Renovating your Home: Is it Better to DIY or Hire an Expert?

Regardless of the reason why you’ve decided to renovate your home, undertaking such a project can be both exciting and daunting.

As you start planning for your home improvement, you’ll have to consider many factors, and one of the major decisions you will have to make is whether to hire a contractor or DIY.

Homeowners try to tackle the project independently for many reasons, including cost. And that’s understandable, given the fact that hiring an expert can be quite expensive.

Besides, DIY home renovation allows you to determine the project’s timeline and gives you more control over the design, as you get to focus on all the essential details, ensuring you get exactly the outcome you envisioned.

However, as cheap and exciting as it may be, do-it-yourself home renovation can also often be dangerous and impractical. If you have a full-time job, deciding to remodel your home yourself can leave you feeling exhausted. Moreover, you may end up making costly mistakes.

That being said, some home renovation jobs are easy to tackle, such as painting, drilling, or moulding. If you’re debating whether it’s better to hire a professional or DIY, don’t worry.

We are here to help you make the best decision so that your home renovation project is successful.

1. Be honest about your DIY skills

There are home renovation projects that you can easily DIY, like tearing down a wall or building a fence. But this isn’t the case for all of them. Some improvements in your home are far too complex to be tackled by someone other than an experienced professional, such as replacing a fireplace or repiping a bathroom.

Truthfully, it’s not enough to have an eye for design or a creative flair to renovate your home successfully. You’ll also need to understand the technicalities of the project, choose the right tools, and so on. 

Read More: 17 Home DIY Skills that Save you Money

If you don’t get these things right from the beginning, you may damage your home in the process, wrecking its appearance and functionality. And chances are, you will have to seek the help of an expert to fix the mess, which will cost a lot more than hiring them in the first place.

In other words, if it may seem so, DIY home renovation isn’t always the best route to take – nor the cheapest. If the home renovation involves gas, water, heat or electricity, it is best to leave everything in the hands of a licensed professional.

2. Ask yourself if it is safe to DIY

Don’t roll up your sleeves and start working on your home renovation before considering the project’s safety. If you believe you could get injured during the process, you should definitely hire an expert without giving it a second thought.

You don’t want to end up flooding your house or – God forbid- electrocute yourself while trying to improve your home. Remember, nothing comes before your well-being, and it’s not worth it to put your life at risk only because you want to save some bucks on your home improvement.

Also, consider other people’s safety as well. When undertaking a home remodelling project, you could easily end up injuring others by storing hazardous materials near pets and children, for example. 

Always remember that renovating a home can lead to injuries, so even if you hire a specialist, you’ll want to make sure they have insurance.

Read More: How to Stay Safe with DIY Home Improvements

That way, you won’t be held liable if something goes wrong during the process. According to Personal Injury Claims experts, individuals who sustain an injury while at work are eligible to claim compensation for the damages suffered. As a property owner, you may be responsible for those damages if they occur on your property.

The last thing you want is to get involved in a complex legal process, check if your contractor is insured before hiring them.

3. Consider if you have the tools you need

When it comes to home renovations, you need specialised equipment in order to ensure the job is done correctly. Unfortunately, the tools and materials you need when remodelling your home can be quite expensive. Let’s say you’re planning to remodel your kitchen. One essential tool you will need in the process is a manual tile cutter – a high-quality one, of course. Buying such a tool can cost a significant amount – around $3,000; however, the cost is even higher if you want to opt for a motorised model. 

Read More: 7 Tools you Need for DIY Furniture

And let’s be honest; no one would really like to spend thousands of dollars on a tool they will only use once. It’s simply not reasonable. And it’s not cheaper to rent the equipment either. From this perspective, hiring a professional contractor is better – and more economical- as they already have the right equipment.

4. Decide if your schedule allows you to DIY

Renovating your home on a budget may sound like a good idea, but it could quickly become a real mess if you don’t have the time to tackle this project. Home remodelling can take months to complete, especially if you’ve never done it before.

So, consider whether your family or work responsibilities won’t get in the way of completing the project successfully. If you think they will, it is better to leave the work to professionals.

An expert will be able to complete all the renovation work faster, saving you time. 

Home renovation projects take longer than expected, and if you DIY, you’ll need a lot of patience and the willingness to commit to this work until you successfully achieve the desired result. You don’t want to rush the process, as this will only lead to disappointment with your home makeover.

Realistically speaking, when you have a 9-5 job and family responsibilities, it can be stressful to also tackle home renovation jobs, and understandably, you may also make tired mistakes at some point. Hence, if your home renovation requires major improvement and will take time, it makes sense to hire an expert and avoid overexerting yourself.

The bottom line

DIY can be a great idea if you don’t have to tackle complex home renovation jobs, as it is rewarding and allows you to save money.

However, it may not be wise to commit to DIY if you don’t have the time, skills and tools to complete the home remodelling successfully. In that case, it’s better to hire a contractor as they have the required expertise and will save you time, helping you boost your home’s aesthetics and function safely and effectively.  

Can DIY save you money?

Absolutely, DIY can be a real money-saver. By taking on projects yourself, you cut out labor costs and can shop for materials that fit your budget. Plus, DIY allows you to customize the end result to your exact liking, adding value to your home or project.

Can DIY improve your mental health?

Yes, DIY can be excellent for mental health. Engaging in a hands-on project can serve as a creative outlet and stress reliever. The process often involves problem-solving and focus, which can divert attention from stressors. Plus, the sense of accomplishment from completing a project can boost your mood and self-esteem.

How do I start learning DIY?

Starting to learn DIY is easier than you might think. Begin with simple projects that require basic tools and materials. YouTube tutorials, blogs, and DIY books are great resources. Gather your supplies and take your time following step-by-step instructions. As you gain confidence, you can tackle more complex projects.

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