Whether you’ve just bought a new house or you want to fix up the house you’re already living in, home improvement projects typically get people wondering whether they should hire a handyman or try to tackle the task themselves.

We put together this article as a resource to use when you’re choosing between hiring a handyman and trying your own hand at a project.

Making the Decision

When you’re confronted with the choice of doing it yourself or hiring help, there are a few aspects of the project to consider. Those aspects are as follows:

Time and Effort

You might be thinking to yourself, “I won’t overlook details that a handyman would notice! I have a good number of skills, and I feel confident in this project.” While this may be true, you most likely have a day job that takes up a good chunk of your time. A handyman, on the other hand, does this type of work for a living and therefore can carve out the time to complete the project in an efficient manner. A handyman is used to sticking within deadlines, as that’s what they do day in, day out.

If you choose to complete a project yourself, you’re working on your own timeline and for your own rate, which means that you might not finish the project as speedily as a handyman would.

The Tools Needed

When you’re getting ready to start a project on your own, you might fail to consider all the tools needed to get it done the right way. While you probably have a hammer and nails lying around at home, there are other tools you may need that you don’t have on hand.

This means that you might not be able to finish, and your project will be left hanging simply because you don’t have the right tools. Hiring a handyman won’t run you into such a situation.

The Safety Risks

If someone lacks experience, they are much more likely to get injured while on the job, whether it’s from using tools incorrectly or from another accident. A handyman, on the other hand, will know how to get a project done quickly and safely. They will complete good quality work, and you’ll be able to avoid a trip to the hospital.

Potential Permits

Certain projects require a building permit before they can get off the ground. A permit basically states that construction work will be done safely. Some cities allow permits to be procured for DIY work, but other cities will only provide permits to licensed contractors. Make sure to look up your city’s rules before moving forward.

Related Expenses

Doing the work yourself can save you labor costs, but you’ll only really be saving money if you don’t make any mistakes along the way—because mistakes cost money to fix. When hiring a handyman, you’re also saving money by forgoing the purchase of tools.

The Value of Your Home

If you plan on selling your home, you might want to lean towards hiring a handyman. Real estate brokers aren’t interested in selling a house that has been shoddily patched up by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing—or even by a skilled amateur. A handyman’s work always looks professional and will allow your home to sell for what it’s worth.

When to Hire a Pro

There are a few instances when you should always hire a professional:

• Large plumbing problems

  • Leaking fixtures

  • Blocked sewer lines

  • Natural gas leaking from your water heater

• Foundational problems

  • When the issues with flooring go deeper than the surface and impact the foundation

• Electrical repairs

  • Anything bigger than changing a lightbulb or replacing a fixture should be done by a professional—especially when it involves exposed wiring.

Making Your Choice

If you decide to pass up on the DIY project this time and hire a handyman, get in touch with One Man & A Toolbox. We’ve been helping people since 1997, and we would love to help you.