Should I Do it Myself or Hire a General Contractor?

There are considerations to take into account before you grab a hammer and start a home improvement project:

• How handy are you?
• What tools do you own, and how much will you have to outlay for tools you’ll need?
• How much time do you have?
• Are you a patient person?
• How big is this project and how long will it take on your own? (Generally, you might as well figure 2-3 times the amount of time you think it will take.)
• Will you need to hit up somebody for help, and how much expertise does your help have?
• Do you understand the safety issues concerning electrical work, etc.?
• Have you factored in the dollar amount your time is worth?
• If you don't like the way it turns out, will you have the money to redo it, or the humility to hire someone to fix it?

The list could go longer, but you get the idea. Everybody’s seen home projects that either went south from ineptitude, or have sat unfinished for years. But don’t get the wrong idea from this article. If you have the savvy, time, patience, resources, and an ability to not give up, tackle what needs to be done. You’ll feel great about yourself when it’s finished.

But when it comes down to it, doing it yourself has the potential to cost you more money and grief than it’s worth. Plus, if you end up making a mess of your DIY project, most contractors are leery of taking on fixing it due to often insurmountable problems. 

Good general contractors with proven track records have at their disposal:

• Subcontractors they have worked with and who are reliable and qualified.
• Contacts for high-grade materials at a discount.
• Insurance in case of on-the-job injuries.
• All of the tools and knowledge required for a topnotch job.
• Safety equipment and what to be wary of.
• A written guarantee the job will be done to your satisfaction the first time, or made right without added expense to you.

So, think long and hard about tackling a project. You could wind up spending more money than you would if you hire it out. Not to mention how long it will take to finish, or if you’ll be able to finish it at all.  

If you decide to hire it out, look carefully at credentials and talk to customers of the contractor you hire. Most are reputable, but there are bad eggs in every batch to watch out for.