There's no doubt, it's generally a lot cheaper to DIY home improvement projects instead of hiring a professional. If you DIY something and make a mistake, though, it could cost you. According to a recent survey by Clovered about the most costly home improvement mistakes, the median amount of money spent to fix home improvement blunders is $137.50.
If you're thinking about taking on a DIY project, there's one crucial consideration that could save you a lot of time, money, and hassle.
If you're thinking about taking on a DIY project, there's one crucial consideration that could save you a lot of time, money, and hassle.
Most of the people surveyed by Clovered--over 85%--reported that they went the DIY route over hiring a professional in order to save money. It's true that DIY home improvement projects can be much cheaper than hiring a professional. Here are a few date points from the Clovered article.
Home Improvement Project | Professional Cost | DIY Cost
Installing hardwood flooring | $2,400-$8,000 | $900
Installing a kitchen sink | $200-$1,125 | $99
Grouting tile | $248-$475 | $30
Tiling a shower | $1,580-$3,900 | $300
Installing a blacksplash | $300-$1,350 | $150
Installing drywall | $300-$10,000 | $150
While DIY projects can reap huge savings benefits, they aren't always the way to go for one reason: the homeowner's skill level. If a homeowner tries to drywall their living room but ends up messing up due to inexperience with drywall, they will end up having spent money to attempt the project and then more money to fix it or hire a pro.
Along with homeowners working outside of their skill level, there's also the issue of injury when taking on a DIY project. In fact, 25% of homeowners reported getting injured while working on a home improvement project. Here are the stats on DIY injuries from the Clovered survey.
Injury During DIY Project | Percentage of Homeowners
Cutting themselves with a sharp tool | 74.9%
Hitting themselves with a tool | 58.4%
Tripping over materials | 49.0%
Slipping on the floor | 26.7%
Falling off a ladder | 21.4%
Electrocution | 14.4%
Inhaling noxious fumes | 14%
Getting burned | 11.5%
In the end, homeowners surveyed said that their best advice for DIY projects is to only work within your skill level. Doing so will save you money and result in a successful DIY home improvement project!
Home Improvement Project | Professional Cost | DIY Cost
Installing hardwood flooring | $2,400-$8,000 | $900
Installing a kitchen sink | $200-$1,125 | $99
Grouting tile | $248-$475 | $30
Tiling a shower | $1,580-$3,900 | $300
Installing a blacksplash | $300-$1,350 | $150
Installing drywall | $300-$10,000 | $150
While DIY projects can reap huge savings benefits, they aren't always the way to go for one reason: the homeowner's skill level. If a homeowner tries to drywall their living room but ends up messing up due to inexperience with drywall, they will end up having spent money to attempt the project and then more money to fix it or hire a pro.
Along with homeowners working outside of their skill level, there's also the issue of injury when taking on a DIY project. In fact, 25% of homeowners reported getting injured while working on a home improvement project. Here are the stats on DIY injuries from the Clovered survey.
Injury During DIY Project | Percentage of Homeowners
Cutting themselves with a sharp tool | 74.9%
Hitting themselves with a tool | 58.4%
Tripping over materials | 49.0%
Slipping on the floor | 26.7%
Falling off a ladder | 21.4%
Electrocution | 14.4%
Inhaling noxious fumes | 14%
Getting burned | 11.5%
In the end, homeowners surveyed said that their best advice for DIY projects is to only work within your skill level. Doing so will save you money and result in a successful DIY home improvement project!
