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Britt Erica Tunick is an award winning financial journalist who has spent the past 17 years writing about virtually every aspect of finance. She has mastered the art of boiling down complicated financial topics for readers to understand. |
With all those television do it yourself shows, you would think it is the way to go. Maybe it is, and maybe not. Let's examine some pros and cons of DIY. Why DIY Is Not Necessarily Your Best Bet By Britt Erica Tunick If you’re a homeowner, whether your house is a brand new construction or a hundred plus year old Victorian, the one thing that is certain is that things will need to be fixed or replaced. Given this reality, Home Depot and Lowes have made the idea of doing it yourself trendier than ever and odds are that you’ve spent your fair share of time in either or both of these places. Do-it-yourself, or “DIY,” projects can be a great expense saver and are sometimes quite fun. But, DIY isn’t always necessarily your best bet, and can sometimes prove more costly than hiring a professional. If you are someone who enjoys home repairs and projects, there are times DIY is definitely the right choice. With step-by-step instructions and videos available online these days for virtually any repair or building project imaginable, undertaking projects such as patching a wall or refinishing a piece of furniture yourself can mean significant savings over hiring a contractor or a specialist. On the flip side, however, unless you have experience and expertise with electrical or plumbing work, for anything beyond a simple clog or a tripped electrical circuit, it almost always pays to hire a professional who truly knows what they are doing and can do it safely. Rewiring a light may seem easy enough in a YouTube video, but if a simple mistake results in an electrical fire you could risk that safety of your family, or discover your homeowners insurance is nullified by the fact a professional didn’t do the work. Beyond safety issues, there is the simple reality many DIY jobs quickly become expensive undertakings you may not initially expect. If a DIY project means the need to purchase special tools or a significant amount of supplies it makes sense to get a quote from a professional and weigh your options. Sometimes buying the materials yourself can be far more expensive and time consuming than paying a contractor who can quickly perform the same job, and who likely gets a discount on any and all supplies it requires. So, before decide if your next home project is one you should undertake yourself or bring in a professional for, ask yourself some of these simple questions:
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