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The Frugal Do-It-Yourselfer
Saving Money on Home Improvement Projects
Many of us avoid home improvement projects due to their expense. Granted, if you are contemplating a second-story addition to your home or the construction of a new game room, then most likely you will need to hire a general contractor to complete this task. However, if you are interested in projects like painting a room, removing acoustic texture from the ceiling (I just did this), installing laminate flooring, wallpaper, landscaping, etc., then you may be able to accomplish the task(s) all on your own, or with minimal assistance.
I recently undertook the task of remolding my den and living room areas. I knew what I wanted the final product to be. However, I was extremely hesitant to begin the work due to a lack of knowledge, the fear of failure and/or making damaging, irreparable mistakes. You see, in front of a computer I'm extremely proficient. However, with tools and manual labor, I do not have much experience, so naturally I was a bit intimidated.
Two things changed my mind about the whole scenario. I bumped into a long-time friend who was known for his skill with tools and a knack for woodcarving. I informed him of my remodeling ideas and the underlying fear of the whole task. He laughed and said that what I wanted to do would not take much in terms of "professional skill" and it would save me about $2,000 in labor costs!
Once he put a price tag on the amount I would be saving, I was immediately intrigued. For me to save $2,000 of my own money, I'll definitely try my hand at these projects. Wouldn't you?
The second influence that helped me take on this task occurred on my first visit to Home Depot. I was lucky enough to run into a wonderful, polite, knowledgeable employee who took his time and explained the ins and outs of what I was about to undertake.
