You can save money by doing renovations yourself.
Many homeowners struggle with the question of whether they should hire a contractor to do renovations or tackle the projects themselves. The right answer for you depends on how handy you are, whether you enjoy working with your hands and your relative reserves of time and money. Hiring someone costs more, while doing the work yourself takes a lot more time. Does this Spark an idea?
Cost
The difference in cost between hiring a tradesperson and doing the work yourself can be significant. If the job involves a lot of expensive materials, however, you will be spending a lot either way and may choose to hire someone to be sure it is done properly. Installing closets is a fairly small job for a professional and doesn't involve a lot of materials. If you happen to catch a finish carpenter who is between jobs, he may be willing to do the job for less than his usual fee because he has a few free days.
Control
If you are home all the time while the work is being done, you can keep a close eye on what is happening, although this might annoy the carpenter. If you work and the job is being done while you're not there, be sure to make it clear exactly what you want. Carpenters sometimes make mistakes through no fault of their own because clients are unclear about their preferences. If you are very particular about how your closets are being installed, the most foolproof way to get exactly what you want is to do the work yourself.
Timing and Disruption
Closets that are being installed in an unused bedroom or a basement are unlikely to cause a lot of disruption. However, if you are having them installed in your kitchen or front hall, the work can disrupt your daily activities. Some contractors have multiple jobs happening simultaneously and may disappear for a few days leaving the job unfinished. Busy professionals who have no time for home renovations are probably better off hiring someone but should create an agreement in writing that covers the cost of the work and the schedule for when it will be completed. Avid hobbyists with a few days to spare may prefer to install the closets themselves.
Satisfaction
Working on your own house can give you a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that you won't get by hiring someone. Even a small job like an interior closet can teach you a lot about building and develops skills that can be useful in the future. People who have no interest in building closets, on the other hand, may get more satisfaction out of paying someone else to do a good job while they spend their own time out hiking or playing with their children. Either way, you will have the satisfaction of having a new closet in which you can store things.
Tags: work yourself, being done, being installed, doing work, doing work yourself, exactly what
