One of the perks of being a Lehigh Valley homeowner is having the ability to turn your living space into your dream home at any given time. Whether you’re hunkering down for an outdoor project over a long weekend, or updating the guest bathroom, it is wise that you discern which jobs you can handle on your own and for which ones you will need to enlist professional help. Here are a few tips on how to hire the correct person for your home improvements, and what to consider before starting a DIY project!
What you need to consider
In the land of HGTV and YouTube, doing a home makeover seems as easy as one-two-three. However, there’s more than what meets the eye, and there are a lot of extra components that go into revamping a space that you may not be aware of. Before you pick up that power drill, it’s important that you are completely honest with yourself about your knowledge and skills to do a project correctly.
Consider what would happen if you were to mess up. Small tasks such as painting your walls don’t yield any real consequences because if you were to make a mistake, you can just repaint the wall. A blooper with a bigger project is not as forgiving, and you may find yourself out of more money than you bargained for. Some contractors won’t even repair or accept projects that have been botched. In many cases, it’s best to bring in a professional rather than trying to find someone who is willing to fix a mess. Jobs that involve plumbing should be outsourced because if you were to improperly install a new sink, a leak will cause damage to the walls and floors around it. If left unattended, over time that leak can cause mold to grow or even cause your floor to sink!
Many chose to go the DIY route because it saves money, but remember that while you will be saving monetarily, you will be spending a lot of time. Before starting any home improvement project, think about how much time you actually have to complete it and whether it’s worth that investment. If you can only dedicate weekends to a project like replacing your kitchen cabinets and counters, ask yourself if you are okay with not having access to your kitchen for a few months. Some projects you can complete over a long weekend, such as installing a fence around your backyard pool, but anything else may require the help of a professional --for the sake of time.
How to find the right professional
Trusting someone to remodel one of your most precious assets is a big ordeal and going with just anybody can cause a lot of heartache. Before you begin the hunt for the perfect contractor or handyman, come up with a detailed plan and be very specific about what you want done and the materials you would like to use to make that happen. Ask people in your social network like friends and relatives for references because those who have had similar projects done are your best resources. They will be able to tell you first hand what to expect and who they deem skilled enough to handle your renovation.
Once you have a few prospects, interview at least three of them and get a written bid from each contractor. Compare the bids and make sure the materials used and the job you want done all match up for an accurate assessment. Do not be afraid to negotiate pricing, and do so after you compare bids and before you sign the contract.
Deciding to take the quality of your home up a few notches is an exciting time. Be sure to make the process as stress free as possible by taking on only what you can and outsourcing the rest! Revel in the fact that soon your home will match the vision in your mind!
Photo By Igor Ovsyannykov (Stock Snap)
This guest post was provided and authored by Paul Deniken.
