HGTV makes everyone feel as if they’re only a couple of power tools away from being home renovation masters. But don’t be fooled. There’s a reason building and construction trades are considered skilled jobs.
Tackling a home renovation project requires more than an eye for design and the ability to match colors. You also need to understand how the various parts of a structure fit together, and you may even have to (gasp) do some math.
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What’s more, a home improvement project done wrong can be expensive to fix, or even dangerous. Before you end up with a DIY disaster, here are six times when you should probably call in a pro.
Yes, this seems so obvious, doesn’t it? And yet, some people try to do projects when they don’t understand the mechanics. Perhaps they mistakenly think it will all simply fall into place once they get a bit further into the project.
Don’t assume project instructions will make sense later. Know what you’re doing right from the start. Otherwise, you won’t be able to identify potential problems as they arise. Or worse, you could get halfway through and find you can’t finish.
The same thing goes for tools, especially power tools. If you don’t know how to use something, maybe you shouldn’t be using it.
Failing to heed this advice could result in shoddy work or personal injury. Neither is a good outcome for a DIY project.
2. Someone knowledgeable advises you to get a pro
Maybe you go to the hardware store, explain the project, and the workers raise their eyebrows and say, “Really?”
When someone familiar with the project says you’re crazy for attempting it, it’s a cue to reconsider. Ask yourself these questions:
Has this person done such a project themselves?
Have they heard from multiple people who have tried such a project?
Do they have a vested interest in discouraging you from doing the project?
Gallery: 9 Dumb Ways You Are Ruining Your Home Value (Money Talks News)
9 Dumb Ways You Are Ruining Your Home Value
Your home might be your biggest asset — and yet, you could be inadvertently making it less valuable. Some updates and renovations can backfire when it comes time to sell.
“What I have seen a lot of people do is rip out a closet,” says Steven Gottlieb, a licensed real estate salesperson with Warburg Realty Partnership in New York City.
Where he works, in Manhattan and Brooklyn, space is at a premium. That means eliminating a closet can be a costly mistake.
“I don’t know that it detracts from the [appraised] value,” he tells Money Talks News, “but it inevitably shrinks the [buying] audience.”
And with fewer people interested in a property, the chances of a quick sale or a full-price offer can decrease.
From removing closet space to painting walls garish colors, here are some dumb ways you could be dragging down your home’s resale potential.
You may think neutral is boring, but buyers could be turned off by brightly colored walls.
That may seem silly, since it’s relatively easy to repaint. But some people don’t want the hassle, says Keri Rizzi, a real estate salesperson with HomeSmart in White Plains, New York.
“Buyers will judge based on paint alone,” she tells Money Talks News.
So, consider yourself forewarned if you decide to paint your rooms every color of the rainbow.
2. Using bold and busy designs
It isn’t just colorful walls that can derail a potential sale. Busy or bright patterns on wallpaper, tiles or flooring can be a problem for some people.
“Those are much harder to change than just paint and can have more of an effect on value,” says Amanda Rogers, a Realtor with Rogers Real Estate Group in Ada, Michigan.
If you don’t have any reason to think you’ll be moving, go ahead and be creative. Otherwise, think twice about loud designs and bold colors.
“Always choose neutral options for permanent items, and add your personal style with accessories, furniture pieces, wall art, etc.,” Rogers tells Money Talks News.
3. Removing closets
“In an urban setting, especially New York City, space is at a premium,” Gottlieb says. An apartment with minimal closets might not get a second look from buyers.
Even in a suburban or rural setting, storage space often is highly valued. Consider carefully before converting closets to living space or removing a rarely used pole barn from your property.
4. Ripping out bathrooms or laundry rooms
If you have a small household, you may be tempted to rip out a rarely used bathroom for closet or living space. Don’t do it, Gottlieb says.
“A bathroom is worth a lot,” he explains.
Even in urban areas, bathrooms and laundry hook-ups trump closet space.
5. Making trendy updates
Renovating a home with the latest trends can backfire if the look becomes dated or is not the preference of a potential buyer. Rizzi has seen this happen when sellers install new wall-to-wall carpeting only to find that buyers really want hardwood flooring.
If parts of your house are looking tired and worn, consider giving buyers a credit to do their own work. Don’t sink money into updates that may not boost value.
6. Adding too much tech
Technology changes quickly, which means an expensive smart home system may be obsolete in just a few years.
“People invest too much for the most current electronic system,” Gottlieb says. “Then, they are often disappointed in five to seven years when (buyers) are not impressed.”
Go ahead and install the latest bells and whistles for your own use and enjoyment. Just don’t expect such upgrades to boost your home’s sales price down the road.
7. Lowering ceilings
Some people might want to lower their ceilings to accommodate lighting, but avoid that if possible, Gottlieb says. Ceilings on a main floor of 9 feet or more are among the most desirable features and design trends for 2020, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
By some estimates, high ceilings can add as much as 25% to the value of a home.
8. Failing to control landscaping
Curb appeal isn’t necessarily reflected in a home’s appraised value, but it can make or break a sale, according to real estate professionals.
“Make that first impression the best impression,” Rizzi says.
Clear out debris, trim overgrown bushes and pull weeds to create a clean exterior.
9. Letting your home fall into disarray
Keep a home’s interior clean and well maintained.
“If something breaks, fix it,” Rogers says. “If you don’t know how to fix it, hire it done.”
Neglecting plumbing and electrical work could have dire consequences to your home’s value if it leads to structural damage.
Bottom line, according to Rogers: “Clean sells.”
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Contractors may play Negative Nellies because they want your business, so don’t rely on their advice alone. However, if your best friend who is handy says the project is a nightmare, give some thought to her words.
Even if you are capable of finishing a home renovation on your own, that doesn’t mean you should attempt the project.
If you already have a full schedule of work and family obligations, how much time are you going to devote to the renovation? Will you want to live with your kitchen being a construction site for months on end? If your answers are “not much” and “no,” call a pro.
4. It will be obvious you did it yourself
It might not matter if the shelves in your closet are crooked or the paint in your bedroom is uneven. No one except your immediate family will see those anyway.
However, if your kitchen cabinets are misaligned, it may be obvious to everyone who walks into the house. Consider who will see the project, the likelihood you’ll mess it up and how embarrassed you’ll be when a visitor notices your mistakes. A visibly botched job — done badly or not to code — can affect the value of your home if you decide to sell it.
5. Major electrical or plumbing work is involved
Anything involving major electrical or plumbing work needs to be left to pros.
Poor plumbing could lead to a messy situation and water damage that will end up costing more to fix than you would have paid to have the job done right in the first place.
Electrical mistakes could lead to house fires, putting your family’s safety in jeopardy. That sort of risk isn’t worth saving a few bucks.
6. Serious injury is possible if something goes wrong
Think twice about any project that could result in serious injury.
Re-shingling a house with a steeply sloped roof comes to mind. According to an article by DoItYourself.com, each year millions of DIYers working on home projects end up going to the hospital. About 170,000 people are treated at hospitals every year because of injuries related to ladders alone.
Another peril is knocking down walls when you’re not sure which beams are supporting the roof.
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Are you earning as much interest on your savings as you could be? Grow your savings faster with banks offering rates that are significantly higher than the national average! Find the best rates and start earning more interest on your savings by using the Money Talks News savings and CD account comparison tool.
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