What if I Want to Do It Myself?
Many homeowners enjoy taking on home improvement projects. Today, there is a tremendous amount of do-it-yourself information available from building supply retailers, specialty television programs, bookstores and on-line through the internet.
If you're considering doing your own renovation work, but are uncertain if this is the right choice for you, here are a few things to consider:
- Think about your skills and capabilities, and the complexity of the project, before jumping in to it. Do you have the tools needed or will these need to be purchased? If you have experience in residential construction, doing your own work can make a lot of sense. On the other hand, if you lack the necessary skills, or if the work is complex, doing it yourself may be a mistake.
- Give some thought to the work schedule and your own free time. Will you be able to complete the work on time? Are you willing to devote this much time to the project or is it likely to drag on longer than you want?
- If you act as your own general contractor, you are taking on responsibility for managing the project. Make sure that all legal aspects of the project are handled properly including building permits and required inspections.
- If you hire tradespeople to do some of the work, remember that you still need a proper written contract covering this activity. Without a contract, you could be exposed to significant legal and financial risk in the event of a work-place accident.
If saving money is the main reason you are considering doing the work yourself, consider talking to a professional renovation contractor first. They may to suggest ways they could do the work while controlling costs or may be able to divide the work into more affordable stages.
|
|
