Remodeling Myths: Do-it-Yourself?
If you read home
improvement books and magazines, you are familiar with the
'do-it-yourself' concept. Homeowners are advised -- on the basis of
a single article -- to take on any task, regardless of the scope and
complexity of the project, rather than hire a professional. The
premise of do-it-yourself (or DIY) reasoning has almost universal
appeal, namely, that homeowners will save a load of money by not
using a contractor.
But
when it comes to significant residential remodeling work, whether
redoing a kitchen or adding a room or deck, very few homeowners have
the requisite skills and time. Furthermore, the average amateur has
no clout with specialty trade contractors and materials suppliers
and cannot negotiate the best pricing and scheduling.
This
is not to say that homeowners have no role in the remodeling
process. For instance, it is up to the homeowner to establish a
budget for the project based on what they can afford to spend, to
evaluate and select the best contractor for the job, to educate
themselves about the type of project they want and how it gets
built, to ask questions and demand satisfactory answers throughout
the project, and to make sure expectations for quality, cost, and
time are communicated and met.
This
'Decide-it-Yourself' approach is a much more effective and
appropriate use of a homeowner's time and skills than the
'do-it-yourself' method. Even if the amateur manages the initial
design and working drawings, he is likely to come to grief in
building codes and permitting issues, even before starting work with
subcontractors. Rather than trying to manage every detail of a
remodeling project, 'Decide-it-Yourself' homeowners entrust a
professional remodeler to shepherd the project on their behalf and
to their expectations.
In
addition to their management skills, professional remodeling
contractors offer other benefits, such as a wealth of experience
with similar projects and the craftsmanship to perform a given task
or the ability to supervise the performance of a specialist's work.
Remodelers understand how all of the pieces go together, from the
proper scheduling of successive trade contractors and building
inspectors to the knowledgeable connection of a framed wall section
to the foundation, to the roof, and to the existing home. These are
skills the professional has honed over several years of training and
experience, just as anyone who works in any job or career learns the
specific tools of his or her trade.
So, should you
do it yourself? The answer comes down to this: do you truly have the
skills and time to commit to the entire process of making your
project a reality? Every professional remodeler can tell stories of
desperate homeowners who needed to be bailed out of do-it-yourself
projects that have gone terribly wrong. For all but the most
skilled, hiring a professional may be the best way to stay within a
budget for time and money, and the best way to achieve a happy
outcome.
Warm
regards,
 
John Todd
Elite
Remodeling
Showroom & Design Center
2930 Preston
Road, Suite 980
Frisco, Texas, 75252
(972) 334-9800 -
phone
(972) 334-9890 - fax
jtodd@elitehomeremodeling.com
www.elitehomeremodeling.com
c. 2009 All
rights reserved.
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