Check out our handy guide on which projects you can do yourself at home and which ones are still better off calling in a professional.

When you’re preparing to renovate your home, you’re probably wondering when to do it yourself and when to hire a professional. Everyone has trade-offs in terms of time, money and results, so it’s often a matter of budget – and confidence in yourself and your own abilities.

There are many resources available to help us, such as books with detailed instructions or online how-to videos (“How to” guides). As a general rule of thumb, take on projects that you feel comfortable with and have the skills to complete the project you want – and get a good result. Most people have a brush and paint at home and can save quite a bit of money on “cosmetic improvements” at home. Others are ready to tackle installing/replacing tiles, replacing kitchen counters, or even building a patio themselves.

Seasonal home maintenance is therefore an area that you can cover yourself and save money in the process. You can arrange the facade yourself, paint the fences, replace the filters, clean the gutters and other maintenance that you perform regularly.

Homeowners should avoid work (repairs) that, if done incorrectly, could have truly disastrous consequences; for example, a plumbing leak in a wall that causes a lot of damage, or bad electrical (or gas) wiring that can even cause a fire.

Most of the household chores you want to avoid are plumbing, heating and electrical work.

Other than these critical tasks, you can pretty much learn to do it yourself. You just need to take some time to learn and get the hang of things. However, you should also keep in mind that it will take longer than you thought. Plan ahead.

The key to success is actually enjoying do-it-yourself homework and being willing to learn from the pros.

If you like some homework and have the time, then do it. What others are doing – these are not skills that people can’t learn, but they also can’t be learned overnight, and they can’t be learned just by watching YouTube. Rehearsal is the work of a master.

Professionals who work at home every day know the tricks and techniques to achieve high quality results. For example, craftsmen can lay tiles, but floors and walls are never completely level. They often have some drawbacks. A professional in such situations knows how to fix it, while a “home handyman” can deal with what could affect the installation and the final appearance of the tiles.

Home craftsmen can perform as their own contractors. This allows them to do the tasks they feel comfortable with and then subcontract the rest.

In doing so, be aware that subcontractors will likely charge you a higher amount for their service than the general contractors they work with every day.

You can also opt for the buy-it-yourself approach, where you buy the products yourself and then hire a professional to install them. In this way, you can save quite a bit of money on home improvements, as you will buy products at favorable prices and thus also eliminate professional markups for materials and finishing works.

For example, on your own can look for cabinets or tiles at stores that offer huge discounts. Contractors will not spend as much of their time looking for bargain material products. They already work directly with their regular suppliers.

Another interesting home project where you can save money (in the long run) is a home energy renovation that helps with energy efficiency. Home insulation projects can reduce home heating and cooling costs by as much as 20 percent.

See below which projects you can do yourself and which ones are better off calling in a professional.

The kitchen

Yourself:

Laying tiles (or other coverings)

Repainting the walls

Furniture (elements, cabinets, table, chairs)

Expert:

Replacement/installation of water pipes

Replacement/installation of gas pipes

Removal of a wall for an open passage between rooms

Electrical installation

Bathroom

Yourself:

Furniture (wardrobe, mirror, sink, toilet,…)

Basic (undemanding) tiling

Expert:

Replacement/installation of water pipes/radiators

Replacement/installation of electricity for underfloor heating

Installation of ventilation

Increasing space

Greater complexity in tiling

Basement

Yourself:

Repainting the walls

Door replacement

Floor covering replacement

Furniture (cabinets, shelves,…)

Expert:

Electricity

Plumbing

Built-in water resistance

Outdoor spaces

Yourself:

Garden shed

Basic (wooden) floor on the terrace

Retaining wall (“scarp”)

The fence

Garage door

Expert:

Built-in pool

Concrete slab on the terrace

Electrical wiring between indoor and outdoor spaces

Additional tasks and improvements

Yourself:

Painting and wall covering

Entrance door

Replacing lights / bulbs

Door handle replacement

Expert:

An extension to the house

Electrical installation

Water supply/sewerage

Installation of the roof

Installation of solar cells (collectors) on the roof

Installation of external lights

Construction of a mansard

Article source: 

Housebeautiful.com ( Should You Do It Yourself Or Call A Pro? )