Home remodeling projects can be very rewarding for many reasons. First if you are a do it yourself type you may prefer to take on a remodeling project to redo your kitchen or bath without a contractor. The good feeling you get from doing the job yourself will be well worth the effort and time you put in to create a new kitchen or bath. However even if you are a tried and true I want to do it myself type of person will you get in over your head?
One question to consider when you are thinking about a home remodeling project would be do you have the time. Determine the length of time it takes for each phase of the project then give yourself some wiggle room. If you will be learning as you go make sure you double the time that a person who does that job everyday would take. If you are planning on working on remodeling your home on nights and weekends make sure your family is on board with being in a construction zone for the time that you expect. A new kitchen may be what your wife has been dreaming of and she may be excited. Yet if the family is without a kitchen for 6 months while you are remodeling your kitchen the money you save will be spent on dining out and the intangible cost might be a lot more.
Another consideration is why do you want to do it yourself? Is it to save money? Saving money and using your own time and effort to build equity in your home is great. Saving the cost of hiring people is one of, if not the, top reasons why people choose to remodel their home. If you feel that part of your project is one that you will not be able to do yourself and will need to hire a licensed plumber or electrician for part of the work make sure you get estimates and add that into your budget.
Another factor in your decision to do it yourself is to consider the permit process. Most counties require permits for home remodels and do not require you to be licensed to work on your own home. Permits can range from a nominal fee up into hundreds of dollars depending on your county and the scope of the project. When you call in an inspection you will usually be given the exact day that the inspector is supposed to show up. If you work from home or have a spouse that is at home this will not be much of an inconvenience. If you have a Monday through Friday job you will need to take time off to make sure you are there when the inspector arrives to avoid penalties and fines. For example, depending on your county you would have a minimum of 2 inspections or up to 8 (main inspector, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, each one coming to inspect twice). This is not considering the unexpected event of failing an inspection in which case you would need to fix the problem and be reinspected.
Once you have determined you have the skills necessary and/or willing to pay or acquire the skills, the time factor is not a problem for you, your family is behind you, and you are willing to deal with the permit side of the equation you must make sure that you adequately estimate the budget. A home remodeling project that runs out of money is no fun. Plan well, determine the cost of materials, choose everything you want before you start and know how much it is going to cost. Then add 30 percent for a cushion. Now you are ready to begin. Remember to enjoy the ride and keep the end in mind. You will now have the satisfaction of knowing that your effort made your home into the home of your desires.
