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10 Common DIY Projects That Will Leave You Hiring A Professional!
Paul Kaplan
I've made it a professional goal to be known as a leader in the Real Estate industry in the Palm Springs market for the past 20+ years...
I've made it a professional goal to be known as a leader in the Real Estate industry in the Palm Springs market for the past 20+ years...
The internet and HGTV are loaded with DIY projects that leave you googling late into the night trying to find your next home project. Tackling one of these projects can be expensive, time-consuming, and most of all scary.
Painting over the kitchen cabinets that you've had for years is a job that usually requires a professional if you don't know the first thing about paint. Imagine tackling a stain job on your hardwood floors and staining them too dark or ruining them. You'll be out a couple thousand at least! In addition, based on recent buyer statistics, if your home is a contender against a professionally finished home, chances are you’ll lose the fight in the long run.
Long story short: Sometimes it’s worth investing in a pro to do the projects that really matter. Think of the future payoff!
Check out our list of 10 common DIY mistakes to avoid. ⬇️
10. Fixing the Roof
A fundamental element like this can be tricky to do on your own. Yes, it can cost you a good chunk of change but fixing the roof yourself to save a few bucks can be dangerous for you and your home. At times it can be very difficult to identify roofing leak sources and other roofing issues, without the expertise. DIY roofing jobs can cause serious impact on one’s home value if it backfires. And yes, if a future buyer is notified of this you could be losing tons of cash during the sale.
9. Building your own backyard deck
This could cost you future hospital bills! The obvious concern: if you build your deck badly you could cause the flooring to collapse at any moment. The less obvious concern: placement of the deck on a wrong part of the property could make it harder to access necessary spaces. Permitting and evaluating the land area in which you build your backyard deck is vital. This is the sort of thing that is included in an estimate by a pro but could easily be overlooked by a homeowner.
8. Converting Indoor/Outdoor Space
Some homeowners may be privy to converting their unused spaces into functional extra rooms. This isn’t always the smartest choice as sheds and/or garages weren’t originally designed with full time living in mind. This is a huge project that can easily be underestimated. More times than not, this DIY project will turn into a half done living space which can look sloppy and overall not functional. For actions needed such as raising floors or lowering ceilings in a garage, it is almost imperative to hire a professional contractor.
7. Installing Carpet and Hardwood
It's all throughout the house and it's the first thing buyers will look at! The flooring in a home can make or break the appearance and appeal to buyers. Installing it yourself does require some homework and you do need to be quite handy. Floors that make noise or floors with caps along the molding aren't what people consider "professional".
6. Adding an Upstairs Laundry Room
Another plumping project that could cause damage such as mold or mildew, ceiling damage, structural problems and rotting floors. Allowing a professional to take a stab at your second floor laundry room could cover your insurance costs if an error arises. The last thing you want is a flooded main floor caused by a second floor leak.
5. Tackling the Tile Work
Just like a good paint job, new flooring can drastically elevate the appeal of a space for those staying or selling. Experts express it is more than just lining up small squares. A mismatched tile job can signal to future buyers that the homeowner wasn’t invested enough to spend money on a professional. This is the type of project that can be done by tradespeople in an economical manner.
4. Installing the Kitchen... YOURSELF!
The one thing people look for when they are searching for a renovation project is kitchen renovations. They can be a huge job, but they could be an even bigger job -- and expense -- if homeowners try to install their own cabinets and appliances.
Appliances can cost a ton of money and make up a major portion of the project budget, so take the time to get a professional in there to help out.
3. Installing a "Committed" Home Feature
A “committed” home feature is just as it sounds, a semi-permanent element that fits the homeowner’s personal taste. For example, if one decided to install fuzzy pink carpeting or custom colored countertops, the homeowner most definitely must be committed to staying put for a while. Or capable of making changes to aesthetic when selling comes around. While these type of custom additions may not cost you more money, they will decrease the chance of a turn-key home sale.
These types of projects can have more of an emotional appeal to the homeowner but if your decision is long term, turning to a pro may be in your best interest.
2. Painting a Room
Saving money on paint can be a very poor decision. Nowadays many name brand paint companies are producing paints that make the job easier, but it's still going to look sloppy if you don't know how to use a brush. If you've tried this DIY you know how time-consuming it can be. If you haven't make sure you do your homework!
1. Adding a Basement Bathroom (or elsewhere)
Anything plumbing related can be a big mistake. For homeowners, projects like these can be physically dangerous and could cause a whole lot to fix down the line. Plumbing issues can easily be flagged during a home sale inspection if not functioning properly.
Want to tackle a smaller DIY?
Our kid room projects won't give you any trouble.