Just (Don't) Do It Yourself

DIY. Dee-Eye-Why. Do It Yourself. The phrase just makes you feel powerful. That’s right, you don’t need to hire a contractor. You don’t need to rely on anyone. You can get the job done yourself! But in reality, some home improvement projects are best left to the professionals. Even if you’re pretty good with a hammer and you’ve got the skills to not pay the bills, consider these reasons for LSEDI (Letting Someone Else Do It).

Safety. This is the most important reason to consider hiring a pro. According to a 2022 study, around 300,000 do-it-yourselfers were injured - some sent to hospitals - last year because of a home improvement-related injury. The top injury was ‘laceration’, which is one of our least favorite words. But there was plenty of damage to go around, including contusions, abrasions, organ damage, finger smashing, falls, slams, and breaks.

Difficulty level. There are several home renovation projects that are more than your average DIYer should be taking on. Plumbing, for instance, should be left to a licensed professional. Most of us can jiggle the toilet handle, but when it comes to installing or repairing a rock-solid pipe system or replacing a water heater, it’s better to have someone who has the skill and experience to do it right, the first time. Electrical work is even trickier. There are so many types of wiring in old houses and so many types of new lighting rigs and systems that it’s important to have a professional electrician handle it. Us homeowners should stick to replacing light bulbs to avoid courting electric shock and fire hazards. It’s no shame to admit something is beyond your pay grade - it’s prudent.

Time. This precious and nonrenewable resource should not be drained by the many home improvement tasks that each seems to multiply into other tasks. Ask yourself: how important is saving money compared to saving time you can use doing something else? Each of us has a different measure of how much time we want to spend on home improvement tasks, but it’s good to go in with eyes wide open (and wearing safety goggles).

Stress. This might be the most compelling reason not to do home improvements yourself. No matter how well you prepare or how experienced you are, every home reno job has the possibility of blossoming into a homeowner’s headache. If you hire a professional to do the job you have peace of mind, and even if problems arise you don’t need to know about them! Most reputable outfits offer free consultations so you can get a feel for their style. Contact System Pavers for a free in-home design consultation and see what we can help you do with your outdoor space.

It may be a romantic idea to think about tackling a home improvement project, proving you truly are the master of your domain. However, one must always weigh the pros and cons - the ultimate goal is to have the home you want and the life you enjoy. That’s one to build on.