10 DIY Home Project Superstitions That Homeowners Need to Stop Believing
Superstition or myths around the real estate market is real. Different television shows and the personalities attached to them have kicked off an era of DIY home repairs and maintenance. Shows make it look so easy, so fun, and, above all, so sexy. Why wouldn’t people want to get in on the action? After all, you could make a bunch of money on a rundown house that you DIY into a market success.
But there are so many DIY myths out there and we think you should know them before you embark on any sort of grand project. We’ve researched around the Internet as well as looked at what the experts have to say about the DIY myths out there before you embark on your Do-it-yourself projects.
1. Home Improvements Add Profit
They do if they are done well. But if you do a poor job with a DIY project, you could actually take away value from your home. That’s because any buyer that is buying attention is going to want to have had a professional job done where you thought your DIY project was enough.
And if you have a professional shopping your home that person can spot a DIY disaster from a mile away and might write you off then and there – or really undercut you on price.
2. You Don’t Need to Worry About Building Codes and Permits
Just like with the cleanup process, there are laws in place about what you can and cannot do to your property. You’ll need to get that entire squared away first and, again, we’re talking time and money.
3. You Can Design It All By Yourself
If you’ve never done it before, how you could possibly design it? People mistakenly think that things in the home are simple projects because they are deceptive.
No one would ever attempt to design and build a car on their own without any kind of background in auto mechanics, yet so many DIY people go about doing things to their house like they have a clue about what they’re doing. Then when they screw something up they’re amazed that it happened.
That’s because, like your car, your home is a series of systems that have to work in harmony. If you can’t hear the music how can you possibly tune the instrument?
4. DIY is Cheaper Than Hiring a Profesional
The one theme that we hope you’ve gotten throughout this list is that DIY is actually way more expensive than it seems if you don’t know what you are doing. Hiring and professionals and working with them throughout the project will help you learn a lot, but there’s also training and schooling you can do if you really want to know how to go it alone.
There is nothing wrong with DIY as a concept, but you at least should know how to do it in the first place.
5. Watching A Tutorial Tells You All You Need to Know
Probably the biggest mistake that DIY newbies can make is to assume that what they see on television is the actual process behind restoration and remodeling projects. That’s definitely not the case. You’re presented with a dramatized and edited version of a process that can be grueling, harsh, and long. In other words, there’s a lot of work and very little glamour.
Also, these television shows rarely show you the troubleshooting and problem solving of minor issues that crop up during DIY projects. In other words, the whole story is a lot more involved and you might not like the ending in real life.
6. Purchasing a Fixer-Upper to Make Extra Cash
According to the Local Records Office, another common misconception that is only helped by television shows is the idea that you can buy a rundown piece of property and, with a little DIY magic; turn it into a huge profit. Buyer beware is a phrase to keep in mind when you are looking at homes that need work.
What you might think is a small project could turn into a monumental task once you finally delve into the property and all of its issues. Not only could it end up costing a lot of money, but there’s no guarantee that you will sell it once you’re done and still make a profit.
7. Buying Materials Online Saves Tons of Cash
Getting things online can be a real timesaver and a great way to check out pricing on common products. But it’s also a way to disaster in DIY. There are a lot of providers out there and many people who are new to DIY projects think that one thing is just as good as another. Veterans know better and that’s why they’re often willing to pay a premium for materials and tools.
They know more than you do about this, after all. For one, using better tools might make the job easier and have a better end result. Another thing is that using the best materials for the job means that the work will last longer and cost you less money over time. There are art and science to remodeling and updating properties, and DIY not only discounts this but greatly underestimates its value.
8. It’ll Be Quick and Easy
A quick update and it’ll definitely be cheap. That’s the thought process that goes behind a lot of DIY disasters. Every project, no matter how small, has a layered process that can end up sapping away time and money. Never forget that.
9. Going Back and Forth to Fix Your Mistakes
The simple response to this myth is why would you want to use your own home or another piece of property as a training ground? Isn’t that expensive, especially if things go wrong? Yes, it is and it is amazing that so many people turn their own properties into a laboratory of DIY messiness.
10. Cleanup is Simple
There’s a lot involved in cleanup as well and, if you use chemicals of any kind, there are even some laws in place in certain areas about how and where that is to be disposed of.
Cleanup is far from easy and is another added cost in time and money that few people consider when planning a remodel.
