#29 Do It Yourself or Hire an Expert?




It’s usually money that drives that choice!  Make no mistake, do-it-yourself may sometimes seem the smart way to go, but it can turn out to be an expensive choice.   Knowing when it’s right, and when it’s better to find an expert is important.  And sometimes it can be a combination – an expert guides you and you do the heavy lifting!

Successfully securing your home mortgage, moving into a new and important chapter in your life, and protecting your investment are all factors that should influence the way in which you handle the maintenance and improvements that naturally follow your home purchase.   Each situation that arises needs to be considered separately from several angles.

When you begin to take on the maintenance and care of your own residential real estate property – your home – be sure that you know what factors have a bearing on how you move forward; insurance is one of them.  You will be in possession of various insurance protections (some required – not optional) which may have stipulations concerning what is covered, how it is covered and when that coverage may be denied.  With some situations, there may be an expectation concerning the need for qualified licensed or certified services – not “handy-man,” do-it-yourself-work – in order for your insurance protections to apply.   Take the time to investigate the facts before you decide to tinker.

When you own property, it is obviously adjacent to the property of someone else!  All around the perimeter of your property, there is a “common zone” where properties connect.  When (if) you consider a project that is in that common zone, such as building a fence, constructing a stone wall, creating a garden or planting trees, it is very important to connect with the bordering property owner (or owners) before you get started.  Such projects are often taken on by the property owner themselves, as a do-it-myself project.   It is important that you and the adjacent property owner are clear concerning the property lines.  There may be issues concerning trees that, when full-grown, might interfere with someone’s beautiful view.   Some neighbors might feel strongly about any construction in the common zone.   They may insist that projects on or near the property lines should be done only by a licensed contractor, in order to assure that any possible future insurance claim would be honored.  They may be willing to share the expense in the interest of common benefits and protections.

On the other hand, sometimes neighbors sharing property lines enjoy working on such projects together, sharing the costs and agreeing on the nature of the border treatment.   It might be a good idea to have a record of the mutual effort – such as pictures of the project in progress – just in case a future dispute might arise.  (Installations such as fences and plantings require maintenance; you’ll want to be clear concerning who does what, as time goes by!)

When you decide to do a project on your own, be certain that, whatever that project is, the ramifications only affect yourself!  It’s a fairly short list that would be problematic in terms of your insurance coverage or other serious risks.  However, wiring something wrong could have serious consequences.   Making a structural change that might create a safety hazard is very serious!   For instance, unwittingly removing a weight-bearing wall to “open up” an area, or building a balcony without knowing absolutely for sure how much weight it can hold, are two dangerous do-it-yourself projects.

Working – puttering? – on your home projects is great, can be fun, and can save you money when well planned and appropriately informed!  Be smart about your choices, acknowledge when it’s time to consult an expert and proceed with caution!

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