Home Improvement: When should you DIY or call in an expert?
While doing a home improvement project yourself can be satisfying, there are some instances when it's better to call in a professional.
A "Sold" sign sits in front of a house under the final stages of construction in Plano, Texas (Feb. 2, 2016).
LM Otero/AP/File
There鈥檚 something appealing about the idea of a do-it-yourself home improvement听project. By tackling a job yourself, you can save money on labor costs and enjoy work that鈥檚 been done with your own hands.
But the reality is some projects are better left to the experts. Professional contractors can handle tasks that are complicated, time-consuming or听downright unpleasant. Whether you plan to spruce up your entire home or just remodel part of one room, you鈥檒l want to make a smart choice between doing听it yourself or hiring and paying a pro.
Here are some tips to help you choose.
When you could try DIY
The project is small enough to learn quickly:听It鈥檚 a good idea to take some time to research a听home improvement job before you start. If you want to paint your deck, for example, you may need to watch tutorial videos, read about paint choices, and ask paint sellers for advice. If you鈥檙e willing to learn the steps, a do-it-yourself project could make sense.
You have patience to work through small mistakes:听You may have to make extra trips to the store because you didn鈥檛 correctly measure the amount of wood you needed. Or you may discover your paint dried unevenly, and you鈥檒l need to start over to get the look you want. Expect that your DIY project won鈥檛 be perfect on the first try. It鈥檒l help if you鈥檙e flexible enough to work through small errors.
You view the home repair as more hobby than work:听If you enjoy carpentry, painting and other renovation-related activities, you may enjoy a DIY project involving听those or similar tasks. You may even find the process as enjoyable as the final result.
You鈥檙e OK听with 鈥済ood enough鈥�:听There鈥檚 a chance your听project won鈥檛 turn out as well as a pro鈥檚 work. There may be some visible brushstrokes in a newly painted room. Some floor tiles may be slightly uneven. If the problems are minor and you鈥檒l be able to live with the results, it could be worthwhile to try a small DIY job.
When it鈥檚 best to hire a home improvement contractor
A mistake would have serious or disastrous consequences:听If an error would make your home unsafe 鈥� faulty electrical wiring that could cause a fire, for example 鈥斕齣t鈥檚 not worth the risk of听doing it yourself. Outsource projects that could affect your family鈥檚 well-being or that would be expensive to correct if not done right.听Reputable contractors will have insurance and offer a warranty for their work, which protects you as the homeowner. If they make a mistake听or worse, damage your property, they鈥檇 pay to fix the problem.
The home renovation requires permits:听Many localities require permits for electrical, structural and other major work. You鈥檒l want to contact your city government and ask local contractors which remodel licenses are required in听your area. These jobs generally require specialized knowledge, so it鈥檚 better to let a professional handle the work.
Your time鈥檚 better spent on something else:听 can free you up for听other activities, such as spending more time with your family. If you put a premium on those other activities, it makes sense to hire a professional.
You鈥檙e planning to sell your home:听When you get ready to , you want it to be in the best condition possible. An amateurish DIY job could be a turnoff for potential buyers. They may even wonder if the home has other problems.
If you do decide to hire a pro, you鈥檒l need to do some legwork. Make sure you get estimates in writing, and ask for and contact references. You should also confirm that听the contractor has听the licenses and insurance needed for the job. You can learn more about how to hire a reputable contractor from the .
In some cases, you might do some parts of a remodel or upgrade yourself while also working with an expert. For example, you could decide to take on the role of general contractor for a major project, such as a bathroom remodel, and hire out subcontractors for specialized work, including electrical wiring, plumbing and cabinet installation.
When considering a home improvement project, you鈥檒l want to know the difference between a DIY job and one that should be handled by an experienced contractor. By considering the time you have to spend on the project, your experience and the difficulty of the job, you can weigh the benefits and make the best decision for your situation.
Margarette Burnette is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: mburnette@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: . This article first appeared at .