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...BASEMENT FINISHING:
The Truth of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Basement Finsihing
With the ease of information on the internet, home-improvement shows and publications, Do-It-yourself (DIY) projects have become quite popular. If you have the proper skills, a DIY project can be rewarding. However, for most, the DIY project can go severely wrong - or worse, a frustration and never quite completed project.
Before you consider finishing a basement yourself, we recommend you seriously consider the following:
- Are you familiar with local and national building codes?
- Can you buy materials at a better price than a professional?
- Do you have the time to complete this project (be realistic!)? Finishing a Basement will take a team of Pros about a month of full time work!
- Have you ever undertaken a project like this before?
- Will you sacrifice quality and satisfaction to save cost?
- Do you have the specialized tools for the job?
- Do you have the necessary skills for this project?
- What will you give up to make time for this project?
- Do you understand all the safety issues associated with this project?
- Are you familiar with the architecture and structural makeup of your home? (i.e., how knocking down one wall will affect the rest of the structure)?
- Have you considered the hidden costs associated with doing it yourself - time, tools, and the possibility that you may actually decrease the value of your house if the result isn't up to professional standards?
- Will you end up paying, possibly at a higher rate, for a professional to come in and finish up or fix your work later on?
Looking only at the cost of hiring professionals, considering only labor and materials, it may seem that a DIY project would be the best option. However, remember that professionals offer you much more than simply labor and materials. A professional's years of experience (knowing what pitfalls to avoid), access to the right tools, a solid network of subcontractors/suppliers and the knowledge involved in cost estimations, scheduling, warranties and important legal regulations are invaluable.
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