Not to beat a horse to death, but the Quarantine due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) has taught us a lot about ourselves. From daily routines, to diets, to how we spend the plethora of free time we have, we find out more about ourselves every day. And that isn’t always as good a thing as we might think.
As we stay at home, those honey-do-lists, and they honeys behind them, tend to get a bit more attention. Now that we have the time to tackle these lists (that are now longer than any paper that can wish to hold them), we are finding out another piece of valuable information; what we are capable of accomplishing ourselves.
YouTube Learning
DIY is a hot search term in the YouTube world. Especially with economic uncertainty, why pay someone for something you can do yourself? It isn’t just the simple things around the house anymore, either. Homeowners are tackling serious renovations in their homes. And with the help of YouTube videos, many of them are successful!
So, where is the line in the sand for what is DIY and what is “For Hire.” While many of us are successful in these endeavors, some of us are not. The cost of doing the work wrong the first time could be a higher-than-original bill from a contractor, who now has to un-do your work first.
Below is a short list of some common projects most homeowners could do themselves with a basic knowledge of tools and repair:
- Cabinet repair
- Door replacement
- Painting
- Trim replacement
- Basic light fixture replacement
- Toilet replacement
Other things are best left to the professionals:
- Additions on your home
- Major car repairs
- New installation of electrical wiring/panels
- Foundation Repair (You knew this was coming)
Leaving the Most Important Things to the Professionals
Yes, it is an amazing time to save yourself a LOT of money by doing some self-education on University YouTube to get some things done around the house that you would have otherwise paid for. We are all doing it. But we should all know our limits. Mine, for instance, is electricity. I do not like it and it does not like me. I recognize that and will hire an electrician, so I do not burn my house down and turn into a transparent skeleton with my hair frazzled in all directions.
When it comes to Foundation Repair, it is important to get it done right the first time. Wrong repairs can cost more money to un-do, and in some cases can cause an entirely different problem that needs repair as well. Our technicians did not get this right the first time they did it, and homeowners most likely will not either. It takes time and practice to understand the techniques and methods involved when dealing with these issues.
So, when it comes to the hole in your wall, grab a patch of drywall and mud and learn how to repair that hole. When it comes to a crack in your foundation, or water in your basement, call the professionals.
Thanks for reading, and as always:
“Not Everything’s Better When Wet”
