Some things you can save money on by doing it yourself, some you might want to get a professional for.
It’s tempting to read a few blogs, watch some YouTube videos and think to yourself, “that looks easy.”
More often than not, it isn’t. After many bad experiences and years of winging it, here is a rundown of those things where you are better placed to hire someone to do it.
Cutting down a medium sized tree.
You might think that cutting down a tree is quite straightforward. How hard can it be really? There is a tree, there is a chainsaw, and there is a cut-down tree. Nothing could be further from the truth. Consider how heavy a tree is, combine that with all the things that could go wrong if the tree falls the wrong way.
Have you also considered the hassle of disposal of a tree? Just forego those dreams of being a lumberjack (you can still wear plaid regardless) and find a tree removal specialist in the yellow pages, or on the internet, whatever your preference is.
Moving to a new house and handling large pieces of furniture.
So, with moving, there are levels of comfort. Moving small boxes with little items, clothes and books is purely a matter of determination and taking lots of short breaks. When it comes to larger items such as a couch, a wardrobe or TV unit, you will need some additional help. You could try to get friends and family, which suddenly are quite busy. You might just be stuck needing hired help.
And if you are moving that 60-year-old Steinway that you inherited from your grandparents? Please, hire a piano mover as any small accident might have significant consequences. As opposed to what movies want to make you believe, having a piano dropped on your does not warrant a laugh track.
Are you considering doing some electrical work around the house?
If you are not a trained electrician or a tried and tested DIY wizard, maybe consider that electricity is not only dangerous, it can be lethal as well. Accidentally drilling through a wire or messing up the wiring that creates a hazard waiting to happen is all too common.
And while we are on the topic, the same goes for plumbing. You might think: “hey it’s just water” and feel confident that you can deal with small mishaps, consider the damage water can do to floors and electrical wiring and equipment. Things get worse when you combine those two things.
And if you are considering doing something with a gas line or pipe, just stop.
Think of the sheer terror you will experience wondering you might not have sealed a connection properly. With gas slowly leaking into a cabinet getting to the perfect ratio of gas and air, which leads to explosions. Out of all things, gas should be very high on the things you hire a professional for. On the scale of things to not do yourself, it would be one to don’t do gas work yourself.
