The following is a post on behalf of Sean
Home renovation can cost a fortune and often home owners are unprepared for what they actually need to spend to achieve the anticipated result. Many first time owners budget for improvements that they will carry out themselves, but often this works out to be more expensive than getting a contractor in. The steep price of remodelling makes it very tempting for owners to choose DIY over the professionals, but in the long run this can be more costly. Before you embark on renovations read this advice, as it may save you thousands and give you a bigger ROI.
Contractors can cost less
Renovations requiring plumbing or electrical work are often best left to those who are skilled in that department. For safety and financial reasons it is always better to employ an electrician to complete rewiring or other electrical jobs, as if they are done incorrectly they can be hazardous. A good plumber is also a sound investment as water damage can cost thousands to fix. Save yourself money by employing people who can do the job quickly and efficiently rather than having to pay someone to rectify your DIY mistakes.
Save on tools
Spending money on tools for DIY can be an investment, but only if they going to be utilized regularly. Large tools or machines can be costly and if a contractor can supply them at a lesser cost or you can rent apparatus this may be the preferred option. Save some money and have some fun whilst renovating by playing mobile casino games at www.mobilecasinoaustralia.com.au rather than spending money on tools you won’t use again, or have little resale value.
Whole sale prices
Contractors may be able to source paint, decor items and fittings at a lower cost, but they then may mark them up to be even more expensive than had you purchased them yourself. Do some research and obtain quotes against various items you will require, to determine whether it will be cheaper to utilise contractor’s materials, or to buy your own.
Time is money
As always, time is money and if you know that someone else can get the job done at a lesser cost then it is a worthwhile investment. DIY for small projects may save thousands but always weigh up the scope and expertise needed for a larger project to ensure the best ROI.
Kevin McKee is an entrepreneur, IT guru, and personal finance leader. In addition to his writing, Kevin is the head of IT at Buildingstars, Co-Founder of Padmission, and organizer of Laravel STL. He is also the creator of www.contributetoopensource.com. When he’s not working, Kevin enjoys podcasting about movies and spending time with his wife and four children.
Sounds interesting. And yes DIY helps to bring down cost drastically and can work in a way just as you desire without having to crib and cry on the actual outcome. However, things like fixing the electrical, plumbing and various other fixing needs a professional and it’s important that someone who is specialized does it.