Kari's BlogUpgrades & Renovations September 24, 2021

How to Plan Your Own DIY House Rehab

Are You Planning to DIY a House Rehab?

For many people, home renovations are a part of life. Whether it’s painting the living room or installing a new dishwasher, most homeowners will take on at least one project over the course of their time in their home, but what circumstances make it worth it to get an expert contractor involved in your remodel? Is it ever actually worth doing DIY projects around the house? Continue reading to learn more!

Common Myths about Home Renovation

If you are planning on doing renovations of any sort around the house, it is an important decision to make about whether it is worth it to do it yourself or hire a professional. Home renovations can be a fun, rewarding experience, but there are a lot of myths about home renovation that might make it seem more difficult than it is. Here are some of the most common myths regarding home renovations:

  1. If you don’t know what you’re doing, then it’s probably better to hire a professional. Not true! For most homeowners, knowing how and when to get help is the difference between a successful project and a disaster. Knowing when it’s time to ask for help can save you money and heartbreak down the line. With that said, for smaller jobs, there are plenty of online resources available to learn how to do something like changing light fixtures, faucets, electrical outlets, etc.
  2.  All contractors are the same. Well, not really! It’s important to do some research into which contractor is the best fit for your project. For example, if you’re getting your fence repaired or installing a new one, it may be good to receive and repair quotes from different contractors before making a decision. A quick search on a platform like Angi for ‘fencing near me’ will put you in touch with several local contractors that you can then vet based on their rates, client reviews, licenses, insurance, and more.
  3.  You need to spend a lot of money to make your house look beautiful. Not true! Most homeowners don’t need to spend a lot of money, nor do they want to. There are many small improvements that can have a big impact on the way your home looks and feels without breaking the bank. There are many different options when it comes to materials and supplies that can drastically affect the cost of your renovation.

Our Simple Guide to DIY or Hire Out

Deciding to DIY or hire a professional can be a difficult choice for homeowners. Here are some tips for specific jobs about when to do it yourself and when you should hire a professional:

Do These Yourself:

 

Fresh Paint

● Painting: For many people, painting is an easy thing to tackle on their own. You can learn the basics with a few YouTube videos and some practice. If you paint often, it is easy to perfect the skill and achieve a close to professional-looking finish. Painting can make a huge difference in the selling process!

 

 

 

Cabinet Knobs and Handles

● Cabinet knobs and handles: A few new cabinet knobs and handles can really go a long way towards making your kitchen feel modern and fresh, and it’s an easy job for most homeowners. Most hardware stores have tons of different and affordable options. Sometimes the small details such as these can make all the difference saving you from a much larger project, such as replacing the entire cabinet.

 

Hire These Out:

 

New Countertops

● Countertops: Countertops are one of the most important, stand-out pieces in your kitchen. It’s worth it to hire a professional for this job if you don’t want to risk messing up the finished product.

 

 

 

 

 

Flooring

● Flooring: If you’re planning on using hardwood floors, tile, or other types of flooring that require precise measurements and cuts, hire it out. You want these jobs to look perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

Time to Start Your Rehab!
While these decisions can be difficult to make, they are more often than not worth it in the long run. Hopefully, the tips and advice in this article will make it easier for you to figure out what is best for your situation.

This post was originally submitted by Lisa Walker and has been edited by the Kari Haas Real Estate Team.