Do-it-yourself home improvement or home renovation can be one of the most challenging and rewarding things that you can do at your own house. With the right tools and the right plan, plus hard work, you would probably be able to execute perfectly a repair or an installation job. However, there are some mistakes that people should avoid if they want their DIY projects to prosper.
- Lack of central planning- planning is vital in any undertaking. Whether you’re into marketing, business appraisal, or DIY projects, the same principles apply. You need a plan before you begin your project. Experienced home renovators have been doing their jobs for longer periods and yet, they still rely on plans- both in their heads and those that have been written on paper.
What are the advantages of having a central plan? A central plan would include the timeframe, the cost, and the actual process of how to execute a project. If you’re working from scratch and basing everything on half-hearted measurements, guesswork, and luck, then you’re not executing a DIY project: you’re simply playing around with power tools and your hands.
- Budget- some people think that all DIY projects can be executed flawlessly even if you make extreme cuts around corners. Twisted assumptions regarding how a project is carried out by hired workers and a general lack of knowledge of lead to unnecessary and sometimes even risky “money-saving” measures.
Why is it risky to cut the budget? Think SAFETY. If you are installing new electrical wires, to “save money”, some safety devices would be kicked out of the picture like circuit breakers and alarms. A DIY project is not about saving money and producing something that “looks good” or “looks clean” only.
Experts recommend utmost diligence when deciding when to cut back the budget. If a project is generally harmless, then go ahead. But if involves the electrical system, the water or gas system that can flood or burn down your house, then the resounding answer to the question “should I cut the budget?” is no. GP
- Lack of skill- do-it-yourself projects, home renovation, or home improvement is all about learning- at a pace that is fast enough to get decent results. You wouldn’t want to end up having a lopsided cabinet hanging from the center of your kitchen.
But there is a catch here. Not all jobs in the house can be carried out by simply one man or woman, or a family of five. Some major jobs should be handled by a crew of professional workers who already know the ropes. The reason for this warning is that you might end up spending more money on future repairs of uneven projects that are the result of a sheer lack of skill.
Some projects can easily be learned- but one should remember that not everything in the house can be done by a novice. To do so would not only be irresponsible but possibly quite dangerous.