Weekend Warrior or Hire it Out?

The High Cost of Doing it Yourself

Doing it yourself can be costly in several ways:

• The next home buyer won’t like your work. The way the finished project looks might be fine for you, but if the work done isn’t of professional quality, it may be a huge deterrent down the road for potential home buyers. This is even more important the higher your home’s value.
• Projects are worth more than just time and materials. If you’re a newbie to home repair and remodeling, it’s unlikely you’ll have the right tools for whatever job you’re tackling. The ladders, saws, drills, various hand tools and other related supplies you need drive up the cost of a project. Unless you’re planning on using this equipment on a regular basis, you could actually be wasting money.
• Inexperienced do-it-yourselfers underestimate the time and effort a project demands. What looks like a few hours worth of work probably is for a professional. But for a novice DYIer, it could mean the loss of several weekends.
• You may not have the skill set a repair or remodel requires. Underestimating the amount of skill a project will take is another mistake inexperienced home remodelers often make. It’s happened more than once: Someone starts a project and quickly realizes that they don’t really have a clue as to what to do. When this happens, one of three things will likely occur: 1) the project languishes while the person acquires the appropriate skills, 2) the project is abandoned in its unfinished state, or 3) the homeowner calls in a professional to finish the job. (Hint: It’s easier to start a project using option 3 first.)
• The “uh-oh” factor. Hidden issues can derail your projects. Examples: Discovering you have termite problems, trying to tie into old plumbing or wiring that should be replaced, uncovering a brick wall that shouldn’t be there…and more. If you insist on the DYI route, it’s a good idea to keep this old contractor maxim in mind: Always expect the unexpected.

It may be true that you can save money doing your own work, but as noted above, unless you have the time, tools and skills, you would probably be better off hiring a professional. So just where can you find someone with the skills, tools and talent you need for your project? Look no further than Handyman Connection of Chesterfield (www.chesterfield.handymanconnection.com). At Handyman Connection, they have 20 craftsmen on their roster whose backgrounds have been checked, are insured and bonded, are backed by a written 1 year labor warranty, and have at least 10 years of experience. With Handyman Connection, “One Call Gets the Things You Want Done…DONE!”

It’s already been established that many homeowners don’t realize what’s involved in terms of skills, tools and materials to do a small to medium-sized home improvement project correctly. Consequently, they may undervalue the work done by individuals who do this for a living. In addition, there are many people offering their services as handymen or home repair craftsmen who have questionable trade skills and poor customer service. If you make a hiring decision based only on price, you stand a good chance of not being happy with the work and may have a difficult time getting problems addressed. Handyman Connection offers you a reliable, safe alternative to get the right craftsman when you need one.

In addition to providing the right craftsman at the right time, Handyman Connection also provides accountability. It’s inevitable that if you work on people’s houses, sooner or later a situation will arise where the homeowner isn’t happy and the craftsman is frustrated. To reduce frustrations on both sides, Handyman Connection has a manager who can get involved to resolve issues, if the homeowner and craftsman have reached an impasse. This is important because most independent craftsman don’t have this capability.

Another issue in which the manager can step in is when the homeowner and the craftsman just don’t get along. Personality conflicts and mismatches can happen. If you work with an independent craftsman, you’re pretty much stuck with him until the job is completed. With Handyman Connection, they’ll send in a new craftsman better suited to the situation. You’re never “stuck” with Handyman Connection.

I’ve got a Guy….

If you’ve lived in town for a while, you may already have a handyman or craftsman who is good, reliable and available when you need him. Many homeowners, however, don’t use these services enough to have this guy on call, especially if they’re new in town. That’s when a service like Handyman Connection makes sense. You could go on a hunt for the perfect drywall guy, painter, wood-floor installer, etc. Or you can make one phone call and schedule everything.

Andy Hough, owner and manager of Handyman Connection of Chesterfield, shared an example of how one of his clients used him this way. She was a busy professional, new to the area. “She called in a work order to have a short list of projects done. We ultimately wound up installing new flooring, plumbing and light fixtures, painting, pressure washing and staining a deck, installing towel bars, a garbage disposal and many other things which involved two different craftsmen. She was able to get all of these things done quickly with one call to one company.” Instead of living with unfinished repairs, she could immediately enjoy her new city and all the amenities in her new home.

Andy says no job is too far away for his craftsmen because they have 20 of them throughout the area. There’s a better than average chance that the craftsman assigned to your project might actually live in your neighborhood.

How to Hire a Craftsman

Andy recommends homeowners do four simple things when hiring a top-notch craftsman for home remodeling or home repairs:

1. Get a detailed written proposal of the work to be performed
2. Check references and/or contact the BBB to make sure there aren’t unresolved complaints from former customers.
3. Verify proof of insurance
4. Obtain a written warranty

Home improvement and home repair projects can be time-consuming and expensive, no matter who does the work, you or a professional. So plan the project in advance, create a timeline, scope out the necessary tools and supplies, then decide if you’re going to jump in yourself or delegate.

Handyman Connection of Chesterfield