When To DIY Vs. Calling A Pro

When To DIY Vs. Calling A Pro was originally published on http://www.evolvetv.tv/

Purchasing a new home is exciting and one of the biggest decisions that you will make in your life. It definitely requires a lot of commitment and patience. Owning a home does not come with an owner's manual and so many first-time homeowners have to learn what it means to take care of a home through trial and error. There are many first time homeowners, who after the first year, feel like pulling their hair out. This holds true when a first-time homeowner has purchased a "fix-me-upper" and the projects that the house needs to have completed are way above the homeowner's skill set. In this article, we will outline a few ways that you can determine how to handle a home project.

General Tips For New Homeowners

First and most importantly, a rule of thumb is to make sure that you know some general tips in order to keep you and your family safe. For example, some homeowners really want to landscape their yard or grow a garden. There is no problem with doing these types of projects. However, they don't know where their pipelines are and they find that the garden plot that they started is right over their plumbing pipes. This is a big no-no and if the homeowner breaks a waterline, this ends up costing them big time. This could have easily been avoided if the homeowner had called 811 or their utility company prior to digging. In the following article by Houselogic, they discuss some useful information that new homeowners should know about:

Not Knowing Where The Main Water Shutoff Valve Is

Water from a burst or broken plumbing pipe can spew dozens of gallons into your home’s interior in a matter of minutes, soaking everything in sight — including drywall, flooring, and valuables. In fact, water damage is one of the most common of all household insurance claims. Before disaster hits, find your water shutoff valve, which will be located where a water main enters your house. Make sure everyone knows where it’s located and how to close the valve. A little penetrating oil on the valve stem makes sure it’ll work when you need it to.

Carelessly Drilling Into Walls

Hanging shelves, closet systems, and artwork means drilling into your walls — but do you know what’s back there? Hidden inside your walls are plumbing pipes, ductwork, wires, and cables. You can check for some stuff with a stud sensor — a $25 battery-operated tool that detects changes in density to sniff out studs, cables, and ducts.

Click here to see the rest of this article. Some people start a project and half way through, they realize that they have made a mess of things. Far worse than a costly repair is taking on a project and compromising your safety. Homeowners end up paying far more than what it would have cost if they had hired a professional initially. The bottom line is that some projects should just be left for a professional who knows what they are doing and that has the skills to complete the project successfully. The biggest factor for a homeowner is to be able to recognize what projects require calling a pro and which ones they can do themselves. In the following article by CS Monitor, they discuss when you should hire an expert:

When To Call A Pro

Does The Project Take Specialized Knowledge?

Some projects – like installing an HVAC system – take more than practice. If the project you’re considering requires a special skill or inside knowledge you don’t possess, hire a professional. Hire a professional:

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

In my opinion, spending 45 hours on a project isn’t worth it if I’ll only save $100 off the cost of hiring a professional. I’d rather pay the money and preserve my free time – but the true cost vs. value of time is up to you.

Click here to see the rest of this article.

When To DIY

Sometimes calling in for backup is the best way to complete a project. It saves time, money, and does not put you and your family in harm's way. Many first time homeowners sometimes get overzealous and want to take on a project that is way too challenging. It is always best to take on project that you know that you, for sure, can handle. In the following article by Houselogic, they discuss some factors that you can use to make a decision of whether or not you should call a pro or DIY:

What Home Projects Should You Do Yourself?

Why pay someone to do something you can do yourself? Because sometimes doing it yourself costs more than it saves. More than 100,000 people injure themselves each year doing home improvement jobs. So add medical bills to your DIY budget, and you ending up spending the same, or more, than if you hired a pro. We’re not suggesting that you call a plumber each time you need to plunge a toilet. But think twice about what DIY might really cost you. Here’s how to decide. Stick to routine maintenance for savings and safety Seasonal home maintenance is ideal work for the weekend warrior because you can tackle these jobs when your schedule permits. Because these are routine maintenance projects, your savings will add up. Mowing your own lawn, for example, saves $55 to $65 a week for a half-acre lawn. The bigger the lot, the bigger the savings: with two acres, you’ll pocket around $150 per week. When it pays:

• Snow removal
• Pruning shrubs
• Washing windows (be careful on that ladder)
• Sealing decks
• Painting fences
• Fertilizing lawns
• Replacing air conditioner filters
• Cleaning gutters

Click here to see the rest of this article. All homeowners need to know the difference between a successful DIY project and one that they need to hire out. This will make a huge difference in the cost of a project and staying safe. Also, if you have a huge project on hand, understand that you can always DIY part of a project and hire out parts of the project that are way beyond your skills.  

from Evolve Home Solutions - Feed http://www.evolvetv.tv/homeimprov/when-to-diy-vs-calling-a-pro/
via IFTTT