My wife and I have been homeowners for a little more than 10 months now, and one of the issues we’re constantly faced with is whether it makes better sense to hire a contractor to do home renovations or to save the money and do the work ourselves. It’s a problem complicated by the ever-growing abundance of DIY blogs and how-to websites that make seemingly any project look manageable, if not downright easy.
We’re fortunate in that we bought a house that doesn’t really need a lot of work. From the beginning, most of the projects on our to-do list were optional: add a second bathroom, replace the basement windows with glass block, redo the rusty old linoleum floor in the kitchen. But that only increases the pressure on us to do things ourselves. After all, if something isn’t essential, why not take your time, save the money and do it on your own?
It turns out there is a pretty compelling counter-argument. So far, we’ve taken on two “big” projects by ourselves: replacing the broken, non-functioning door to the storage space above our garage, and removing our drafty old basement windows (five in all) and installing custom-built glass block panels. Both projects yielded home upgrades that are fully functional, money-saving and — for the most part — good-looking. The trouble comes when you look closer at the workmanship: while not bad from a distance, it’s clearly lacking in the details. From the outside, our new door looks fine; from the inside, it looks like somebody handed a nail gun and a pack of wood shims to a 3-year-old. And our glass block windows, while pretty, aren’t 100 percent level. The mortar is also uneven in spots (something that we can perhaps correct later.)
The question is, how much do these details really matter? We saved more than $500 by putting in the new basement windows ourselves. Are the imperfections we left worth that much?
Old window: rotting, drafty and insecure.
New window: rock-solid and energy-efficient; just not 100 percent level.
I’ve developed a rule of thumb: with proper tools and plenty of research, I can complete a project up to about 70–80 percent of the quality I’d expect from a contractor (in about three to four times the amount of time). When contemplating a home upgrade, the question then becomes: “Would I be satisfied with doing this in a way that’s 70–80 percent as good as I want it to be, in order to save X amount of dollars?”
Of course, there’s no guarantee a contractor would do any better. When we first moved in, we made the mistake of hiring a local “handyman” to install our dishwasher. He hooked it up okay, but he left behind some major problems with the drainpipe underneath the sink, and his electrician buddy installed an electrical switch for the garbage disposal directly beneath where the pipe was leaking. Oops.
After that experience, I bought a membership to Angie’s List, which lets you read and write reviews of contractors’ work. The $7.50-a-month price tag for a membership is a bit grating, but it’s worth it. You get discounts from a lot of contractors for being a member; more importantly, you get to see beforehand, from customer reviews, whether a contractor actually knows what they’re doing. Between a busted air conditioner, a smashed fender on my car, a new garage door and some major plumbing work, my membership to this site has already paid for itself a dozen times over.
Given that my odds of hiring a competent contractor are drastically higher now that I have access to that site, it’s tempting to avoid DIY projects altogether. Of course, I haven’t spoken yet of the sense of accomplishment you get from doing things yourself — but that’s mainly because I don’t get it. I’m a perfectionist; when I build something, all I tend to see are the flaws. My wife is much more satisfied with the outcome of our home renovations than I am. It’s also probably true, as she pointed out, that as we continue doing things ourselves, we’ll get better over time. Still, I can’t say I’m eager to try our hand at replacing the kitchen floor or installing that second bathroom alone. There are some things I don’t want to risk screwing up — especially, in the case of the bathroom, when plumbing and electricity are involved. Besides, contractors gotta eat too…
Tweets that mention To DIY, or Not to DIY? « saintpaulitan -- Topsy.com
Married to a perfectionist, I see your point of view, but also your wife’s. Practice makes perfect and as long as you keep doing your research, asking lots of questions (something that’s personally helped me), and taking your time, you’ll be able to acheive the desired look for a fraction of the price. My best advice is tackle a simpler project, and don’t consider it ‘done’ until it’s up to your standards. We’re 14 months into a complete kitchen remodel – floor to ceiling – and we’re doing this on our own (and thankfully almost done). You can do this!
I think it’s great to do the work yourselves because you learn a lot and save a lot of money. However, there are instances when it is probably best to hire someone to do something like adding a bathroom.
http://www.wutevs.wordpress.com
My husband has been getting handier but I’m still apt to hire people for the big stuff.
I’d say you did A+ work on your window. As an avid viewer of the Home and Garden Network, I’ve seen enough episodes to know that there’s never a bad time to “reno”. Another thing they do a lot on there is to repaint the fireplace mantle.
The Codger
http://thecodger.wordpress.com/
When we bought our first home, we had to hire an electrician to save us from the previous owner’s DIY wiring. Since then, though, I’ve taught myself the basics of wiring and handymanning. My rule of thumb is now to hire a pro only if there’s a chance that doing it myself will cause a fire or flood or hurt the value of our home. So, I’ll install a dimmer switch and refinish the kitchen cabinets, but I won’t add light fixtures in the living room ceiling.
http://www.toddpack.com
You’ve hit the nail on the head! (Sorry, couldn’t resist…) My wife and I are going through the same experience, with a near-perfect house that just needed the basement sorting. Then it turned out the place had been a grow-op and actually there were some serious (as in “life-threatening”) issues to be resolved. That meant getting experts in who could provide certification afterwards, but once you’ve had the experienced guys in doing such a perfect job, it’s much harder to accept the 70-80% effort. Especially when 90% of the time I can’t reach 70% . We have the roof to replace (not one we can do) and a deck to build (maybe, maybe not) but we DID lay the lino and replace the archetrave.
I’d say it’s your house, so you know what you’re prepared to live with. Balance the cost against the satisfaction (if any) and the best of luck to you!
It’s a large risk, doing the housework yourself.
Although, with a good result, you shall be as pleased as punch.
And DIY is the most irritating of all the acronyms anyway.
in the nature of annoying self-advertising, check out my blog
We’ve owned for over 10 years and are just now getting to some DIY projects. The little stuff (replacing outlets, switches, etc.) hubby does on his own. I tackled replacing broken kitchen tiles. Big stuff like knocking down the wall between the kitchen & living room to a waist high wall require the help of his dear ole dad. Thankfully, he could be a contractor himself, so we get great quality work. We have a new back door waiting for us at the hardware store and I’m not sure I want hubby tackling that one on his own!! Good luck and nice job on the windows!
I like your window solution – great idea and looks good.
To DIY, or Not to DIY? « My Buddy
many people bored with maintain they house… but you dont..
It’s good to tackle stuff on your own – its the best way to learn. My husband has been tackling the basement for over a year. It’s not perfect but he can drywall, do electrical and work better with wood than I originally gave him credit for. And then you’re proud of the work because you did it yourself.
good idea to do it yourself it will save you lots of money,
and everyone likes to save money
the windows and door looks good
to me
great job
yeah i agree with you, its really good thing to save money and to love your home.
but some times we need professionals and professional tools for that. if we need perfection.
i still have the same dilema: http://texttrade.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/falling-apart/
but it’s better to hesitate between DIY or not about the house, than about the sex
(homeowner for 10 yrs now)
I think those windows look great in the photo! And besides saving money, you get the satisfaction of doing a project yourself!
http://www.denwrites.com
Thanks, everybody, for the kind words and thoughtful comments. Somehow this ended up featured on WordPress.com’s main page today. Sixteen responses and a 1,000 pageviews before 5:00 p.m. is pretty unusual for my blog. It’s kind of fun to see what it would be like if I were a serious blogger. Good luck on all your own projects!
Every time I’ve done any larger job myself, I swore I learned my lesson and I’d never do it again. Saving money always feels good but truthfully I think getting a pro to do the work feels better – getting it done right. Especially when it comes to something like drywalling that the pros make look so easy and we can make such a mess of. Great post.
Thanks
With a big family we have never had the $ for contractors so we did it ourselves or let it go. I can fix a dishwasher. Lay tile floor or backsplash, that’s actually fun so if you are going to do your floor with tile go for it. I’ve done numerous paint and wallpaper jobs. My husband can replace wood floors, fix the furnace, and blacktop a driveway. Mind you we started out not handy at all, he was a computer analyst and me a stay at home mom. Go figure,necessity is the mother of invention.
The only downside I can see to DIY is we now have so many specialized tools that we’ll rarely use that are taking up an entire utility room.
I’m not a homeowner just yet, but it is fun doinf this yourself. At least if u attempt to do it urself you’d already started a pros job if it needs to be fixed. It all depends on how difficult the \project is also, you can’t fix moldy walls after a flood that you caused cheaply.
Heau.
I really enjoyed your post. As a female DIY’er I have come to realize that perfection can be impossible at times. Most people don’t walk around with a tape measure or level to see if you did a job correctly. Remember the bottom line is really about looks and functionality. You need to be satisfied with the work and it must be to code. That’s about it. Keep up the good work!
Nice read!
I really enjoy doing most things myself around the house. I learn a lot and saves money. If I’m not sure of something I just hit up the local Lowes or Home Depot for a book explaining how to do it. If I mess it up too bad, then of course I end up paying someone to fix my mistakes and the original problem (ha).
Check Us Out! A Little Place For Some Internet Traffic Road Rage!
Road Rage with A & A
Awesome!
good post… but sometimes when I think of accomplishing a DIY, it is largely decided based on what I think my core competencies are unfortunately.. Building a house is a big no-no..but organizing a part…hell yes..
Jokes aside.. I think perceptions play a more important part in most DIYs than training. Of course you might not be able to produce a very good computer programme up and running. You need a bit more than just an instruction manual. But, its the confidence level that you have about your ability to complete a particular DIY task, that helps finish a task.
A thing to remember is that it might end up costing more than professional help. And chances are that it might not be as good as professional help either. But, with DIYs you have the freedom of when to do it, and how to do it (even if a tad bit bad), and the chance for some good old exercise.
I say DIY !!!!
good post… but sometimes when I think of accomplishing a DIY, it is largely decided based on what I think my core competencies are unfortunately.. Building a house is a big no-no..but organizing a party…hell yes.. !!
Jokes aside.. I think perceptions play a more important part in most DIYs than training. Of course it depends on the task at hand too. Unless you are Steve or Bill, or Larry or Sergei, you might not be able to write a good computer programme and get it up and running through DIY. You need a bit more than just an instruction manual. But, its the confidence level that you have about your ability regarding a particular DIY task, that helps finish a task.
A thing to remember is that it might end up costing more than professional help. And chances are that it might not be as good as professional help either. But, with DIYs you have the freedom of when to do it, and how to do it (even if a tad bit poorer in pocket and outcome), and the chance for some good old exercise.
I say DIY !!!!
Super S paulitan,
love you guys:)
The question is: Do you really want (enjoy) to DIY? We renovated our entire house: built 1680 and nothing done since then! and honestly: I hate it. I am really good at it and can do most things – and well, but I am not sure we really saved any money, because the time it took was horror. There were also 4 children that entered during the time. I know my Hubby was never happy with renovating, but I think he felt pressed to do it since I was. Finally we were so many that we had to add on, which was way past our abilities – and we had a contractor. The pure bliss of watching the work being done while having a cup of coffee!
Your basement windows are fine, and you saved money – good job, be pleased. The perfectionist bit I totally get, being that way myself, but sometimes you just got to give a little. DIY is ok on minor stuff that won’t be in your face forever. But you’ve got to enjoy it! Or you’ll start hating instead – been there, done that. And you sound like me. Good luck!
I’d have to go with not having to hire contractors. Many of us here DIY and save tons of cash. There are also some contractors that have some “hidden costs” plus, some are overpriced to begin with. The best thing about DIY is that you can ensure that you’ve done what it is that you want to the best of quality that you can.
decoration is good.
Congratulations on making Freshly Pressed.
Personally, I’d go with the contractor. Especially now that you’ve got the Angie’s list membership. It is worth getting the job done to the level of perfection you require. It will also ensure that the work is done to code. Very important if you ever need to sell your home, as you don’t want extra repair expenses to bring the house up to code at that time.
Here in England, the opposite of DIY is PTTN – that’s “pay through the nose”.
However, even though it is painfully expensive, I almost always choose the PTTN route.
Always think re-sale when considering a diy project. Eventually one day someone will be considering buying your home and the quality of work or lack there of will be a determining factor in their decision.
Also, when considering a contractor, check their refrences, go and see the work they have done and always choose someone who is more of perfectionist than yourself. You will be happy that you did.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
I’m all for the DIY and save money option, but I agree that sometimes the best option is to hire a professional (after getting quotes, checking their references, BBB rating, etc.).
For example, if you plan to sell the house someday, the window not being level will probably be an issue. A potential buyer (or appraiser or real estate agent) will use that as a means to lower the price.
http://learning2hear.wordpress.com/
That’s the hard part, you need practice to get good at DIY. I’ve done the same things you’ve done. My first window replacement took forever and when I discovered that the old double-hung window hid an extra inch that my new replacement wouldn’t cover, I had to do some quick carpentry work to make it fit. Cosmetically it looks good, but I know that the window isn’t perfectly lined. But when I know I saved a cool grand doing the work myself, I feel better.
I personally believe the DIY route should always be taken.
All things considered, I think you guys did a helluva job! If the window opens/closes, is sealed all the way around, and secure, that’s the important part, right? Plus the money you saved can be used on bigger projects you’ll probably need a professional for anyway.
I had a similar experience (and result) recently when attempting to replace a kitchen faucet with my Dad.
How To Fix the Kitchen Sink Or Die Trying:
http://crosswordcharlie.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/how-to-fix-the-kitchen-sink-or-die-trying/
Like your window, it didn’t turn out perfect, but it’s certainly a conversation piece now.
Natina
I have owned several properties and I know what it’s like to want to save money on DIY projects. My partner and I would complete various projects most looked good at a glance – but given a closer look – we can see the flaws. This is okay as long as you know you will be in your home fore quite a long time or that you are providing housing for a tenant who doesn’t pay much attention to workmanship. However as a licensed Realtor, I know that when people are looking to buy they want perfection – something that will last and they not have to upgrade unless they are buying at a great bargain price! So, if you and your wife will be there years to come – I commend you on all of your hard work.
http://peoplestringinfo.effiesenterprises.com/2010/06/30/more-secrets-of-the-law-of-attraction/
nice window solution..
You know, the work looks pretty good for 70-80 percent. Its clean and looks good and it saved a boatload of moolah. Good job on the windows too, and they look professional.
http://greathistoricalmoments.wordpress.com/
You have touched on a boilerplate discussion I have every few weeks with someone.
Most people are perfectly capable of work around their home if their temperament is properly attuned to the project they contemplate.
The trouble starts when a mismatch occurs between outlook and complexity.
Even a “simple” job (there really is no such thing as a “simple” job -all jobs are complicated in their own way) requires attention to detail.
Consider replacing the toilet flush handle in the bathroom commode .
An unbelievable number of people are unaware the nylon attachment nut is a reverse thread and I have seen instances where people cracked their tank in a desperate attempt to unscrew the nut with the traditional righty-tighty lefty-loosey rule.
Do not be afraid to take on DIY projects, just respect the rules of the game enough to learn what to do.
People have hired me as a consultant for their projects where my responsibility was to set up and instruct them on the more arcane aspects of a job while they cheerfully undertook responsibility for “grunt” work and mundane nailing chores etc.
Your 70-80 number is consistent with my experience with the average homeowner.
People are available to help you with the other 20-30 percent you need to achieve a pretty darn good result.
Best wishes,
TJ Kattermann
Yeah, it’s kinda like that. We opted for the pro’s to come and add onto our house, which frees us to blog and take pictures about it. Otherwise, if we were doing the work, it would take too long and we wouldn’t document a thing!
I have done some insane DIY projects, such as a floor to ceiling, around the corner, glass block wall. The trick is to do your research, read the manufacture’s installation instructions, then take your time to do a careful job. I almost never pay to have remodeling done. It is much more satisfying to do it yourself. One golden rule to always follow: do one project at a time and finish it before going on to the next project.
I know what you mean about choosing between DIY or hiring a professional but there is a compromise for some jobs. A couple of years ago I needed a toilet wall plastering so I decided to do all the dirty work myself. I hacked off all the old stuff, nailed up the new plaster board and then I rang a professional plasterer just to finish it off. I probably cut the bill in half by doing the preparation myself. Why pay a highly skilled person just to rip down plaster, sweep it up and put it in bags? Almost anybody can do that. What most people can’t do is get a wall level.
botchityourself.wordpress.com
Don´t be disturbed about a (little) lack of perfection. The only one wo has to look at it, are you. As long as it does the job, you have achieved your goal; you have saved yourself some money.
Perfection is dull, without character. Who wants to live in a showroom?
DIY is things I desire and put interest in as well. All it requires is to be deligent in everything and continously searching, studying and learning from the experts,professional. Then you be easy going, without much harm and damages.
Being that I am a retired carpenter/remodeler with nearly forty years of experience, I always enjoy reading about DIY,er’s and their experiences.
I have to say, I wasn’t a big fan of DIY in the early days, as it cut into my business. But after awhile, I saw some light. The light was a business, on fixing/repairing DIY projects, whether some folks were over their heads, or gave up for some reason, like work, play etc.
One thing most of you find out however, is the enjoyment of building something with your own hands.
There are pitfalls in any project, whether your are a professional or a DIY, but almost any project, researched and well planned, can be accomplished.
As for the window , it looks pretty good. One thing I noticed, it is an older home. Most older homes are out of level and out of square. If one levels an old window in an out of level foundation or basement wall, it will stick out like a sore thumb. One tip on this kind of install is to split the difference. I think you did a great job!
DIY can be great. Or it can totally suck.
Another way I recently discovered to learn to do things that you might not have “skills” for is to look up your local Habitat for Humanity. I live in Des Moines, IA and our chapter is starting how-to classes for some home-building tasks (with the purpose of training you to help out on one of their houses). But another practical purpose is that if you know how to build it from scratch in the first place, it might be easier to figure out how to fix things that aren’t right. Or repair previous owners’ mistakes.
Always be willing to learn more, even if you don’t want to use it. That also might come in handy later when keeping tabs on contractors.
Just a couple of cents.
Julie
It definitely depends on what you’re doing and how comfortable with the work you are. At a younger age it’s always nice to DIY for the money savings. Once you’ve got some money saved up, it’s a lot easier to hire someone to do that job.
There’s some value in DIY though… learn as you go… once you know you’ll always remember how to do it.
I think as long as you have the skill you should DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF. Time is money though and if you dont have the time you dont have the time. Then maybe it would be ok to hire out.
From a Realtor point of view–if you do not planning on moving within the next 5 years doing it your self saves a tremendous amount of money.
If you ARE planning on moving then hiring someone to complete things, especially woodworking or major remodeling–get a professional. I have a house on the market right now that the husband did alot of work–and in some places it shows–trim work, spacing in new kitchen is not balanced, ‘edges’ meeting incorrectly. These would make a potential buyer become more likely to make a lower offer price.
Cosmetics like painting (as long as you are careful) are great things for homeowners.
Oh and remodels and expansions, decks and porches–make sure you get building permits and close them out as well. Many times owners forget and these can cause a sale to come to a screeching halt…not something you want happening in todays market.
Useful post. My girlfriend and I have been living in our house now for about a year and we have often discussed this. I like to live by the adage “Do it nice or do it twice” unfortunately in the end we got so fed up with “doing it twice” that we now almost always get someone in to do our DIY jobs. When you take into the account the amount of time it takes to save up plus the time it takes for someone to do the work it is about the same as going cheap and doing the work myself (mainly because I am sooo slow and can’t dedicate as much time as I would like) a good case in point, we have just paid somebody to tile our utility room and downstairs toilet (all done in a week) and I am going to take a week off at the end of July just to paint two door frames!
My husband and I have tried to do things the DIY way for most things but we know our limits. Neither of us like to install or finish sheetrock so while we wired, plumbed, insulated, painted, varnished all the wood, and installed trim and doors for our home we left the framing, roofing, and sheetrocking to the contractors. We have had mixed results with our contractors but for the most part are satisfied with the money we have saved and the work that contractors have done for us.
It all depends on your comfort level. Our levels have increased with the more projects we have attempted.
I’d say do what you feel comfortable with and know what you’re doing and how to do it. If not then hire someone to do it.
I can honestly say as someone that has done DIY project with the help of his grandfather and someone that has done some on his own, you ignore the perfectionist in you. Yeah, your first DIY project isn’t going to look that great but practice makes perfect. Then again I was lucky to have a grandfather that actually knew a thing or two about building a house from scratch and repairing or putting up sheet rock. Just ignore the perfectionist and be proud of your work. I can’t see anything wrong with the window in the picture. Trust me, because of my grandfather I experience things differently than other people, when it comes to houses, carpentry and general repairs. If you want to continue with DIY projects and worry about things being level, they have plumb bobs and levels and string can help level things. I’ve DIY with my grandfather laying a floor down its hard work but it has last a long time. It was one of those linoleum square tile deals.
Just design your lifespace, I think you wolud be pround of it no matter how it would become!
there are certain projects I won’t even attempt to do, mostly because buying or renting the proper tools would eat up the money i’d be saving. ‘Besides, ‘contractors gotta eat too.’
I have to agree, I fitted my kitchen with the help of my with 15 years ago (yes 15) and it’s still good, I needed a new oven but since I fitted the original, it was easy to replace it.
It does take more time for DIY but time well spent in my opinion.
Its good idea to hire contracter !
I also like your window solution – great idea and looks good.
http://www.espow.com/wholesale-car-electronics-car-review-systems.html
Wow, good for you! I think if you had the guts to tackle big projects in the first place, it’s worth the learning curve alone. Really like the formula you mention… will keep that in mind!
hey, this is a exceedingly attractive theme. What is the blog theme called? I’d like to use it for my site as well!
This one is called “The Journalist v1.9.”
The $500 Kitchen Makeover | Nick Busse