Working at heights

Any time you get out the old ladder, you are assuming the risk. You know, because of the pit you get in your stomach every time you get it out of the garage. You take those first few steps warily, wondering if it’s still safe. It worked for your grandfather and his before him, but maybe this time it comes out from under you. Your handyman not only has a ladder that he is comfortable on, uses, and inspects regularly, but he also has insurance to cover your property and himself in the case of an accident.

Changing out a faucet

All of the YouTube “experts” will tell you that this is an easy job that you can do yourself, and if you follow the instructions closely, you likely can. The issue is that if you miss a step, forget to put plumbers tape or put plumbers tape in the wrong spot, and you can have a leak. These leaks can hide in your cabinets undetected and cause more significant issues. If your faucet is leaking or you are tired of looking at it, let your handyman take care of it.

Changing out a fixture

This one is similar to the faucet above, and the process is pretty simple. As we have heard said it’s just “red to red, black to black, and green is ground.” While this is generally true, it gets more complicated when there are multiple switches involved, and you’re not sure if the power is off or you are on that old ladder again. A shock is not likely to kill you, but it does not feel good, and the startle and reflex it causes can be very dangerous. If you’ve got a light fixture that needs an update, is noisy, or you’re just tired of it, let us know, and we will be glad to take care of it for you.

Hanging Window Treatments

Hanging blinds, curtains, and shades is something that all of us have done. Look around your windows in your home and take note of the extra sets of holes from old treatments or screws that just didn’t hold for the long haul. Are you happy with how level they are and where you placed them on the window? A professional handyman can take care of this for you and make sure it is right the first time. Many handymen don’t want to mess with this small job, but the right one will be glad to help.

Assembling Furniture

Have you ever bought a fantastic piece of furniture, got it home, and never got around to putting it together? Maybe you opened the package, looked at the directions, and said you would do it later. The engineers who design these pieces are concerned about many things, but it seems that being able to put them together easily is not one of them. Your handyman would be glad to help with these items, and we can decipher even the worst set of directions.

The Handyman on Purpose team is here to help you check items off your to-do list! No job is too small for us to tackle, so contact us today.

Via: www.handymanonpurpose.com

Pro: It Might Be Cheaper to DIY

Cost is probably one of the first things that come to mind when considering whether or not to do a home renovation on your own. It is true that hiring contractors to do the labor of the renovation may cost you more. However, if you aren’t experienced in home renovation, DIY might end up costing you more in total.

How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost?

On average, labor costs are $15 to $60 per square footage for a house in the United States to renovate a home. The total cost depends on the scale and nature of the project. You won’t have to worry about labor costs if you choose to DIY. A DIY renovation costs around $10,000 on average, as compared to $30,000 – $100,000 for hiring a professional.

Pro: You Can Complete the Project on Your Own Schedule

One pro of doing a home renovation by yourself is that you can work at a pace that best works for you, at whatever time is convenient for you. Doing the project on your own means you get started whenever you want to, without waiting until a contractor has the time to undertake your home renovation.

Con: There Could Be Hidden Costs

While it may seem like a DIY is cheaper upfront, there could be many hidden costs associated with doing a home renovation on your own. Depending on your project, you might need to buy more tools, which a professional would already have. Additionally, if you’re not experienced, you might make a mistake that would cost you to repair. You might ultimately need to hire a professional in the end anyway, at which point it would cost more because they would need to correct any problems.

What Tools Do You Need for a DIY Home Renovation?

If you decide to renovate a home on your own, you will need to make sure you have the proper tools and equipment to get the job done. Some of the tools that you should consider if you’d like to try a DIY home renovation are:

• Wrench
• Plastic drop cloth
• N95 Mask
• Firm grip gloves
• Rotary hammer
• Cordless saw
• Ladder
• Screwdriver
• Hammer

Con: It May Take You Longer Than a Professional Would

While you can work on your own schedule with a DIY project, it also can be a big time commitment. This commitment doesn’t just involve the work itself at home, but the research, equipment shopping, YouTube tutorials, and more. Unless you’ve done many home renovations before, there will inevitably be a learning curve that takes much of your time and energy.

How Long Does a DIY Home Renovation Take?

How long a home renovation takes depends on the project, but on average, it could take around 16 hours a week stretched over 5 or 6 weeks. If you have other commitments in your life with work or family, that timeline could be even longer. Hiring a professional could end up saving you a lot of time.

A DIY Home Renovation May Not Be High Quality

The saying “you get what you pay for” applies to home renovations, too. You might save money on doing it yourself, but at the same time, unless you’re a highly skilled renovator yourself, your DIY project might not be as good as what a contractor could do for you. Consider your own skills when you’re deciding between DIY and hiring a professional.

Via: www.smithhandymanservice.com