How A Data Nerd Approaches DIY Home Improvement Projects

I started 2021 by purchasing a home from 1885, out of sight, with visions of restoring it to its former glory. In nearly two years I've restored three multi-rooms and personally tackled several smaller projects.

DIY home repairs can save you a lot of money, but that's not the only reason to do it. According to a recent NerdWallet home improvement report, one in four homeowners has undertaken a DIY home improvement project in the last two years because they enjoy doing the job themselves. I count myself among them. The joy of this work was instilled in me from an early age by my father, a former teacher of applied arts (company class), full professor and amateur carpenter. I joke that I'm the only girl I've ever met who built her own Barbie house. It was a blue one bedroom ranch house.

Between my current house and the one I live in (also about 100 years ago), the only work I pay professionals is urgent and massive: new roof, demolition, new heating and cooling, and a moment of oak flooring. it was enough to reveal a dirty basement (a real nightmare) outside my bedroom. On the other hand, the list of do-it-yourself projects is extensive and includes tasks such as removing wallpaper, carpet, and popcorn from the ceiling; wall and ceiling coverings; floor repair; restoration and mold replacement work; replace the original button and lamp; and removing and restoring the original cover.

For the most part, I spent as much time planning this project as I did building it, and the first step was deciding if it made sense to do it myself. I lean towards the "yes, of course I will" most of the time. But deciding to do it yourself when a professional would be smarter will cost you more money than you can save with peace of mind, lots of time and effort.

One caveat: It can be tempting to use online tools to compare DIY kitchen remodel cost estimates to those of a professional kitchen remodel. You can use this tool to get an overview, but not as an indicator of what you'll actually be spending or saving. Typical project costs collected from various surveys, including the US Census Bureau, are not accounted for in project specifications. Yes, home crafters save money, but they can also choose less expensive materials and work on smaller projects overall. In addition, these estimates are rarely tied to a specific geographic location, and costs vary widely by country.

Before putting on your glasses and getting to work, carefully consider these three factors.

capacity

Whether I have the ability or skills to complete a project depends on what I know, as well as what I can learn. Yes, you can learn almost anything about YouTube these days, but what you're really looking for is something you can learn to do right with the least chance of going wrong .

Talk to someone who has done it. If you don't have friends with DIY resumes, invite a contractor or two to provide estimates, and use the visit as an opportunity to gather information. Ask them how the project is progressing, what permits might be required, what went wrong, and how many people will be involved. These visits can serve several purposes: they help you understand the skill level of the project, as well as determine how long a professional will take and how much they will cost.

Don't just rely on unknown internet and sleazy websites for this information unless you have no other alternative. And if so, gather more sources to find a consensus. Even though the website gives it a difficulty level of 3 of 4 hammers, these detailed instructions and well-edited photos don't show the amount of swearing and mess that can go into the finished product, not to mention the cost. fix any errors. .

weather

It may take the contractor more time to start the project, but it will undoubtedly take more time to complete the actual work. It's difficult to estimate exactly how long it will take. Instead of a deadline, enter a target date range to avoid frustration. Home improvement projects often take longer than expected. Trying to speed things up can lead to sloppy work.

Break down projects into manageable milestones and be generous in estimating the time needed to complete them.

Now is the time to think about how this weather will affect your daily life. The inconvenience of a four to six week project in your single bathroom, for example, is the most likely justification for paying a professional for an accelerated program.

I live alone in a large house, so the time spent rebuilding an extra bedroom has little impact on my day-to-day life. If my nephew has a baseball tournament, I can take time off without worrying about my schedule. However, when I started rebuilding my home office, I didn't have that flexibility — instead of my desk for Zoom meetings, I wanted to get back to mine as soon as possible.

I plan on remodeling the entire kitchen in a few years; I would hire professionals for this precisely for lack of time. I'd pay extra for a microwave to limit my dinner prep time.

expenditure

Potential labor cost savings can attract people to DIY: 15 percent of homeowners who have undertaken a DIY project in the last two years say they do so because they can't afford to hire a professional, according to a Home Improvement Report survey. But getting it wrong in the above two factors (skill and time) can make your DIY project more expensive than hiring skilled labour. And since it would be cheaper to do it yourself, it could be disastrous.

Calculating the basic cost of the project

Here we are talking about materials and tools. List and collect prices. Depending on the size of the project, your tools may be as simple as a few brushes and rollers, but if you do more than paint, equipment costs can add up quickly. (And paint is expensive even today).

If you need a tool you don't already have, consider borrowing it. Even though I have quite a collection, I had something I didn't have when I needed it. If it's a tool I'm going to use repeatedly, I can buy it right away. However, if it's something really special, I borrow it from relatives or rent it from a hardware store. Yes, you can rent any power tool you need from any major hardware store.

Knowing that I had a whole workshop before, I spent a lot of money on power tools this first year in the house, buying them as needed. But now that the tools are mine, the cost of the project is mostly just materials, and I'm seeing huge savings in hiring a professional.

Add a budget buffer

Chances are your costs will exceed your original estimates: you forgot something, the price went up, or you accidentally punched a hole in the wall behind you while swinging a sledgehammer in aggressive demolition. Give yourself a pillow; I offer 20%.

Describe your financial plan

If your project is small, you can pay cash. According to a survey by NerdWallet, 42 percent of homeowners involved in home improvement and renovation projects can easily pay for most of them without having to save, go into debt, or make other sacrifices. But if your project is more expensive, consider carefully your home improvement financing options and costs.

Let the general estimate of the project and the time required for payment be your guide:

Using an existing credit card can be a good option if you need full upfront financing. It's best to pay off balances quickly to save on interest and protect your credit score from the negative effects of high usage.
Opening a new credit card with an interest-free introductory period can give you more time to pay back a few additional fees.
Personal loans can often offer fast financing and longer repayment terms.
Using equity for a loan in the form of a loan or HELOC can have lower interest rates, but funding takes longer. Hence, it is best suited for larger projects and budgets which pay off over time.

Develop an "oh shit" plan.

If you carefully select your projects within their means, the chances of having to pay someone to fix your mistakes are pretty slim, but it can happen. Having a plan will allow you to act quickly if any debris gets stuck in the fan. Find out who to contact and how you'll be billed if something goes wrong.

I am currently doing some minor renovations to the downstairs bathroom including paint, new fixtures and ceiling updates. When I removed the 1980 fixture to replace it with something more suitable, I knew I would run into a few problems that would require cutting the drywall and possibly redoing the wiring. This activity will increase the "dirty" risk factor in high-stakes projects when party guests are nearby. Can I watch enough YouTube to find out? Maybe. But in this case, I'd rather pay a few hours for someone else's skilled labor.