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Home Improvement

2008-07-01 15:11:00

Lefty-loosey, righty tighty

Question: I have a fairly large home improvement project, and was wondering if I should tackle it myself or hire it done. If I do it myself what are something’s I need to watch out for?

Answer: Ever heard the phrase “Measure Twice - Cut Only Once” or “Lefty-Loosey – Righty Tighty? Well there’s a lot more involved to avoid costly mistakes with every home improvement project. You may learn from your own mistakes, but it’s better to learn from the mistakes of others. Here are some thing’s to consider. Not understanding or not researching building codes and obtaining permits. Some people will shy away from obtaining permits because they worry about the expense or think they don’t need a permit. Some cities issue permits based on political reasons, and some may appear unnecessary, but get a permit anyway, because it’s against the law if you refuse to comply and it’s required. Here are more reasons: Inspectors will help to ensure the job is done correctly and to code. Many buyers don’t want to buy a home that has had work done without a permit. If your neighbor reports you to the city and an inspector discovers you have completed work without a permit, you might be required to tear it apart and start over. Failure to Prepare a Written Work Plan. Eager do it yourselfers often think it will take less time to complete a job than is necessary. Prepare a calendar, day-by-day, outlining each portion of your rehab and how many hours it will take to complete. This will keep you on a tight schedule and give you a realistic time frame from start to finish. For example, a tiling job cannot be completed in one day. First, the mastic is applied, tiles are cut and laid. The area needs to cure and dry at least 24 hours. After the tiles are set, you will grout. You still need to wait another day to walk on it. Under Budgeting The adage is to figure your cost and triple it. That’s really not necessary, but do itemize every scrap of material in your estimates, including small items such as the cost of nails, staples, fiberglass tape or joint compound. It all adds up. Then account for approximately 15% overage of materials for waste. Another good piece of advice is to add another 30% for price increases, especially if you’re not buying all your materials at once. Tackling Jobs for which you are Unqualified It makes sense, if you’re afraid of heights or unsteady in high places, don’t try to install a roof. Remember another phrase “Life is short and then you die”. Hire somebody else to do it. Before you tackle a job, think about the job from the start, and all the way through to its completion. You don’t want to reach the halfway mark and discover you can’t finish. Some projects require more than one person. It’s hard to hang drywall on a ceiling by yourself. Pay attention to the weight you lift; it can play havoc on your back or throw you off balance. Not Planning for the Unexpected You have no idea when you tear open a wall what you will find. For example, you could find termites or beetles. A pest infestation will require eradication and / or structural repair. You may discover wiring that needs to be replaced, pipes that need to be rerouted or moisture problems that have rotted away joists or sill plates. Pad your budget and allow yourself a bit of flexibility in your work schedule to accommodate these not-so-nice surprises. Waiving a Home Inspection Always, always, always get a home inspection when you buy. And hire a qualified and accredited individual to perform the inspection -- not your Uncle Joe or your buddy contractor, get a real inspector. Be there for the inspection and ask questions. Pay close attention to safety issues. Be an informed buyer. If the inspector calls for further inspection by another professional contractor, find out if the inspector is telling you there could be a serious issue or if the inspector isn’t licensed to address that issue. There is a difference. Using the Wrong Tools This is probably where it makes the most sense when it comes to hiring a professional to do your work. When it comes to tools, you can’t go wrong by buying professional tools that are made to perform specific functions but they are extremely expensive. While you can get by using a drywall gun to screw deck boards to a joist, you can’t use a hacksaw to make precise miter cuts with any accuracy or a 9-volt cordless drill to drive six-inch screws through a beam. Buying Cheap Materials Don’t skimp. You can buy ceramic tile for 50 cents a square foot, but it will probably crack. Buyers will notice if you install quarter-inch granite on counters or buy plastic baseboards. You want the quality of your work to shine throughout the house. If you shop carefully and negotiate prices, you can purchase brand-name merchandise for less. Then you can advertise those manufacturer names in your marketing materials, and buyers will never know how much you paid. Better yet, they won’t be calling you after escrow closes to complain that your new dishwasher just dumped water all over the floor. Under Estimating the Resale Value Do-it- yourselfers like to use a rule of thumb that says they can sell a house for two to three times more than the cost of its improvements, plus its acquisition price. That formula doesn’t work all the time. It’s far wiser to check the comparable sales for similar homes in the neighborhood to determine if your improvements are in line with other homes in that area. You don’t want to over-improve. Plan for the bottom of those comparable sales as a return on your investment. Anything you make above that figure is gravy.