You’ve been putting it off and off but you can’t ignore it any longer, it’s home maintenance season.
Wherever you are in the world, you know that the weather plays a crucial factor in the state of your home. From buffeting gales that threaten to dislodge roof slates and tear down trees to scorching sun that makes your wooden doorframes creak and groan. There’s no better time to get that to-do list written down and to get started on some home grown DIY projects.
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For some of us DIY is as natural as breathing. We take on home improvement jobs in our stride, with confidence and no small degree of finesse. While for others it’s a DIY disaster waiting to happen, so first tip: don’t over reach your abilities.
But, yes give it a go. Sure there are some jobs that are going to have to be left to the professionals. Need to get that chemical balance right in your pool? Probably better left to the pool service professionals. Need to reinstate that broken fence panel? Give it a go.
There’s no shame in consulting a YouTube video clip, instruction manual or lifestyle blogger before tackling a job. Avoiding basic mistakes serves to save time and money yes, but will also boost your confidence as you see your project completed to a high standard.
Before you get started though, bear in mind the following top tips to DIY success:
Planning, A Necessary Evil
You really want to get started and have that job done before it gets dark but if you don’t plan adequately you’re going to reach that critical point in your job when you realize you don’t have enough of the right screws. It will drive you crazy, guaranteed. Instead list what you need, check, double check and then make sure you have spares.
It might not be your natural methodology but turning yourself in an organized DIYer will save plenty of time and heartache in the long run.
It might even delay your start time as you squeeze in a visit to your local hardware store but better than that than to risk becoming dispirited half way through the job when you realize you won’t be able to finish.
Know Your Limits
While this is all about giving it a go, there will be times as mentioned up post when you will need to step back, as much as it might pain you too. As a general rule of thumb anything that involves electricity or gas is when you need to call in the professionals.
It might look pretty easy to wire in that new appliance into your kitchen but your safety is paramount. There’s also the danger that faulty wiring might not only lead to a fire, it might cause your machine to stop working.
So before the weather changes, check that toolbox, get those jobs prioritized and start making those home improvements guaranteed to be the envy of all your friends and family.
