J.J. IMPROVEMENTS & TREE SERVICES in Lexington

J.J. IMPROVEMENTS & TREE SERVICES in Lexington

Reasons to avoid DIY projects.

           

There are several great reasons to avoid DIY (Do It Yourself) projects which we will cover here. While the project may seem to be a simple one to complete there are many aspects of the project to consider. The cost is certainly a big factor you have to consider. but should no way be the only thing to consider. While you may think hiring a professional like J. J. IMPROVEMENTS & TREE SERVICES http://jjimprovementstreeservices.com will cost more. They can and usually do save you in the long run. If something goes wrong. The professional has insurance to cover mishaps where you will have to pay out of pocket.
Take for example you want to remove a tree growing near your house and the professional has given you an estimate of $1,000.00 to remove it and haul it away. You figure you have a chain saw and cutting down a tree should be simple so you decide to DIY. You start cutting and the tree starts to fall exactly as planned but then twist and lands on your porch roof completely destroying it. Now you have to get an estimate to replace the porch which amounts to $15,000.00. OUCH! You just cost yourself $14,000.00 where having the professional cut the tree and even if the same scenario happened their insurance would pay for the damages.
The next thing to consider is the waste and debris you have to get rid of. and the hidden cost here can make DIY cost almost as much as hiring a professional. If you calculate the expense of hauling the waste away and the time involved. Most people never figure their own time into the cost, but it is part of the expenses you will incur. So how do you calculate your labor compared to having a professional do the work for the $1,000.00. Take what you earn per hour or what you would charge someone else by the hour and multiply it by how long the project will take to complete as provided by the professional. (Say 8 hours) then multiply the answer by at least 2 1/2 times that figure. Most DIY projects takes a homeowner twice as long as the professional. If you calculate your pay at $20.00 per hour times 20 hours to complete the project. Which would equal your time costing you $400.00 for labor plus materials and related cost such as fuel, dumping (trash) fees etc.
Accidents happen even to professionals and their insurance covers them but if you have an accident will your insurance cover you? Even if it does it can make your premiums skyrocket after the accident. The chances of DIY accidents is many times higher then for a professional. Of course the average homeowner never even considers this possibility. They only look at can they save on the front end.
OOPS! you were cutting a board and cut it to short or your drilled the hole in the wrong place or any number of possible mistakes can and will cost you money you hadn't planned on. Minor mistakes cost the average DIY person 3 times the basic cost of materials. What this means is if the professional quoted the materials at $300.00 it could end up costing you as much as $900.00 when you have only allowed for the professional quote of $300.00
Appearance of finished project can make a huge difference when deciding DIY or a professional to do the work. If you decide to DIY and your better half wants it perfect who will get the blame if it doesn't look as expected when completed. Let's go back to the tree, after cutting the tree down getting it cut up and hauled off you are left with a stump which your better half wants gone. You had to pay for all the cost involved with getting rid of the tree and repairing the porch and now you have a stump to deal with getting removed. So you go and rent a stump grinder and for somewhere around a $250.00 you manage to grind the stump and roots and hauled in dirt and leveled it off. The project that would have cost $1,000.00 for the professional to do has cost the homeowner in access of 16,700.00
So when you are thinking about DIY make sure you take everything into consideration before making the finial decision. If you simply be honest with yourself more often then not it is better to hire the professional.