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The Pros and Cons of DIY Home Improvement

Written by:
Tyler Pack
Photography:
Ono Kosuki

Do you feel like your home could use a little upgrade? Have you thought of doing them yourself? Remodeling or renovations can be quickly done with the help of professional builders or interior designers. However, have you thought of doing them yourself? DIY projects have been popular for a long while, even for home improvements.

Hiring someone to do home modifications or DIY is entirely up to preference. But if you are considering DIY home improvement projects, know that it has pros and cons.

Pros

Here are some of the advantages of doing DIY projects in your home.

You Can Work on it Exactly How You Like It

The best thing about doing things yourself is that you can fulfill your visions for your house. It essentially gives you a chance to create your dream home. You will have complete control over your project, from the design, budget, and materials.

There are circumstances where hiring someone else to work on the home project ends badly or is not precisely what the client wants. In such cases, it would help to do it by yourself instead.

Doing this also brings to light additional concerns in your house that you can finally address. You may get tired of that tree stump in your backyard, or some furniture may break apart. You may want to discard and replace old items by building or purchasing them.

Online shopping is the new popular way to make easy purchases. This is evident worldwide. For example, in the United States, 70% of Americans shop online. There’s even more in the U.K., with 80% of people being online shoppers. In Australia, 5 million households purchase through the internet every month.

If you need materials for your DIY projects, online shopping is an easier way to find what you need, no matter how far the shop is. You can even buy trendy furniture to go along with your home’s new look. Be it a modern fridge or a fancy TV Unit - Kogan Australia and similar online shops can help you shop with ease.

It’s a Good Project to Utilize Free Time

Do you have long periods of time where you do nothing? Are you spending your days with no plans, and you find yourself getting bored quickly? Home DIY projects are a great way to ease your boredom as they give you lots of things to do, depending on what you want for your house.

Home projects can take several days to complete, as you must go through several processes. This is the perfect opportunity to do so during holidays or vacations. You can also look for the perfect season to make the most of the process, especially on longer projects like home renovation.

If you have lots of free time, it might be the perfect opportunity for you if you don't have plans to spend it.

Accomplishing DIY Projects Can Improve Mental Health

It's always a great feeling when you've completed something, big or small. Doing and accomplishing projects like these can generally help improve your mental health, getting you in a much better mood.

There are several ways doing DIY activities can improve your mood. One of these is a sense of accomplishment, as completing a task can leave you feeling more satisfied and proud of yourself, especially if it's a task you haven't done before or in a long time. Another would be giving you peace of mind. If there is something that you know needs fixing immediately, doing it yourself can give you relief.

You can also do these projects in the most stress-free way possible. You can involve your family or ask for help from your friends for a unique bonding experience. Listening to music can also make the process less stressful and more relaxing.

It Could Save Money

Depending on your DIY project's scale, it can save you money. If you do it alone, your expenses might only be the materials you will use. On the other hand, if you hire people to do it for you, you will have to pay them for labor. So, if you do not want to charge extra, you might want to do it yourself.

Cons

The following are the disadvantages of going with DIY for your house projects.

It Can Be Expensive

While hiring other people can be expensive, doing DIY still has its own issues when it comes to hefty costs, depending on what kind of project you have in mind. The bigger the project, the more expensive it can get, especially when they require lots of tools and materials.

One problem you might face that can make the project even more expensive is mistakes. If you do not have any background in home improvements, like carpentry, there is a chance that you will make a mistake or two. These errors can lead you to buy more materials to make up for what was lost.

Projects Can Get Risky

Another disadvantage to a DIY home project is that it can get dangerous. There are risks to building or renovating a house or part of it. A prominent example is getting into an accident. Renovation areas can leave anyone at risk of various accidents. Falls are one of the most common accidents from DIY projects.

Suppose your DIY project involves tools or materials that can be harmful even when not used. In that case, it might be best to reconsider doing it yourself, especially if you have little background in renovations or home improvement.

It Takes A LOT of Time

DIY projects are best done if you have free time, especially if the processes take several days or weeks. With this, as previously mentioned, such projects are best done while on vacation or during the holidays. But what if you don't have time?

This will depend on the DIY home project you want, but they could require a slow or delicate process. It will help if you are fully hands-on. If you are busy, this can only be easy to work on if you find good timing. Or worse, if you started without considering your schedule, you might end up abandoning it, leading to wasted costs. You may want to entrust your project to those you live with or hire someone to do it instead.

To Sum it Up

DIY house projects can be an excellent way to kill time and improve your home. Depending on your current lifestyle and the projects you want, there could be advantages and disadvantages. Doing a little research and consulting a professional is best before jumping into it.


By Liliana Alvarez

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