71% of homeowners say that inflation has caused them to do a project themselves rather than hire a professional.
There’s always a debate of “Should I DIY or hire a contractor?” every homeowner asks when it comes to home renovation.
Both options have their pros and cons, and it’s important to understand them before undertaking any home improvement.
We’ll break down the advantages and disadvantages of each option and provide some tips for making the right decision based on your individual needs, budget, and preferences.
Pros of Hiring Contractors
When it comes to renovating your home, hiring a professional contractor certainly takes the brunt of the work and makes the physicality of the process much easier on you. Although it may take time to find the right contractor that resonates with your renovation needs, once you find one, the hefty price they bring is often worthwhile. Start off with a reputable contracting company to ensure that you get what you pay for.
The main pro of hiring professional contractors is you have a team of certified, licensed, and experienced experts at your disposal. As professionals, they have a wealth of knowledge and specialization the average home DIY’er wouldn’t have. Along with their knowledge and expertise, if they are determined to get you as a client and a referring client, they’ll give you the best service. This makes the renovation process more enjoyable and creative collaboration over your home.
Another benefit to working with contractors is that they have access to all the tools and material resources that you otherwise would have to find yourself. You don’t have to source the best and most affordable tiles, fixtures, etc. Although you certainly can do this, you can include that in the scope of work when working with contractors.
With that said, you can outline the scope of work and control the degree to which the contractors will work on your home renovations. This means not having to do any of the work you don’t want to or are unqualified to do. For instance, you can hire a contractor to overhaul your bathroom tiles and do all the cleaning, prepping, and retiling. If you’re interested in only installing the bathroom fixtures yourself, you can leave that out of their scope of work. It’s a win-win as you get your renovated bathroom without it being such a laborious task.
Cons of Hiring Contractors
The initial disadvantage of hiring a contractor is having to invest time into finding the right one. You can get lucky right off the bat and find a contractor that you absolutely love and can’t wait to get working with. On the flip side, you may find yourself settling for a team who perhaps meets your qualification standards but doesn’t quite get your vision.
Regardless, if you do hire a team of professionals to work with, be prepared to deal with potential delays and miscommunication. These delays are often still billed and charged at your expense. Because you’ll be working with other people, everything needs to be planned and communicated very clearly. Unless you want to end up paying for a contractor’s vision and not your own, you need to iron out every last detail, which for you, can be overwhelming.
Even with upfront planning and communicating your expectations clearly, you can still end up with slight variations or a very different end result than what you may expect. Regardless, you’ll still be charged accordingly. That’s really to be expected when hiring a contractor. You do have to give up some creative control and trust that the contractor’s professional input will give you the best result.
Pros of DIY Renovation
One of the biggest advantages of a DIY renovation is saving.
You can save money on labor costs and work within your own budget. USA Today reported that about 71% of homeowners say that inflation has caused them to do a project themselves rather than hire a professional. The cost savings of DIY renovation is hard to beat. If you have the means and the patience, sourcing tools and materials for your home renovation can be quite an enjoyable process. It allows you to stretch your skills as a DIY’er, gives you more experience, and gain more knowledge.
The main appeal of DIY renovation for many who opt for it is the creative control and the satisfaction that comes with achieving a specific desired vision. There’s no feeling quite like sipping a glass of wine in a kitchen that you renovated yourself. This sense of pride, ownership, and self-improvement is hard to beat.
Cons of DIY Renovation
Depending on how skilled a DIY’er you are, the main con of a DIY renovation is the quality of your work. There is a reason why many renovation jobs require a licensed professional. If you lack the DIY experience, be prepared to deal with a slower pace of work that may be subpar to the time and quality a professional could achieve.
To state the obvious, DIY renovation is a lot of work. Regardless if you’re starting from scratch or have an arsenal of DIY tools and materials at your disposal, you have to see through the process from end to end. This involves everything from planning, prepping, sourcing, etc., before you can even get to the actual renovation.
Finally, a DIY renovation can be a safety risk.
This is where we strongly suggest you set your ego aside. If the end quality is a question of safety, don’t hesitate to call in a professional instead. Doing a DIY home renovation that is incomplete or of poor quality costs you more in the long run anyway, as you waste time and resources and end up paying for replacement or repairs down the line.
Balancing Contractors vs. DIY
Finding a balance between hiring contractors and DIY renovation can help you achieve the best possible result for your renovation project. Consider hiring contractors for aspects of the renovation that require professional expertise, such as electrical or plumbing work, while tackling simpler projects yourself. This can save you money while still ensuring a high-quality finish. It’s important to be honest with yourself about your skill level and limitations. Don’t take on a project that is beyond your abilities, as it can be dangerous and may end up costing you more money in the long run.
When To Call The Pros
When it comes to home renovation projects, there are some that are best left to the professionals. Unless you have extensive knowledge and experience in the area, it’s best not to compromise work quality and safety. These projects often require specialized skills, knowledge, and tools that the average homeowner may not possess.
Some projects we suggest leaving to the professionals include major electrical or plumbing work, structural changes, and complex installations like a fire suppression or ventilation system. Hiring a professional ensures that the project is completed safely and up to code while also providing peace of mind for the homeowner.
Other projects that may require a pro include roofing repairs, chimney repair window installations, and large-scale painting jobs. It’s important to do your research and find a reputable contractor for these types of projects to ensure a successful renovation.
At the end of the day, the decision to do professional renovation versus doing a DIY renovation is up to you as the homeowner.
Weigh out your skills, resources, budget, and time in accordance with the renovation work at hand. Understanding the above-mentioned pros and cons of each option can help you make the best decision for home improvement.
When deciding between hiring a contractor or going the DIY route, remember that you can get the best of both worlds. Do what you can do and want to do. The rest, leave it to the pros. With the right approach, you can achieve a successful renovation that meets your needs and reflects your personal style.
