DIY or call a pro? How to handle household projects
Published on Tue Nov 26 2019 in Lifestyle
The tap starts leaking. A puddle of oil appears under the car. The garden fence is leaning over. Dealing with wear and tear (or even bigger damage) around the house is a normal part of adult life.
At some point, you may have looked at a problem and asked, “Can I fix this myself?” It might sound easier than the alternative—finding a reliable handyman, booking the repairs and taking time off to supervise their work—and you’ve maybe wondered if it’d be cheaper too. People do DIY household projects all the time, how hard can it be really?
While you may have the know-how to handle some household improvements, there are upsides to hiring professionals to tackle projects both big and small.
Before you break out the toolbox, ask yourself these five questions first.
1. What’s my skill level?
Be honest—are you really as handy as you like to think you are? Small fixes around the house—a wobbly table leg, replacing cabinet handles, fixing a leaky tap—might be within your skillset. However, bigger or more technical jobs may be better left to the professionals. In fact, taking on a job you’re unprepared for could be costly. Many people start home improvements only to discover that completing them is beyond their ability. Getting someone to complete the work (and possibly correct your mistakes) could be more expensive than if you’d just hired them in the first place.
2. How much time will this take me?
Even if you have the skills to do the work, you may not be as fast as the pros. Read a service manual or watch DIY videos to get a sense of how long the project will take. Can you see yourself completing the project in a reasonable amount of time? Remember, videos are edited for time and to cut out mistakes. They may even feature a handyman with more practice than the everyday homeowner. If a pro could likely do the job faster (and better), it might be worth your time to hire them instead.
3. Do I have space to do this work?
Depending on the project at hand, you may need some extra space to get it done. For example, if you’re building a pergola in your back garden, you may need a well-ventilated, covered space to cut wood and paint or stain it before everything is assembled. This may be no problem if you have a large garage or carport you can do without for a week or so. However, someone who doesn’t have that space (or can’t give it up for more than a few days) may want to hire a handyman who can do some of the work offsite or work faster.
4. Do I have the right tools?
No matter what project you’re taking on, having the right tools is important. Before trying your hand at DIY, check if you have the tools you’ll need or if you can borrow them. The next option is to buy the tools, but first consider if this job is worth that investment. Specialised tools can be expensive and larger pieces need to be stored between use. Unless you plan on using them a lot, it may make more sense to hire someone who already has the tools for the job. That way, you can spend your money on something you’ll use and enjoy more.
5. Do I really want to do this myself?
Finally, it probably makes sense to decide if DIY-ing is really something you want to do. Completing a home project on your own is an accomplishment, but having these bragging rights might not be worth it. Your time is valuable, and paying someone else to tackle a home improvement while you relax might be more important to you. Hiring a professional could free up your evening or weekend for family time, catching up with friends or enjoying your hobbies. This might be more rewarding to you than finishing a DIY project.
Tick, done!
We all have items to check off our to-do lists. Whether you DIY or hire a pro, taking pride in your home feels good. No matter how you get those house fixes or improvements done, be sure to relax and enjoy your home afterwards!
Now that you've decided whether to DIY or hire a pro, here are 18 home projects that can be finished in a weekend!
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
The content provided in this article is for information purposes only. The information is of a general nature and does not constitute financial advice or other professional advice. To the extent that any of the content constitutes financial advice, it is limited to Momentum Life products only and does not consider your specific financial needs or goals. You should consider whether the information is appropriate for you and seek independent professional advice, if required.
All product information is correct at the time this article was published. For current product information, please visit the Momentum Life website.