There’s no denying Australians love property and home improvements. In fact, home improvement shows like The Block, The Renovators and House Rules are very influential in encouraging home owners to attempt larger DIY projects on their own.
But it’s not as simple as buying a bunch of materials from the local hardware store and turning a profit after a weekend’s work. There is a side to DIY often left out of television shows that makes it look much easier than it actually is, and the last thing you want is to lose value on your home after botching a job.
Here are five tips to help steer your home improvement plans.
Experience counts
Engage professionals from the outset of your project for their experience, skills and product knowledge. While anyone can try their hand at home improvement, it’s important to remember certain tasks such as detailed carpentry work or large tiling jobs require certain tools, experience and the right products.
Risks involved
There are a number of critical design features that many DIYers can overlook and by doing so compromise the integrity of the house. For example, most of the structural members of a building are under the floor and in the roof and removal of internal walls can be dangerous.
Small doesn’t mean simple
Seemingly easy jobs like hanging a door actually require quite good hand skills and if not done properly the finished product can look ugly. Likewise, patching a hole in the wall can look awful if you’re using the wrong product.
Develop a timeline
Home improvement projects aren’t as easy as they appear on TV, so estimate time generously. Half-finished projects are often the result of frustration or lost interest after underestimating the scope of work.
Avoid injury
Renovators-to-be need to know the limitations of their abilities and engage professionals for highly-skilled work when required. The worst way to finish a home improvement project is with an injury.
If you’re thinking about undertaking home improvements, call your local Hire A Hubby for an obligation free quote on 1800 803 339 or visit the website www.hireahubby.com.au.
