While doing your own home improvement projects can be a great way to save money and achieve something that you’ve been wanting to accomplish, if you try to take on a project that’s more than you’re capable of completing, you could find yourself in a much worse off situation than you were before.
Luckily, there are some pretty easy ways to know if a project that you’re wanting to do on your own will be feasible for you. To help you see how, here are three signs that you’ll likely need to hire a professional for the project you were wanting to DIY.
You’ll Need A Permit
Not all home improvement projects are ones that you can just do on your own over the weekend. In some instances, you’ll need to be a permit or approval from your city or county before you can start work or to ensure that the work is up to code.
Because of this, Amy Livingston, a contributor to MoneyCrashers.com, advises that you do research beforehand to find out if a permit will be necessary for the work you’re wanting done. If it is, that’s a good sign that you should trust this work to a professional rather than taking it on yourself, as going through the permitting process can often be a bigger headache for you than it would have been to just hire a professional in the first place.
You’re Dealing With Plumbing Or Electricity
For most people, basic home improvement projects don’t involve working with plumbing or electric. So when your project will involve something like this, you might want to consider just hiring a professional electrician or plumber to ensure that the work gets done right.
According to Lisa Marie Conklin, a contributor to Reader’s Digest, even home improvement projects that might seem easy can get complicated when they involve electricity or plumbing. So unless you’re absolutely certain about what you’re doing and what work needs to be done, bringing in a professional is often preferred.
A Mistake Would Be Catastrophic
Another thing you should consider before taking on a home improvement project by yourself is what the worst-case scenario could be if you completely botch the project.
Kelli B. Grant, a contributor to CNBC, shares that for some projects, like painting, the worst thing that can happen is that you don’t do a good job and have to either redo it or hire someone to fix your mistakes. But for bigger projects, like knocking down a wall, the worst-case scenario could potentially be catastrophic. So to be on the safe side, letting a professional take care of things might be best.
If you’re wanting to take on a home improvement project but aren’t sure if you’re really up to the task, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you know if you’ll be in over your head.
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