The Pros And Cons of DIY
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: March 7, 2022
Do-it-yourself (DIY) projects have always been popular. They give people a project to work towards, and for some tasks, they will save you money by doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional.
This could be fixing a leak or putting up a garden shed.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, DIY projects became a central part of many people’s lives.
It filled a void in their life as they may not have been working, and with no tradespeople able to do jobs in line with COVID rules, the work had to be done by the homeowners instead.
This saw a 50% increase in online sales for home improvement and gardening products.
Some of the basic projects people begin with include putting up a shelf, painting a wall, creating a garden path, or building a palette sofa for your garden.
Once you know how to get started with DIY projects, they can be very rewarding to complete. As with many projects, however, they do come with some cons too.
Here are the pros and cons of DIY.
Pros of DIY
- Learning a lifelong skill – The skills you learn for your DIY project can be used over and over again, making it a useful skill for life.
- Cheaper than hiring a professional – Labour costs will drive the price of your project up dramatically. Buy the materials yourself and cut out the labor costs.
- Rewarding – Taking on a project will make you feel good when you complete it.
- Enjoyable – These projects can be fun for many people and are a positive way to spend your free time.
- Can be done as a group – Not every task can be done solo. Invite your friends or family to help and enjoy some bonding time together as you take on your DIY project.
Cons of DIY
- Risk – When working with tools, you bear some risk, but with the right personal protective equipment, you can reduce the chances of hurting yourself.
- Time-consuming – As this is something new to you, it will take significantly longer than a professional would take to complete as you try to make sure you get it right.
- Can be costly – Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the price of materials for DIY projects has risen, which might make your project more expensive than you would hope.
- Have to invest in the right tools – You will need to invest in basic tools such as a drill and screwdriver. These will most likely be needed for any DIY project.
For the most part, these projects are fun, practical, and rewarding. Don’t shirk the challenge; learn a new skill and be proud of yourself and your DIY project.
Here are the pros and cons of Hiring Professionals instead of DIY
Pros of Hiring Professionals
- Experience – They have more experience and can guide you through problems that often arise in large-scale renovations.
- Specialists – Hiring a trade specialist such as an electrician means they are qualified; having the knowledge and skills to carry out the work without any issues.
- More Free time for you – Allowing a professional to take on the work will free up your time, leaving you to enjoy other activities.
- Management of Contracts – General contractors can manage large-scale renovations as they have connections with subcontractors and specialists in your area, saving you the time and trouble of finding them.
- Better Pricing – Professionals often have trade deals with suppliers, enabling them to obtain better prices for materials.
- Permits and Compliance – They ensure the project is compliant and legal by handling permits and other details.
- They can take on a bigger project – The sky is the limit! Well, your budget is the limit. But hiring a contractor allows you to expand your vision beyond what your skillset would allow you to accomplish.
- Faulty Work – In case of faulty work, their work on your home will be covered if they are licensed and insured (if they aren’t, don’t hire them). They are obligated to remedy the situation as soon as possible.
Cons of Hiring Professionals
Designing a project often requires adjusting shapes, colors, and sizes. Hiring professionals can lead to extra charges for changes, which is inconvenient. Doing the work yourself is cheaper and gives you more control over purchases. Contractors juggle multiple clients, so they might overlook your job, causing delays. To ensure the work matches your vision, you need to supervise constantly. Contractors set timelines and schedules, leaving you with little control. They’re not designers, so you must specify your wishes. Your home can become chaotic, and noisy, and lack privacy during work.
Completing a DIY project, even a simple one like building a bookshelf, feels satisfying. It adds value to the object and gives you a sense of accomplishment, along with bragging rights when friends see the finished job.
Thank you for reading!
