According to a recent survey, people carrying out their own renovations have risen to around 19%, while a further 81% of homeowners are hiring professional contractors. Although the number of DIY renovations has risen, then, there are still a lot of people who would rather go down the safer — and perhaps more sensible – route.
It’s hard to put a finger on exactly why this is, but it could be due to the amount of myths that are out there about DIY renovation.
We all know that home renovation is not easy, but it’s certainly not impossible, especially where the garden or bedrooms are concerned. Sadly, however, just a quick search on the internet will crop up a number of horror stories from people who have undertaken the journey.
Of course, choosing to hire a contractor is your choice – and so long as you hire a reputable, licensed contractor, it’s never the wrong choice – but we thought it necessary to put a positive spin on things and debunk all of the myths that are just that… myths!
Doing It Yourself Can Be More Costly Than Hiring A Contractor
One of the most common myths we have seen from people is that DIY will end up being more costly than if you’d simply hired a contractor in the first place. This is apparently because you’re learning on the job, which means it will take longer, and there will be more opportunities to get it wrong and have to spend more on repairing your own mistakes.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. While DIY renovations will of course be slower, that doesn’t mean they will be more expensive, and the more you get done, the better and faster you will get.
Some Renovations Will Not Be Worth It
There are some articles online that point newbie renovators to simple, more effective renovation projects, and steer them away from projects that are “not worth their time”. For instance, they will advise against spending a lot on changing up the internal doors, citing that they will cost too much for too little.
But renovating is about being savvy. There are places where you can get strong materials for a good price, and will do a lot to add the finishing touches to a renovation project – click here for an example.
You Need To Follow The Trends
This is perhaps our least favorite myth, but sadly it does exist. When traversing the internet, you’re likely to come across people telling you to follow the trends in interior design if you want to be left with a home that fits within the current 2023 landscape.
But the point about trends is that they are always changing.
Of course, there’s a lot of inspiration to be found in popular home designs, but they’re not an end goal that you have to aspire to. The important thing is to follow the template of your home and go for a design that works for you and your family.
Surprises Will Tear Down The Whole Project
One of the main things that put people off DIY renovation projects is the thought of going over your budget and suffering financially as a result. It’s true that you can never fully plan a renovation project – there are often unanticipated problems that will be exposed – but you can prepare for the unexpected.
Whilst doing your plan, all you have to do is avoid going over your budget, and factor in around 10% or more for any surprise costs. That way, you’re ready and primed to tackle those costs when they come your way.
You Can’t Do It!
The last myth, and perhaps the most important: you can’t do it. But you can do anything if you set your mind to it. The important thing is to start small. Bedrooms are often more cosmetic renovations, which makes them a great space to get started and test out your skills.
Gardens too can be landscaped yourself, so long as you do your research and put the work in. And from then on, who knows? You might be starting a home renovation project that completely transforms your household!