DIY
or Hire a Pro?
– CA NA DI A N H O M E BUI LD ERS’ A SSO C I AT I O N –
DO YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY SKILLS?
Consider your own skills and abilities carefully.
While many of today’s home improvement products
are designed to make it easy for do-it-yourselfers,
other projects will require specialized skills. Seeing
how something was done on a TV renovation show
isn’t the same as having practical experience. Getting
in over your head can end up costing more money,
and frustration, than hiring professional help in the
fi rst place.
DO YOU NEED A BUILDING PERMIT?
Typically, any renovation that changes the structure
of your home requires a building permit issued by your
municipality. This also means inspections of the work
at the appropriate times to ensure the work meets the
local building codes. Be sure to get a permit if you
need one. Keep in mind that someone looking to buy
your house in the future may ask about the renovation
work and want verifi cation that the work was done to
code.
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME?
Renovation or signifi cant home repair projects
can require a lot of your time to complete. If the
work disrupts your day-to-day routine (e.g. kitchen/
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New Homes
November 2017
bathroom renovations) or exposes your home to
weather (e.g. roofi ng projects, exterior refi nishing),
delays can be a real problem. So before you commit
to doing it yourself, be realistic about how much time
the work will take, and your ability and willingness to
invest this time. If you don’t have the time, don’t start
the work.
DO YOU HAVE THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT?
Saving money by doing it yourself can easily be
undermined if you have to lay out hundreds of dollars
for tools and equipment. Renting is always an option,
but costs can also add up quickly if you’re doing the
work in your spare time. So when you develop a do-it-
yourself budget, include realistic costs for buying or
renting tools and equipment.
HOW DO THE REST OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD FEEL
ABOUT IT?
Being a do-it-yourselfer is great–as long as everyone
else in your household shares your enthusiasm.
Nothing undermines a do-it-yourself project faster
than having your family upset when their normal
routine is disrupted. So talk it through with everyone
ahead of time, and make sure you have a team
behind you!
If you’re doing it yourself to save money–get a
second opinion to be sure you are saving.
If your primary reason for doing-it-yourself is to
save money, talk to a contractor before you make
a fi nal decision. An experienced renovator or trade
contractor may be able to suggest ways of reducing
the cost of your project while still using professional
services where you lack the time or skills. You can
also save by doing the fi nishing work yourself, such
as painting or wallpapering, while leaving the more
complex work to the pros.