Miles owns a home in Golden. It’s a nice 2 story, 3 bed with a garage and a very sizable back yard. This year, he and his wife, Jasmin, are getting back a nice return on their taxes; the first in years and, since their kids are grown and gone, they decided to splurge on a few amenities for the house. Miles now has an eight-person hot tub on order that he plans to enjoy next winter. Unfortunately, he has a problem almost as large as his soon-to-be new Jacuzzi: his back porch is only 8 feet square. To make matter worse, it’s not square but rectangular which makes it even more unsuitable.
Now Miles finds himself needing a porch. After some discussion, he and his wife decide that the only solution is to install a new deck large enough to handle hot tub, barbeque, patio chairs, and a table with room to wander and mingle for summertime parties. Miles insists that he can build the entire structure himself with the occasional help of a few friends on the weekends. Jasmin feels that it would be better to call in a contractor. Sadly, this leads to an hour or so of bickering. Finally, they decide to list out the pros and cons of each.
Miles and his wife are not the first or the last to be in this situation. Most homeowners, at some point or another, find themselves in the position to decide on how to install or repair something around the house and eventually, the question comes up: DIY or hire a contractor. Both have their ups and downs, but each owner must decide which is the better option. To help with that, take a look at their list. Do it Yourself… or Hire a Contractor?
Do It Yourself?
PROS:
Money: DIY’ers can save up to 25% of the cost of the install or repair because they are paying themselves for the labor, not an entire crew. Often, the only labor cost is a pizza and beer for helpers.
Mid-Project Changes: Sometimes, in the middle of a project the owner decides that they don’t like the way the project is going and can make changes on the fly.
Satisfaction: There is nothing quite like completing a successful home remodel project. The accomplishment of finishing a project can be a source of pride for years.
CONS:
Time: A project can be a huge time commitment. It may take days or weeks due to other obligations. Trying to build a deck or repair a breaker panel will usually take second place to job and family.
In-experience: In this day of Youtube, a lot of potential DIYers think that they can lay down a deck in a weekend and then run into unforeseen trouble or end up out of their depth.
Cost of Mistakes: If a homeowner hits a snag (or a buried water/ power line), the cost of repairs may skyrocket. What once was a $3,000 job just turned into $8,000.
Hire a Contractor?
PROS:
Experience: From construction company to simple handyman, a contractor handles projects around the home for a living. They know the little tricks that make the job go faster and easier.
Connections: Many projects require some form of permit from the city or county. A contractor knows what paperwork needs to be files and who to file it with. They often know someone who can zip it through a little faster.
Speed: A contractor has the tools and access to a labor force that can finish the project in a timely manner. Something as large as a deck may only take a day or two to complete.
CONS:
Cost: Hiring a contractor can hike the price of a project up significantly. Not only is there the cost of materials, but labor and sales mark-up are put on the bill as well.
Inconvenience: For some projects, you or someone you trust will need to be home while the contractor is working. This may mean that time needs to be taken from work or other obligations.
In the Queue: Depending on the contractor’s availability, the project may have to wait in line behind other customers. The norm is a few days to a week, however, due to weather or other vagaries of life, the owner may not have a non-essential project completed for over a month.
In the decisions between DIY or contractor, there is no right or wrong answer. Each homeowner must look at their situation and decide what is the best course of action. Money vs. Time. Experience vs. In-experience. The factors are always changing. So what to do? Follow Miles’ and Jasmin’s example and list out what would be best for you.
Feel free to call True Performance Real Estate today and ask any questions you might have about your home remodle project.
Call: 303-317-6311