Should You Do It Yourself Or Hire A Professional?

When it comes to home maintenance, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to do it yourself (DIY) or hire a professional.

Before hiring someone to help with a project around your home, think about whether you can safely do it yourself — or with the help of a friend, family member or neighbor. Preparing your home’s exterior water lines for winter, for example, is an easy task you can learn how to do. While most plumbing, heating, or electric work are best left to the professionals.

When you’re on a tight budget, performing home maintenance tasks yourself can certainly save you money. It can also be very rewarding. Mastering a new skill — for example, learning how to change an air filter or how to tighten loose water connections — can help you feel safer and more confident in your home as you grow older.

Note that it doesn’t always have to be an either-or decision. If you need to replace the tile in your bathroom, for example, you can shop around for the best price on tile, pick up the amount you need, then pay someone to do the remodel for you.

Regardless of how handy you are around the house, there are some tasks that are simply too difficult, risky or time-consuming for most homeowners — like cleaning upper-level windows or servicing your boiler.

Below are some home maintenance tasks that should be done at least once a year and require a professional’s attention. Please note that this list is not comprehensive. Although there are other tasks you can hire a professional to do around your home, this list includes the top recommendations from home maintenance experts for keeping your home in good condition as you age.

What to know when hiring a professional

What should I ask when deciding to hire a professional?

If you are unsure of anything or have questions, be sure to ask. Here are the questions AARP Foundation recommends:

Are you licensed or bonded?
Do you have insurance?
How much experience do you have in making this repair or doing this work?
How long will the work take?
How many people will be in my home to work on the project?
Will you provide a detailed printed estimate before the work is started?
Who do I call if I have questions about the work?

How do I evaluate an estimate for professional work?

Estimates should detail the materials, labor charges, start and end dates, and total cost. Be sure the estimate includes everything related to your project — in writing. Don’t approve plans you don’t understand, never sign a contract with blanks, and keep a copy of everything you sign.

Here’s what to consider:

Is it a formal estimate? For example, is it typed and printed?
Are all tasks clearly described and itemized?
How much does labor cost? How much do the materials cost?
Approximately how long will it take to complete each task?
Does the estimate include everything you expect in terms of completing the work?
Can you read through the estimate and visualize what work is going to be done?

How do I find contractors I can trust?

First, look for reputable professionals online and check the Better Business Bureau to see if they have any complaints against them. Your family, friends, and neighbors may also have recommendations of professionals that provided good work for them in the past. It’s usually not a good idea to trust professionals that come to your door uninvited — it may be a scam.

Never hire someone without checking that they have proper certifications, licensing, and insurance. Ask them to provide proof of their credentials.

Finally, don’t pay the final bill until all work is completed. This ensures they come back to finish the job they started. For more tips to protect yourself from home maintenance scams, visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network.