Remodeling your home can be an exciting time. It’s a chance for you to create a space you love that you can call your own. However, as much as it is exciting, home remodeling can be a long and tiresome process. One of the biggest questions you may be wondering before you begin your project is when to do a DIY home remodel vs. hiring a professional.
Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of doing work yourself or hiring someone plays a key role in ensuring your entire project is successful. In this blog, we will explain the necessary steps you should take while planning a home remodel, as well as when you should move away from the DIY approach and choose to work with a professional.
How to Plan a Home Remodel
Learning how to plan a home remodel can be overwhelming, but the end result makes it all worth it. There are many important factors to consider when choosing how you’re going to remodel your home.
Creating a concrete renovation plan is the most efficient way to ensure you’re prepared and your project runs smoothly. Below, we’ve outlined a few steps to follow before beginning your home renovation.
1. Know Your End Goal
The first thing you need to do when planning to remodel your home is deciding what your end goal is. Whether you’re renovating your home to raise the resale value, or you’re making it more suitable for your daily life, you need to figure out how extensively you’re planning on remodeling.
Try considering what renovations are good investments and plan accordingly. Having an end goal will be the foundation of your project and make each step that follows easier.
2. Do Your Research
Getting as much advice and background information as possible will play a key role in making your home remodel go smoothly. Whether it’s from friends, family, or neighbors, hearing other people’s experiences with remodeling will give you a better idea of what to expect.
3. Build a Detailed Project Plan
After you’ve collected the research you need for your remodeling project, it’s time to build a detailed project plan. Your plan should clearly state the goal of your renovation which includes any design inspiration and an outline of the work that will need to be completed.
Make sure you gather blueprints or sketches, a list of wants and needs, as well as project steps. You’ll want to check local zoning regulations and permits and make sure your neighborhood allows the renovations you desire.
4. Set a Project Budget
When deciding a project budget, you want to be realistic about what you can and cannot spend. Whether you’re creating a budget for a new bathroom or setting a budget for a renovated kitchen, you will have to include costs such as permits and building materials, labor, and costs of decorations or cosmetic touches.
In order to accurately set a budget, you’ll want to request cost estimates from professionals and price out all required materials you’ll need. It is also helpful to set aside at least 10% of your budget for unexpected expenses once you decide how much you want to spend and finalize your financing.
5. Create a Timeline
Once you have your budget and project plan in place, you need to create your timeline. There are certain elements that you’ll want to take into consideration. The first step is to choose your desired start date or your desired end date. Depending on which is more important to you, you can build off the rest of the timeline from that date.
Next, you’ll want to determine how long each step of your remodeling project will take. Knowing this will also help you create a concrete timeline to start or end at your desired date. Additionally, you’ll want to take into account the time you’ll need to clean out your space as well as the shipping and delivery dates of materials you’ll need.
When to DIY Home Remodel vs. Hiring a Professional
One of the most frequently asked questions around remodeling a home is when to do a DIY home remodel vs. hiring a professional. You’ll want to carefully evaluate all the pros and cons of each choice and decide which will benefit your project as a whole and ensure you also have peace of mind in the process.
Pros and Cons of DIY Home Renovation
Pro: You have full control.
The great thing about DIY projects is the fact that everything is up to you. Every element of the remodeling process is decided by you, which means that even mid-way through you could make any changes you wish. You can be as creative as you’d like and experiment with different options throughout your renovation.
Con: You may face potential hazards and complications.
While it may be great to make any and all decisions, you do risk the problem of potential hazards and complications. Since you’re not a professional, issues can arise that you couldn’t have foreseen. This won’t only affect your timeline, but it may even put you at risk for safety hazards and unexpected expenses.
Pro: You create your own schedule.
Another advantage of DIY remodeling is working at your own pace. You can decide how much or how little you get done on a day-to-day basis. DIY is also helpful if your project runs longer than expected because you don’t have to worry about paying extra costs. Creating your own schedule also means you don’t have to depend on another person’s timeline or availability.
Con: You may not have enough time.
Unfortunately, DIY remodeling projects can take up a lot of your time, which means you need to have the time to spare. If your days are already pretty busy, it’ll be difficult for you to schedule enough time for renovation projects.
This may leave you feeling as if your remodeling is taking longer than it should. Having a set plan and timeline via a professional remodeler would help you to avoid overextending your project.
Pro: You gain new skills.
Learning new skills is beneficial in many ways. Not only can it be fun and leave you feeling accomplished, but it will also educate you for many future tasks. In the long run, knowing how to perform a variety of renovation tasks could be useful.
Con: You may have a lack of DIY home improvement knowledge.
It’s fulfilling to learn new skills, but it takes time and practice to be able to properly execute them. When it comes to home remodeling, you will need to do a good amount of research to ensure you’re prepared.
If you are starting out with a lack of DIY home improvement knowledge, you may not realize all of the work that goes into it. Between designing blueprints, getting permits, and knowing the right techniques, you can accidentally misstep in the renovation process. Any of these issues could result in expensive problems that you’ll need a professional to fix.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Custom Home Remodeler
Pro: They can offer their experience and quality workmanship.
The main advantage of hiring a custom home remodeler is the experience, quality workmanship, and technique. These professionals have spent years mastering the skills they need to create the home you desire. They also have a full understanding of home remodeling and can manage any unforeseen risks or circumstances that may cost you more time and money.
Con: You don’t learn any new skills.
If you enjoy getting your hands dirty and being a part of the project, a custom home remodeler may not be for you. They are there to take care of any and all elements of the project which means you won’t be learning many new skills you can use in the future. However, you’ll still be making the decisions in the end and will have the ability to oversee the project even if you aren’t doing the manual work yourself.
Pro: They are connected.
Remodelers work with large and reliable supply chains. Since they’re professionals, they have likely established many relationships and can offer you expert design advice. This means you’ll be able to have a guide when it comes to choosing building materials, or finding the best fixtures for your home. They also will know different trusted vendors to help you find reasonable prices when ordering materials.
Con: You may have to do more research.
Finding the right custom home remodeler takes time and effort. You want to make sure you’re choosing a builder you’re compatible with and trust. This may mean asking for references and making time to follow up in order to ensure you’re getting the best. You should also ask for a portfolio of past projects to see how their work looks in the end. Doing this extra research may be time-consuming, but it will help you in the long run.
Pro: They could save you time and money.
Hiring a custom home remodeler means you will have someone who knows what they are doing and how it should be done. These professionals will work with you to make sure your project is done in a timely manner. Plus, they have practice in managing resources. Their tried and tested system can ensure that there is no wasted time, money, or materials.
Con: Higher costs.
The main reason many people hold off on hiring a custom home remodeler is because of the costs. Upfront, it can seem that hiring a professional is more expensive than doing the work yourself, and in some cases, it may be.
However, the high prices you pay for their work do ensure the success of your project. Whereas unexpected costs that may arise in DIY projects could leave you spending more than expected by the end of the project.
Home Remodel Options
While choosing to remodel your home yourself may seem cheaper and more practical at first, it’s important to remember that custom home remodelers are professionals and fully equipped to get the job done the right way and on time. Remodeling your home by yourself does have some advantages, but hiring a professional is a tried and true route that will leave you with fewer unwelcome surprises and extra costs.
