When to DIY or Hire A Professional

[3 min. read]

DIY, Handyman, or Professional Contractor? 

Hmm, how are you going to deal with that household issue? What an eyesore! Let’s put things in perspective. You have a problem, and after posting it online for suggestions, you realize you are faced with a few options: purchase the tools and do it yourself over the weekend, hire a handyman, or hire a professional contractor. How do you decide which is best for your situation? We’ll go over that while being unbiased as we can be.

For this article, we’ve come up with an acronym to help you determine what to do.

A.bility

B.uild

C.ost

Consider these aspects of these guidelines for home improvement projects.

Ability. Can you do it? Do you know how to waterproof and tile a bathroom? Do you know how to install drywall? Can you reframe a house? Are you able to safely demolish a home? Do you know how to use the materials you need to complete the job? Can you do the job you need done by yourself in a considerable amount of time?

Build. Do you have all the necessary tools? Do you know what you need to complete the job? How effective are you at troubleshooting if something goes wrong? Does your toolbox have all necessary for the job.

Cost. What would everything cost you? The cost of materials and including time allotted? Do you have the time to dedicate to doing this? Would you be risking your health or well-being to complete this?

After going through your ABC’s what did you conclude? If the answer to your question hasn’t been apparent yet, allow me to make it clearer for you. Do it yourself if it is such a small job that you can get it done yourself with no hassle or special education required. If you seek a contractor, they might charge you the price for them to professionally do it and do it right. If you’re looking for an under-the-table solution and you are not concerned with quality then it may be better to attempt it yourself. If you’re not concerned with it being renovated and you’re just looking for a quick fix, a few hours on a Sunday night may do the job. If you hire someone you’d be paying for expertise and materials.

It’s time to hire a handyman when what you want to do is outside your scope of knowledge and capabilities, but it isn’t a major job. For example, unclogging a toilet, patching a small hole in a wall, etc. Those type of jobs can be done by an entry level construction worker. Handymans are typically those guys you know who knows a little about everything. A Mcgyver of sorts. They can handle things that require more than general knowledge and no experience but is less than technical knowledge and advanced experience. Handyman’s also would probably be within budget as well. That’s the benefit that many people gravitate towards when dealing with renovations. The downside to handymen are that some are not professionals and some are not experienced in what they’re hired to do. There many ways to complete certain tasks and the way how a handyman learned may not be the standard you are looking for.

For this reason it may be frustrating dealing with some handymen and it gives construction workers a bad name. Don’t be discouraged, there are good ones out there too.

Furthermore, it is time to hire a professional contractor when what you want to do requires experience and specialized knowledge. Are you renovating a room? An entire house? Remodeling? Redesigning your home? Painting? Drywall Installation? Then it’s better to hire a professional. Not only will the job get done, but it will get done right, and in a timely manner. A hands off experience that you can rely on. Projects that you don’t want to risk disaster or chaos should always be handled by a professional. Especially if you need a permit to do a renovation.

Share this article with a friend who has upgrades they’d like to make in their home!