The Do's and Don'ts of DIY Projects

So you want to do-it-yourself, huh? Most people now a days do home repair themselves, only to find themselves over extended and under skilled. They try to read DIY articles or books and follow the instructions, but without some real guidance or some technical know how, their ship is sunk.

When you've seen the myriad of repairs that I have, come about from someone else's mistakes or the homeowners trying to fix or DIY, it just doesn't pay to do-it-yourself

Here's a simple checklist you can use to see if you can do-it-yourself. It's basically just a small list of questions you should answer to determine whether or not you are qualified to do-it-yourself.

1. Have You Ever Done it Before?

Simply put, have you ever done this particular task before? Are you qualified to attempt it? When it something as simple as drywall repair or painting, most people are qualified, but re-roofing your home? Can you walk on the roof without falling off? Are you capable of with standing hours on your knees leaning over on hot shingles? You must recognize your limits, physically and mentally, before attempting most DIY. The basic rule is: Am I qualified physically and mentally for this particular task?

2. Do I Have The Time?

Most homeowners just don't think it will take that long. "I'll blow right through this" they say to themselves. Many projects require a serious investment in time. How long does it take to paint a bathroom? Between getting the materials, buying the tools, setting up, painting, trimming, second coat, and cleanup, your could be looking at a week or more for some people. You will say to yourself also, "The professionals take around 10 hours, I can do it in that time." That is totally untrue. You don't spend 40 hours a week painting, only the professionals do. So it's going to take you a lot longer. The basic rule here is: How long is this going to take me and do I have the spare time to finish this?

3. Do I Really Have the Skills for This?