DIY or HIRE

You have made the decision to perform a home improvement project. You now have two options: doing it yourself (DIY) or hiring the work out ( friend, handyman, tradesman, or licensed full time contractor specializing in residential home improvements).

Let's say for the sake of argument you want to do the home improvement project yourself a DIY. Here are the things to consider as a DIY home improvement specisalist:

• What will be my project?
• What is my budget?
• Do I have the skills to be successful or the patience to learn them befor I start?
• Do I have the tools to do the home improvement or know where I can rent/borrow them?
• How long do I anticipate this project to take?
• Do I have the time to complete my home improvement without delays?
• Do I need plans?
• Do I need a permit?
• Where can I get my materials?
• Do I need to order materials ahead of time so that they are available when I am ready to start?

If you feel you have a handle on all of these questions then you are ready to be a DIY home improvement specialist! If you have reservations about your skill level start with small projects where material costs are minimal and errors won't require you to call in an "expert" to fix your mistakes. Here are a few examples that you might conisder as a first time DIY home improvement project:

• Painting walls- start with interior and when you are confident move outside, exterior work uses different paints, more preparation, heavier tools, irregular surfaces, environmental conditions etc.
• Window treatments- curtains, blinds, pre made valance, off the shelf type things that only require a screw driver, tape measure and a level. Adds hominess, sophistication, and warmth to your environment.
• Shelving (pre manufactured)- great for extra storage, display or to add aesthetic appeal to a blank wall. Here's where you may start acquiring tools i.e. stud finder, cordless drill etc.
• Closet organizer system- who really doesn't like to know where they put things? Your spouse will appreciate being able to share the space with the added room you will generate. It's a great selling feature in any home.
• Wallpaper- here is where the line begins to be fuzzy with respect to DIY home improvemant projects because hanging "paper" is not what it was when I was growing up. If you read the instructions and use the specified adhesives, if not prepasted, you'll be fine. Remember this: If you are doing this for resale think twice, chances are your tastes won't match your buyer's... stick with paint. If you are doing this to dress up a nursery or child's room go for it. Chances are your kids will participate in picking it out and it will be what they like (themeatic) and as they grow older, and assuming you are going to stay in the same home for awhile, you will replace it for something more age appropriate; another project for another day.
• Cabinet hardware- specifically knobs and pulls. It's amazing how this simple feature change can add contemporary styling and upgrading to the look of your kitchen even though the cabinetry stays the same. Big bang for the buck and the only tool needed may be just a screw driver depending on your selection.

On the other hand if you have the funds but are short on time but have the vision and can relate that idea to another, hiring your home improvement project to a qualified individual is a viable option. Here is the one adage you should keep in mind which is almost universal in life but especially in construction and that is "You get what you pay for". I listed a few of the people you can choose from above. Here are the pros and cons:

Pros/Cons

• Friend: Fairly cheap or works for beer money but can ruin a friendship real fast.
• Handyman: Higher skill levels & less expensive but not licensed or insured typically.
• Tradesman: Highly skilled if journeyman but one dimensional; no license/insurance.
• Remodeling Contractor: Multiskilled, licensed/insured but comes with a higher cost as you should expect. This guy has paid the price but always ask for references and verify his license status.

I am biased of course but I believe that if you are a patient person with an eye for quality you can accomplish almost anything in home improvements. The bigger jobs may require a professional but do some investigation. Read "how to" articles on the web, books at any home improvement center, or library. If you start with the smaller projects your skills will improve and each succeeding home improvement will not only improve your home but your skill level as well. First we crawl then we stand and before long we are running marathons! You can do this stuff! I am living proof.