Do It Yourself or Call a Pro?
Some of us tend to think we can DIY (Do It Yourself) when it comes to home repairs and or improvements, but we may be getting in over our heads. Trust me, I am one of those people who can hardly turn a wrench. If you’re like me, it’s an easy decision to just call a professional plumber, carpenter, electrician, or any other service professional needed to do the job right.
On the other hand, for those of us with some skill who know a thing or two about DIY, there is always this question of whether we can do it ourselves or whether we need to hire a professional. Here’s a list of questions that will help you decide whether to roll up your sleeves or hire a Pro to do the job right.
1. Do I understand the problem at hand 100%?
The most common mistake that people make when attempting to DIY is biting off more than they can chew. For example, let’s say that there is something wrong with your washer and you know quite a bit about washers and electricity in general. You think you have identified the problem and you start working on it. A few hours later, you have dismantled your entire washer, found out that it is not what you thought and you are now left with little more than scrap metal lying all around you.
This is why you need to be 100% positive that you know what the problem is, which leads us to our second question…
2. Do I have the skills to do this, honestly?
Once you have identified the problem, you need to honestly and seriously consider your skills. Is this something that you know enough about that you will be able to fix? Is there a possibility that you will do more damage than good? Is there a chance that you will hurt yourself or cause a neighborhood-wide utility disaster? If you do not like the answers or even if you are not sure about the answers, it is probably a better idea to call a professional to do the job right.
3. Do I have the right tools?
As we all know, tools are a huge part of every DIY project and if you lack the tools that are needed to make the necessary repairs or to build something. It’s probably best to either call the pros or go out and buy the tools. The worst thing that you can do is to improvise and use tools that are not meant to be used for that specific purpose.
4. Do I risk an injury doing this?
Some people say that every DIY project involves some level of risk of injury. While this may be true, there are definitely levels of likelihood that you need to factor in. Changing a light bulb and replacing the lightning rod on your house involve different levels of risk. If something sounds or looks too dangerous, it probably is and this probably means that it is time to start looking for a professional. There is no shame in that.
