To DIY or not DIY Part 1

The decision to do-it-yourself for home projects is not one to take lightly. There are several important factors to consider, including skill level, safety, and cost effectiveness. I'd like to give you some food for thought here, to help with your decision. Don't get me wrong. We are very pro-DIY here, but sometimes you do need to turn to a pro for certain projects. Take an honest look at each of these three considerations before your next project, and you may find yourself rethinking some things.

SKILL LEVEL

The first consideration for you to be aware of is your ability. It's perfectly OK to do some learning as you go for many projects. The internet has made it easier than ever to pick up tips and helpful advice before diving into a project completely green. What you need to be aware of however, is knowing your limitations. If you are sure that using a saw is uncomfortable for you for instance, it's best to avoid projects with a lot of cutting (at least until you get some good practice on smaller projects). Skills take some time to build, no shame in that at all!

SAFETY

Back when I was a younger person, eager to learn all I could about construction, it was nothing to help out my buddies replace their roofs when needed. Of course, back then in the small mid-west town I came from, the homes were mostly simple ranches. Roof lines are getting exceedingly more complicated as well as much higher off the ground. If you do decide to take on a larger DIY project such as this, be sure to do some research on the latest safety guidelines. Sites such as THIS have great advice for the DIYer.
Another potential danger zone for DIYers is major electrical work. In many cases, this kind of improvement is best left to a licensed electrician. I'm not talking about changing a light fixture or installing a ceiling fan here. Those are easier types of projects that require only light electrical. (But still need safety in mind!)  I'm referring to re-wiring an entire home. Trying to tackle something of that size without any prior experience could put an inexperienced person at risk of a safety incident.
Bottom line here is, nothing is worth putting your life on the line. If there is good probability for some time at the E.R. you may want to consider hiring a pro.,

COST EFFECTIVENESS

Some projects are just kind of fun to do. It would be a no-brainer to take on one of those higher impact projects (floors, painting, kitchen cabinets) that have a low to medium difficulty level. Quick...easy...satisfying.  But what about re-plastering a chimney? If you've never had any experience with masonry, you would have a lot of time in learning about it before you even pick up a trowel. Would those hours spent be worth it for you? If you had an interest in learning masonry then yes, but otherwise it may not be something very cost effective for your situation.

While there are surely more factors for each individual to consider, I've touched on three considerations relevant to most everyone. Each person needs to weigh out the decision to DIY or not DIY for themselves. While it can be very rewarding, it is certainly something to be respected and given some objective thought before hand.
What happens if you decide not to go the DIY route?
Hiring a contractor is just a necessity sometimes, and that's OK. There are definitely situations where it just makes more sense. If the thought of choosing a contractor send you into a cold sweat, don't worry.

Part 2 of this blog post will give you some great tips to help you choose the best should you have to go that route.

Yeah, yeah...we all know the big obvious ones- get referrals, check with the BBB/Home Advisor etc..But there's a LOT more than that tired old info, and I have some great guidance you won't want to miss.
Till next time,
Jay