specific departments and will give you an honest answer. And while you鈥檙e at it, find out if the store offers free or low-cost clinics that teach the skill required.

5. Will the savings be worth it?

In my opinion, spending 45 hours on a project isn鈥檛 worth it if I鈥檒l only save $100 off the cost of hiring a professional. I鈥檇 rather pay the money and preserve my free time 鈥� but the true cost vs. value of time is up to you. Before making that decision, check out . The site compares the cost of hiring a professional with the cost and time of doing it yourself on hundreds of improvement projects.

6. Is there danger involved?

Making a mess of your entire house isn鈥檛 the only risk to a DIY project. In some cases, you could be seriously injured. Don鈥檛 risk falling off a roof or electrocuting yourself. Hire a professional.

If you decide to DIY鈥�

There are several great resources for DIY home improvement projects. Check out:

• Home Depot聽Project Guides
• Lowe鈥檚 How-To Projects
• Instructables
• DIY Ideas
• Do It Yourself
• This Old House
• The Family Handyman

If you decide to hire a pro鈥�

Take these steps before you hire a contractor 鈥� you鈥檒l save money and aggravation.

• Look at the right time: Shop聽for a contractor in the off-season 鈥� like right after the new year. If the contractor doesn鈥檛 have a lot of work at the moment, you鈥檒l get a better price.
• Get multiple estimates:聽Get estimates from three to five contractors. Their prices vary widely, and you鈥檒l find a better deal by shopping around.
• Choose a contractor you like:聽Odds are, you鈥檒l have to see the contractor at least once while he鈥檚 working on your project, and probably a lot more. You may even butt heads with him on a decision or two. Things will go smoother if you choose someone you can get along with.
• Ask for references:聽Don鈥檛 base your decision entirely on price and who you like the best. Ask for recommendations from friends or family members, or have the contractor provide references you can contact.

Deciding between a do-it-yourself idea and a professional contractor isn鈥檛 the only way to save money on home improvements. Check out "23 Ways to Lower the Cost of Home聽Improvement" for a ton of tips or "How to Remodel Your Kitchen for Less Than $5,000 " if you want to improve your cooking space. And if you鈥檙e planning on selling, check out "5 Home Improvements That Won鈥檛 Sell Your House" before you get started.

Angela Colley is a writer for聽, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.