DIY home improvement projects are very rewarding as they can save you a lot of money and come with a sense of accomplishment. There’s no reward better than transforming your old home into the dream home you always wanted and knowing you did it with your bare two hands.
However, not all home improvement projects are a walk in the park. While you can tackle most of them like painting and gardening on your own, some home improvement projects like electrical works are best left to professionals like Patriot Electric for many reasons.
Not only will a mistake cost you more than hiring an expert, it could be extremely dangerous if you have no prior experience and rely too much on YouTube tutorial videos.
According to esfi.org and based on the data provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 400 homeowners get electrocuted in the United States annually. Around 14 percent of these deaths are caused by wiring hazards, including exposed or damaged wiring.
So should you pick up that drill and get cracking or pick up the phone and call in the pros? In this article, we’ll list the pros and cons of hiring a contractor and choosing the DIY route.
Table of Contents
Hiring a Contractor
Saves Time
Probably the best argument for hiring a professional is that it saves a lot of time. If you don’t have the time to tackle a complicated project or have kids, hiring a pro is probably your best course of action.
According to houselogic.com, a complicated home improvement project like a complete kitchen makeover could take as much as 12 weeks to complete. Not every homeowner has that much time on their hands.
Having kids makes even the simple tasks like mowing the lawn difficult. Now imagine having to replace your cabinets or install a brand new deck with them running around. So if you’re pressed on time, perhaps you should hire an expert.
Ensures Premium Quality
There’s a reason they’re called professionals. And there’s a reason people pay experts to tackle home improvement projects. If you want the project done quickly but not sacrifice quality, there’s no one more fit for the task than someone who does this for a living and has tons of similar projects in their portfolio?
Comes with a Warranty
A lot of contractors offer a warranty after completing the home improvement project. If you encounter any issues or aren’t happy with the final result, the contractors will come back to fix the issue free of charge.
If you choose to handle the project alone, you will pay for any mistakes. In some cases, the cost of a mistake can be enormous, more expensive than hiring a professional. So, by doing so you are saving money right from the start.
Doing It Yourself
Saves Money
One of the most common reasons people choose to handle home improvement projects alone is to save money. If you are working on a budget, you might want to consider doing it yourself. If you have the knowledge and experience, you could save a lot of money.
But if you want to remodel your kitchen, but know nothing about plumbing, a rookie mistake could cost you a lot more, as we previously explained.
Provides Satisfaction
Many homeowners find that completing a project comes with a rewarding feeling. If you get satisfaction from completing a challenging project with no help, then, by all means, do so.
If you are patient enough and have enough time and resources, the feeling you will get when you look at your finished project is unrivaled.
Gives You a Chance to Learn a New Skill
If you’re not pressed on time, doing a home improvement project on your own could present a valuable opportunity to learn a new skill and gain more experience.
If you have the time to go through different DIY manuals and the proving ground to master them, by all means, have fun and learn something new along the way.
