How to complete DIY home improvements without the regret

DIY renovations might seem like the best way to go if you’re hoping to save a few bucks but so many homeowners who try it end up with a lot of regrets. In fact, there’s a good chance that a project that starts out as DIY ends up requiring a professional to come in and fix mistakes and do it right. Here are some tips for completing a DIY home improvement project without any regrets.

Do your research

Any good remodel starts with doing a lot of research. The internet is an invaluable resource as you begin to gather ideas and look at the pros and cons of various materials. However, you should also plan to visit home improvement stores and suppliers’ showrooms as well so you can see things in person and talk to people who are more knowledgeable than you are.

Conform to code

It’s important that your remodel complies with local building codes. If you’re doing any kind of work that requires a permit, it will be your job to find out what permit(s) you need and obtain them. Typically, if you are hiring a contractor, he or she will take care of the necessary paperwork, but if you’re going to DIY then you need to find out how to do it yourself.

Plan ahead

You never want to just wing it when it comes to remodeling your home. It will take much longer than expected and cost more than expected. You need to plan out every aspect of the project before work even begins so that things can go as smoothly as possible. Write out a list of everything that needs to happen and in what order.

Buy quality materials

Cheap materials might be the best for your bank account in the short term, but they’ll cost you more in the long run. Cheaper materials tend to be less durable and will need to be replaced sooner. They’re also less eco-friendly. Since you’re already saving money by not hiring a contractor, invest some of those savings into better materials.

Measure meticulously

You can’t measure enough times. Home improvement materials can be costly and if you cut the wrong size, you can end up wasting a lot of money. So measure everything at least twice just to be safe.

Have extra money set aside

The one thing every home remodeling project has in common is that it costs more than planned. There are almost always setbacks or unforeseen problems in the course of the project that couldn’t have been predicted. If your budget is set for the lowest possible cost, these setbacks can cause you to run out of money mid-project. It’s better to plan for an extra 15% in your budget for contingencies.

Create an oasis

No matter how carefully you’ve planned, you’re going to reach a point during the project where you’re just tired of it all and want to escape. When your home is transformed into a construction site you need at least one area in your home where you can escape to. So set up an oasis somewhere in your home. Make it a place where you can do something that relaxes you such as reading a book or watching a television show.

Invest in the future

If DIY work is something you enjoy, then you may as well invest now in some high quality tools. The right tools will make your current project go a lot more smoothly and they’ll surely come in handy in the future as well.

Source: Care2

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