Contractor vs. DIY: Tips that helped me during my home build

Contractor vs. DIY: Tips that helped
me during my home build


My father built my childhood home when I was a kid and I was lucky enough to learn from him
during the process. Not only am I now comfortable with a mitre saw and a pneumatic nail gun, I
actually enjoy home improvement projects. I can't bring myself to pay for work that I know I
can do myself, but when my husband and I were building our
dream home, even I recognized there are some projects best
left to professionals.

Here are a few questions that I asked myself about each project
to help me decide whether to hire a professional or do the
work myself.

How important is the space within the home? As a family of
five, the kitchen was at the top of our list. Even though we had
a blueprint, taking the plan to a firm that specialized in kitchen
design allowed us to make significant improvements that we wouldn't have thought of until
using the kitchen. For example, they encouraged us to change the location of the sink to move
it closer to the dishwasher. They also suggested we move a counter to open up the traffic flow
through the kitchen. These could have been daily nuisances, but instead they are conveniences
we'll enjoy as long as we live in the home.

How much time will it take you to achieve the same results? Finishing work like trim has to be
perfect in order to have the proper effect. After much wasted time and materials we realized
that installing crown molding and working with coping saws was part art and part science.
Unfortunately, even with limitless time it was still difficult to achieve the same quality as a
professional. Trim work, like crown molding or wainscoting, adds architectural interest and
increases the value of a home. Hiring someone was well worth the money to us.

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Do you have enough knowledge? I, like most, think it's easy to pick out flowers, shrubs, and
trees. But I've learned to take into account that experts know more. There are so many
different aspects they have to know about the plants they choose. For example, how tall will
the bush or tree grow? What will it look like in different seasons? Does it need shade or direct
sunlight, or a certain soil composition? Is it prone to certain pests or resistant to certain
animals?

A trained landscape architect like the one we hired has all of that information available when
doing a design. Most professionals work with a nursery where you can purchase the items
within the plan. An added benefit is many nurseries will discount
the price of the design if you purchase from them. They'll also
likely have some level of guarantee for plants they install.

Do you know your limitations? Be honest with yourself about
your capabilities and what you can and can't do. As an engineer,
I'm perfectly comfortable measuring and putting up drywall. But
mudding the drywall to cover up the seams is something I'm just
not good at. If I want a wall to look seamless and smooth then I
know it's time to pick up the phone.

Each project is unique, and each homeowner has a different level of personal expertise, quality
standards, and available time. If you fairly answer the questions above, you'll be able to quickly
determine when your good intentions are outweighed by the need for professional
intervention.

Author : C. J. Mackey is a working mother of three, balancing a full time
career while taking an active role in her children's lives. She has an advanced
degree in engineering and over twenty years making technology decisions
for fortune 500 companies. For further inquiries on Tips For Building Your
Home you can visit http://cjmackeypress.com/

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Tips For Building Your Home
Contractor Versus Do It Yourself
When To Use A Contractor

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