Last week we began our discussion on things to consider before undertaking a do-it-yourself project. This week we will pick up where we left off and talk about the needed skills for your project, time constraints and knowing when to hire a professional. Continue reading to learn more.
Do you have the ability to complete the task?
Ask yourself:
- Do you have the skill set required to carry out your DIY project? In other words, will you need any special training or practice before you take a jackhammer to the driveway in an effort to carry out your vision of laying a stone driving path?
- Can you do it alone or will you need the help of family or friends?
- Are these family and friends available to help you and do they want to help you?
Are there any time constraints on your project?
As previously mentioned, many of the DIY gurus you have encountered on television have this magical ability to make everything they do look fast and easy. This is usually not the case, especially if you run into a hiccup. If you offered to host your parents 40th anniversary party, which is two weeks away, but you want to put down a new stone tile floor in your kitchen first, be sure that the two valuable vacation days you have taken off work will be enough. You may need to prepare yourself for having to carry your project over into the nights and weekends leading up to your event.
Know when to hire a professional
This might be the hardest thing to consider for some of us on the verge of a DIY project because we don’t like to think that we wont be able to accomplish something we set out to do. Try and remember there is no shame in being able to acknowledge when a project is simply too big or complicated to undertake or finish. Contractors, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and other skilled individuals in the home improvement world have undergone years of training followed by years of on-the job experience to carry out the work they do. Experience, we might add, these individuals are always building upon. At the end of the day hiring a professional may save you money, time, and the disharmony that can occur in a household during a DIY project.