There is nothing worse than starting a home renovation project (no matter how big or small) only to be thwarted by complications. Take it from me, it can cost you BIG TIME! To help you avoid the same mistakes, here are 6 tips to help you keep do-it-yourself disaster from visiting your home.

 

  1. Be Realistic

Check yourself.  Be honest about your technical ability and experience. I overestimate my D-I-Y often. Learning to be realistic has helped me keep supposed "simple projects" from turning into complicated messes.

 

  1. Define The Scope Of The Project 

PArt of being realistic means knowing exactly what you're going to try and do. If you don't know the exact parameters of the project, you can get yourself into a mess. So, whether you're out to paint the walls or renovate the kitchen, clarify EXACTLY what you're going to do. From that point, you can decide if it's actually DIY or requires additional help. 

 

  1. Determine Estimated Costs

Also known as doing your homework.  Create an outline or spreadsheet of the associated costs, including materials, expected fees, etc.

 

  1. Determine The Timeline: 

Along with an outline or spreadsheet for costs, detail the timeline for the project. This is especially helpful with larger projects involving multiple contractors. 

 

  1. Remember To Seek Bids

Don't neglect to get bids from contractors and vendors. A project must make financial sense. Part of the pre-planning process involves getting prices from the third parties you might need to do the job. In short, does the project make sense to do alone, or is it better to have a professional do it? 

 

  1. Set A Back-Up Plan

If there's one thing I know about projects involving hammers, paintbrushes, drills, etc., it's this: rarely do things go according to plan. So, always have a plan B and even C should things go differently than expected.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Do-It-Yourself projects can be trickier than expected. To avoid any troubles, it's good to approach such a project with your eyes wide open. My hope is these 6 tips will help you do just that.

 

With that, here are 5 projects you may want to consider using a professional:

 

●      Anything structural - Structural projects can come crashing down.

 

●      Anything electrical - ZAAAP!

 

      ●      Roofing - Falling Isn't Fun

 

      ●      Plumbing - For Obvious Reasons

 

      ●      Insulation - Cough Cough!