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Cutting Costs on Home Improvement Projects
Tips from an Expert
By Dianne Hadaway
When considering do-it-yourself projects, weigh the scope of the project against your know-how. If your project involves structural changes to your home, such as building a deck, bedroom addition or retaining wall, you will need a building permit. If you have no experience with projects of this scope, consider hiring a professional who will take care of the permits and meeting your area's building codes.
If your project is not too complicated, do some research to decide if you can do it yourself. Home improvement stores offer "how to" classes free of charge on a regular basis for all sorts of DIY projects. Take a class to boost your confidence, and get to work. Do-it-yourself projects can be very exciting, cost-efficient, challenging and deeply satisfying.
"Research your project no matter how simple you think it is," says Virginia Seefried of Atlanta, Ga. "I thought painting the entryway of my home would be a relatively easy DIY project. I wanted burgundy walls and the paint clerk at my local home improvement store recommended that I prime the walls first. Either he didn't know what he was talking about or he mixed the primer up wrong, because it dried with a glossy finish and the paint wouldn't stick to it. I ended up having to sand the primer to rough it up and still had to paint three coats to get it to stick and cover the wall. I should have gone with my instinct or checked other resources first. It would have cost less and beenan easy job if I had just skipped the primer because it was just base white walls to start with."