Watching home improvement shows is something people find fascinating. Most of their enjoyment comes from seeing the unrealistic nature of renovation projects, homeowner expectations, and predictable story lines. If you’re a fan of DIY projects, you may have taken a lot of ideas from the construction techniques and clever design concepts. These may have inspired you to install the hardwood flooring or even remodel the kitchen.
Home improvement looks surprisingly easy on TV. This drove most of us to take the DIY route to avoid labor costs and save more money on materials. For this reason, more people are embarking on home improvement projects during the lockdown period. All the free time they have inspired them to put their handyman skills to the test and make their homes look more appealing.
While improvement shows on TV transform a home from disaster to a real mansion in just a few days, there are many things to consider when attempting the same feat in your own home. We all know how much you want to make your home beautiful at a lesser time and money, but taking the DIY route is a risky business. It’s easy to screw up and very dangerous no matter how many DIY tutorials you have watched. To shed light on this ugly truth, we’ll discuss why DIY home improvement projects are a bad idea.
Don’t confuse enthusiasm with skill
How hard is it to apply tile and paint? Most people underestimate DIY projects by what they see on TV. They think watching DIY instructional videos would give them that much-needed knowledge and skill to tackle “simple” projects. After all, all you have to do is to search them on Google and gather the supplies you need instead of hiring a contractor and designer.
Enthusiasm outshines skill in TV fix-up shows. In a survey by the National Association of Realtors, homeowners who pursue DIY projects are happy with the results and develop a sense of accomplishment than those who hired a professional.
Most people are lucky enough to have DIY skills, such as artisans, craftspeople, and contractors. But when tackled by an amateur, a good DIY project can be counterproductive. A previous project that turned out incredibly well may give you false hopes to tackle projects above your skill level. This assumption can turn into a disaster that may cause further damages and higher costs.
Don’t embark on an improvement project unless it requires immediate attention. Avoid large-scale projects such as kitchen renovation and other projects beyond your abilities.
Don’t mistake video tutorials for actual training
Most homeowners have a habit of watching DIY tutorials that are not related to their initial plan, but they apply them to their project anyway. This is a classic failure among overambitious homeowners who believe they can do anything after watching a tutorial on YouTube. One example is following a tutorial about fixing a bathroom sink to the kitchen sink. Every home improvement project is unique, so it’s wrong to assume that applying the same strategy will produce the same results.
This mistake typically happens when attempting an electrical or plumbing project. The internet offers loads of home improvement videos for virtually any part of your home. If you found a project that seems interesting, reschedule it for another week but don’t apply what you saw to a different project. This is a perfect recipe to waste money and turn into a DIY disaster.
Don’t assume DIY projects increase home value
Almost every home inspector who comes across a neglected DIY project means more things to uncover. For every botched home project, a buyer adds one item to the discount list when negotiating the selling price. Cosmetic works can lead to dispute, but hazardously wrong electrical, structural, and plumbing projects are non-negotiable. Every house put on sale should comply according to the local building codes. Buyers will not risk their money into buying homes with liabilities.
Most sellers compare their DIY work to other projects done by a contractor. They think they can earn more by doing the project themselves, but most DIY projects can potentially lead to further issues down the road. It’s like a domino effect—just because it turned out well for some people doesn’t mean that it can happen to you.
DIY home projects may be a great way to save time, money, and energy, but they require a lot of careful planning. The last thing you want is to screw up a project and leave your home half-done. Don’t trust your skills enough to do a project on your own. You can always seek the help of professionals with particular aspects of your home improvement project.
