Carrying out tasks you’re capable of completing yourself in your free time can save you a substantial amount of money. However, for many people who approach DIY in the wrong way or with the wrong attitude, these potential savings can turn into a costly expense.
Below we’ve put together a few top tips to help you get the most out of your DIY, avoid making some common mistakes, and hopefully save yourself some money in the process.
Have a realistic attitude
There are many DIY tasks we are capable of completing from start to finish. However, biting off more than you can chew can be costly and dangerous. Knowing your limitations is crucial in DIY. It doesn’t mean you can’t still save money by carrying out some of the simpler aspects of a job, just make sure you’re realistic about your capabilities.
Every DIY’ers capabilities will vary depending on their own personal experience. Someone who has worked in a trade will be a lot more capable than the average accountant. However, we are all generally a bit more capable than we think as long as we take our time and learn the correct way to complete a task.
Prepare thoroughly
No matter how simple you think a job is, or how capable you think you are, spending the time ensuring you’re prepared and understand every aspect of the task ahead will pay dividends. There is an old saying, measure twice cut once. Adopt this attitude with all tasks. Avoid falling into the trap of thinking a task is too simple, as you’re most likely to make a costly mistake when you rush into something unprepared.
Save money, but not too much
When you carry out a task yourself you want the end result to be as good as you can possibly make it. You’re already making decent savings by performing the work yourself; don’t then doom your efforts to failure by purchasing lots of sub-standard materials.
While you don’t need to go mad and purchase the most expensive of everything, make sure that what you buy is good enough to stand the test of time.
Get help when you need it
Not many people are capable or qualified to perform all the tasks in the home. Some basic tasks can be easily learned and save you money. However, getting a more complex task wrong can make it twice as costly. For instance, you might be comfortable digging the footing for a new conservatory but would never attempt to lay the brickwork yourself. You might be happy doing the decorating but would need a company like Rundle and Dorey to insulate your conservatory roof. Don’t be afraid to have a go at jobs your comfortable with, but don’t be ashamed to ask for help with certain tasks that will require an experienced professional.
If you’re not comfortable completing a task yourself don’t be afraid to contact professionals and get a second opinion. This may mean saving for a little longer, but when the job is finished you’ll be glad you waited.