Uncategorized – NeoHandyman.com

Photo by Monica Silvestre from Pexels Whether you're looking to save money by repairing or upgrading yourself or to save time and ensure peace of mind, this post will help guide you toward your best decision. Of course, there are plenty of times when the job at hand is simple and obvious - changing out a light bulb, unclogging a sink in the bathroom, etc. These are chores, not projects. When To Do It Yourself: It's best to do your research Before you dive into a project, it's best to check out what you will need as far as the level of effort, tools, and products. If you've never stained a piece of furniture before, it's a good idea to turn to the handyman's best friend - YouTube. While this is no secret, I am still astonished at how much information regarding products and techniques is out there. We here at NeoHandyman.com maintain our own YouTube channel with many different household fix and upgrade tutorials. Please feel free to peruse at your leisure. Calculate the Complexity of the Project Before You If you don't have much in the way of experience, you will want to stay with the simpler projects and fixes. As you go along, you will gain more confidence and gather more tools that you have learned to use. When your confidence is high, it is in our opinion that you should attempt, at these times, to stretch yourself and your abilities. Be very certain not to go too far, however. This sort of thing can backfire a little (sometimes learning the hard way is the only way). At any rate, doing the job yourself can save you a significant amount of money. Plan Your Time We are all busy. Planning your time is essential, of course. If you are busy with work and other obligations, you may be putting yourself in a rush situation. When this becomes the case, you will run the risk of costly mistakes and regret. Again, it's still imperative, in our opinion, that you challenge yourself to DIY when you can and, certainly not when you cannot. Photo by ThisIsEngineering from Pexels When to Hire a Professional: There are going to be times even for some folks who are professionals, to have to call in some help. Here is a short list of legitimate reasons for Hiring out... If You Run a Risk of Costly Damage You should avoid repairs to your house that are out of your skills genre. I have done many repair jobs around my house. I am very good with wood and other products of the like. I will not be attempting any plumbing work outside of changing washers on spigots and hoses and the occasional sprinkler system repair. Most of the time this sort of thing is an emergency. It is considered by most to get an expert in as soon as possible and leave it to him. If You Don't Have the Necessary Tools I had mentioned that I work the occasional sprinkler system repair and even controller installation/repair. This is true (see the videos). The one aspect of this work that I don't do is the winterizing of the system. To do this would require a large, expensive air compressor that I would have no other use for beyond the sprinkler system. The local pro that I hire every year has all that stuff. He is here and gone in about 20 minutes and I'm all set until Spring. If you have a project/repair that you know you can accomplish on your own but have no alternative use for the new, expensive tool that you will have to buy, it is, of course, better to hire a pro. When Your Project Will Require Official Inspection This is the most important. For many jobs, ranging from water heaters to room renovations with electrical work to be done, If you are not certified and/or licensed to do this kind of work, it is best to hire a professional. If the hometown inspector fails your work, you will be potentially on the hook for what could be a lot of money. Secondly, these inspections are meant to identify potential hazards; things that might cause fires, and the like. The town inspector, in this regard, is responsible for keeping emergency workers safe, and out of a fire, for instance. Of course, there is your safety to be considered as well as your family's. DIY Folks Keep Heart: There still are plenty of big jobs, like installing replacement windows for instance, which are not as difficult to perform as most might think and whose savings as a DIY project would be significant - likely $100 or more per window. Generally speaking, your town will not require a permit, and therefore an inspection for these, unless you are making the original opening for any particular window(s) larger. If the framing of your home has to change, you will need a permit and inspection. If you're equipped, have at it. If not, hire a pro... bro.