When to Hire Professional Renovation Help

Thanks to the rise of dedicated home-repair channels like HGTV and the DIY Network, it is more popular than ever for homeowners to take on large home renovation projects themselves.  However, it is important for homeowners to be aware of their abilities when looking at large projects.  Certain types of home repair endeavors should be left to the professionals, whether to preserve the safety of the home or of the person handling the repair, or because the cost of a do-it-yourself project far outstrips the cost of a professional renovation.  Here are some of the projects for which you should call a professional, as well as how much you should expect to pay so you can start planning.

How large is the scope of your project?

The first element that should determine whether you should hire a professional is the overall scope of your project.  In general, unless you are an experienced contractor, you should not try to do a new build yourself.  As such, if you are wanting to add an extra room, move a bathroom, or make changes across the entire house, you should hire a professional.

You can expect to spend between $10K and $80K on your room addition.  If that price range seems high at first glance, consider the skills that are necessary for a successful project – not only do architects and engineers have to design the framework of the house in such a way that matches the look of the rest of your home while ensuring it is structurally sound, electricians also have to wire it, sheetrock and flooring have to be laid, and so forth.  While you could save money by acting as your own general contractor (if you are an experienced manager) and subcontracting out individual projects, the time you spend managing others may more than double the amount of time it would take for a single contractor to get the job done.

How dangerous is your project?

The second type of project that requires a professional is one that presents any danger to yourself or to your home.  This category broadly includes both electrical and plumbing work.  Attempting to mess with your home’s electrical systems without the proper training could be extremely hazardous; similarly, incorrectly “fixing” plumbing problems could cause water damage throughout the house.  In both cases, the cost for repairs is far greater than the amount of money you would have saved by hiring an expert.  Plus, doing electrical or plumbing work without a license is illegal in certain states.  Depending on the size of the project, plumbing and electrical work can cost between several hundred dollars to over $5K.

How much technique does your project require?

Finally, if your project requires a certain type of technique, you should leave it to the professionals.  For example, while it is okay for you to paint the interior of your house, an exterior paint job requires much more work to maintain a quality appearance.  A professional exterior paint job will generally cost under $6K, unless your home has multiple stories.

Whatever projects you undertake, make it easier on your contractor by clearing out the space where the project will take place.  Instead of shifting all of your furniture to another room, which will make the area more cluttered, put your belonging  in a self-storage unit to keep them safe. In Torrance, the cost of a unit has only cost around $154.57 on average over the last six months.

While taking on certain projects yourself can save you money, if you encounter large or potentially dangerous projects, or if they require precise technique, you should hire a professional.  You will end up saving money and time at the end of the project without running the risk of making a costly mistake.

Thank you to Ray Flynn from DIYGuys.net

Carol Gilles, of the RealEstate Group, has been helping home buyers and  home sellers for over 39 years, including providing referrals for professionals  to help you with your remodeling projects. Carol can be reached at 310-864-9738 or Carol@CarolGilles.com