House Renovation: Hire a Professional or Do It Yourself?
When you watch those house renovation TV shows, you may reckon that you can do everything yourself and save a lot of money. In the end, it all looks relatively easy, and all you need to turn your dream house into reality is a set of tools and some materials, right?
The answer is both yes and no. You can, in fact, do the majority of the work yourself, but some things are best left to the professionals, such as electrical work, plumbing, and roofing. Any work that involves power tools, specific services like cnc machining services, or working at heights should also be done by someone with experience – which you may already have.
So, should you hire a professional or renovate your house yourself? Below, we’ve listed reasons for and against both options to help you make an informed decision. Review the pros and cons to see what’s best for you and your home.
Reasons to Renovate Your House Yourself
You Can Save Money
This is probably the most obvious reason to do your own house renovation. By doing the work yourself, you can save a significant amount of money. That is, you save on the labor costs associated with hiring a contractor – needless to say, it takes a great deal of time and effort to renovate a house.
However, you must account for all the materials and tools you need. Searching for required equipment online may leave you with a new toy, but it won’t leave you with a renovated house – you also need to know how to use it properly.
For this reason, you need to consider all the costs associated with procuring materials and equipment before deciding if doing it yourself is the best option.
You’ll Have More Control Over the Project
When you hire a contractor to do your house renovation, they will most likely devise a plan of their own. If you want to make changes, you’ll probably need to go through them. This means more delays, extra costs, and less satisfaction with the final result.
On the other hand, if you decide to do the house renovation yourself, you can always adjust the plan and make changes as you go along. While it may make the whole process messier, you’ll ultimately be satisfied with your house once you’re done.
You’ll Learn New Skills
Contractors are the ones doing all the work. But if you decide to renovate your house yourself, you’ll most likely learn some new skills, which you can use later to save money and get the job done right.
For example, say you want to build a deck in your backyard. By DIYing it, you will learn how to calculate costs and build a deck that fits your needs. You’ll also get hands-on experience with all nooks and crannies of your house – knowledge that can come in handy when something goes wrong down the road.
It’s Fun!
This may sound silly, but it’s true. House renovation is a lot of fun – that’s why home improvement TV shows like Property Brothers and Fixer-Upper are so popular! Besides, you’ll get to spend time with friends and family working on something worthwhile when renovating your house yourself.
On top of that, if you work in the office or spend most of your time in front of a computer, doing something physical can be a great way to relax and recharge. It may also help you release some stress – renovating your house is a lot easier when you don’t have to worry about meeting deadlines or negotiating with the contractor firm.
Reasons to Hire a Contractor
You May Not Have the Time or Skills
While it’s definitely possible to renovate your house on your own, you may be unable to spare enough time and energy for this project. Having a full-time job and family commitments can make finding the time to renovate your house challenging.
You may also not have the necessary skills for some renovation aspects. Chances are, you don’t know where to start if you want to add a new room to your house. This is by no means to gate keep you – rather, such an enterprise requires knowledge and experience that may be beyond your reach.
You Want the Job Done Right
While you may be able to do all of the work yourself, it’s possible that you will get some things wrong. For example, a poorly built deck can render your yard unusable for several years and will require extensive repairs for it to become usable again.
In addition, even minor errors in construction can lead to significant problems with water leakage and other issues later on down the line.
Therefore, if you want to avoid these headaches and ensure everything is done right the first time, you should hire a professional.
It May Not Be Worth It
While cutting and assembling wood boards is fun, sooner or later, you may stumble upon something that is beyond your capabilities. This can be quite frustrating, especially if you’ve already spent a significant amount of time and money on the project.
Therefore, if you’re not sure you’ll enjoy the process, it may be best to hire a contractor instead. Even if you’re having fun working on your house renovation project, not all things are worth doing yourself – the sooner you identify those for you and delegate them, the less time you’ll eventually waste on the project overall.
You May Not Have the Necessary Training
Some elements of house renovation should always be left to the professionals. For example, electrical work and plumbing are major projects that require specialized training – simply because failing to do them right can lead to fire and water damage, which are not things you want in your house.
Therefore, if you don’t obtain or cannot get the required training or certification to perform electrical work or plumbing, it’s best to leave this task to the professionals.
Final Thoughts: So, What Should You Do?
The answer depends on your individual situation, of course. If you only want to paint the walls, a few YouTube tutorials should be enough to get the job done. However, if you want to build an extension or add a new room, it would be better to hire a contractor.
Essentially, it all boils down to how much time and money you want to spend on the project. If you’re strapped for cash, it may be better to do as much work as possible, but if you can afford a contractor or two, don’t hesitate to get one in!
Home renovation is exciting, challenging, and rewarding all at once. By weighing the pros and cons of doing it yourself and hiring a contractor, you can make the right decision for your needs and budget. So, don’t delay – get started today!
