The Don'ts of DIY

What DIY Projects should be left to a professional?

In the spirit of my blog’s Home-Buyer Tips series titled, “Do I really need a realtor to buy a house?”, I thought I would offer up a few answers to similar a question from the DIY department.

That question being, “What DIY projects should I leave to a professional?”

Bob Villa reminds us that there are numerous DIY house projects we should be capable of truly doing on our own.  Here are just a few things that if we don’t already know how to do, we should learn how to:

• Unclog a toilet

Just read his article because I’m not really all that interested in getting into these details….

• Reset a tripped electrical breaker

If you’re the only house on the block without lights, it’s likely a tripped breaker.  When you look into your circuit breaker box you’ll notice the one (or sometimes two) switch pointing in the opposite direction or showing a visible red indicator—or both. Flip the switch back to align with all the others, and the power should return. NOTE: Villa warns that if you smell anything coming from the electrical box you’ll need to shut down the master power by flipping the larger or single switch at the top and call a professional electrician - clearly this is more than a flipped breaker!

• Remove ash from a fire place

You’ll obviously need a hand broom.  And make sure that what you’re scooping the ash into is a metal container! It is highly recommended that you let the ash sit in the metal container outside your home (away from anything combustible) for upwards of 2 weeks before discarding in your trash for pick up.

But what about other DIY projects?  Are there things I should not DIY?

Let’s take a look at a few interior and exterior categories.

Interior

Electrical

Aside from checking on and flipping back a tripped breaker, you really want to stay away from anything electrical.  If you get into your walls and start messing with the wiring, not only will you run the risk of short circuiting your entire house, but if you could quite possibly electrocute yourself or worse - start an electrical fire!

Plumbing

As Bob pointed out, maintaining your toilet can be done with relative ease.  The same goes for keeping shower heads clean - a total DIY task.  However, relocating your toilet or installing a new shower or tub, or any task that requires cutting, extending, or rearranging pipes should be left to professionals.

Exterior

Landscaping

Adding plants and flowers to a garden, or removing small bushes to make way for different vegetation can certainly be done yourself.  But the same is not true for tree removal.  Afterall, we are talking about tall (and heavy) trees, power tools, and possibly electrical lines.  It might not be inexpensive to have a tree removed, but it will definitely be cheaper than replacing a portion of your roof - call a professional!

Adding a Fence

Realistically, the type and size of the fence you’re thinking about adding comes in to play.  But what cannot be overlooked is the reality that such tasks, regardless of size, will require a lot of math (specifically geometry - ugh) and measurement to get all the boards lined up straight.  It’s probably best to leave the leveling and lining up to the professionals.

These are just a few DIY projects that should be left to a professional.  Trust me, there are plenty more.  

Are there DIY Do’s and Don’ts topics do you want learn about?  Leave a comment and let me know - I’m here to serve you!
Margie Noble

Broker/Realtor
Noble Real Estate
BRE License 01859419
www.venturacountyre.com
Phone: 805.844.6257
E-mail: mnoble4re@verizon.net