When to DIY and when to call the professionals

November 30, 2018

Doing your own handy work can be a blessing, especially when you are planning to sell or you buy a home that needs some extra love.

DIY jobs can save incredible amounts of money and create a sense of accomplishment. You might even get your work completed faster because you are ready to go this weekend while the tradey you need might be two or even three months booked. Creating your own finishing touches also gives you access to some added flare that might normally get overlooked, or cost extra as signature lines.

When can you feel confident about doing it yourself?

Painting

All you need is the right tools, some quality paint and time to have your interior walls looking fresh and new. Make sure you do the required prep work and make a small investment to buy the right tools for the job.

Curtains

Everything you need for curtains can be purchased at your hardware, sewing or large department store. You can even source your own metal or wooden curtain rails from a pack and install them yourself for half the cost.

Flooring

Laying new floors is best done with two people and an empty room. Clear out pets, family members and furniture. Some YouTube how-to videos or a workshop demonstration at your local hardware store will give you enough of a clue to get started.

What not to do

There are a few jobs around the home that you should never touch. In these cases always hire a professional regardless of the expense or trouble. Attempting to do your own handiwork here will either leave you with a nightmare result or lead to injury or health hazards in your home.

Tiling

Big tiling jobs are fiddly and take more time than you’d expect. What normally happens in the case of DIY tiling is bathrooms are stripped back and left bare for months or, they are completed but the result is never quite smooth.

Laying tiles evenly in a bathroom, laundry or kitchen will probably turn into a headache. Saying that, there are a few exceptions. If the area you are tiling is small, like a splashback or bench top the risks are lower and your success rate higher.

You can still save money buy putting in the work where you can on big jobs. When getting quotes talk to your tradey on whether it would make any impact if you stripped the old tiles back yourself, ready before they arrive.

You can also save money by buying your tiles from a discount warehouse. Tiles go out of season faster than fashion so you can always get a great deal on ‘old’ looks or commercial surplus.

Electrical

Forget about cost and convenience when it comes to electrical work, the number one thing you need to prioritise is safety. This doesn’t just apply to appliances and the wiring of your home, it also includes carpentry work that takes place around electrical housing units or anywhere live wires might run.

Firstly you want to ensure that you don’t electrocute yourself but long-term safety counts as well. If electrical work is not completed properly the results can be fire, shock and blackouts.

While electricians may seem expensive it’s because they have four years of training under their belt. Always ensure that the person you hire has an electrical work licence, insurance and work guarantee. Peace of mind makes this job worth every cent.

Plumbing

While not quite as dangerous as electrical work, getting plumbing fixes wrong can cost you a lot more in money and time down the track, due to internal wall leaks or ineffective water works. Plumbing jobs might appear simple but many require some sophisticated knowledge and the right tools for the job.

Small things like changing washers and installing new fittings can be done yourself, for anything bigger talk to a tradey about a quote and check their licence to work before they begin.

Staging

Staging is proven to increase the value of your home significantly. To get the most up to date and effective staging designs you will need to hire a professional. They understand the current market, current colours and styles and will work fast to open up space in your home, transforming it into something you never could have imagined on your own.

Temporary Fixing

Think that you can get away with a quick home fix because you are selling? Think again. Your DIY job needs to stand up through the sale process as well as settlement. Any damage that occurs during the settlement period caused by faulty plumbing or electricity is entirely on you. That means fire or water damage will cost you the sale and probably will not be covered by insurance, since DIY work in these areas is illegal. Never take shortcuts when it comes to your home, no matter how long you plan to stay.

Who is Peta Stewart?

Award-winning conveyancer. Entrepreneur. Business mentor. Women’s cycling advocate. These are just some of the ways Peta Stewart is introduced. What ties them together is a steely determination to help people achieve their life goals and have fun in the process.

In 2004, Peta became the first licensed conveyancer in the Albury Wodonga greater region. Five years later, she launched her own business and started shaking up the industry with a good dose of personality, integrity and humanity.

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