Home improvements projects are on the rise, but is DIY worth it? What are the risks and rewards and can you really get more out of it than you put in?
A survey by Angi has revealed that DIY home improvement and renovation projects are as popular as ever with 81% of homeowners doing at least one project since the start of the pandemic.
Most homeowners didn’t stop at one project either and many credit the global pandemic with their interest in DIY.
But the survey revealed that over 40% of homeowners questioned undertook DIY projects that were more challenging than expected.
The same 40% of those surveyed said they were more expensive than expected and nearly 80% faced a minor or major mistake during their DIY projects.
So it DIY worth it? And can you really complete the project as you had envisioned?
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Reasons to do DIY on your home
The motivation behind doing a DIY project differs from person to person, as revealed in the Angi survey.
Homeowners said the top reason for choosing to DIY was to save money with 62% of the respondents having that as the main reason.
Beyond savings, the other top reasons included spare time or were bored (56%), thought it would be fun (52%) or wanted to learn a new skill (47%).
Homeowners were also inspired by social media (39%) and DIY TV shows (45%), while 24% chose DIY over hiring a professional to do the job for them.
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What can go wrong when doing DIY?
Nearly 80% of homeowners experienced a minor or major mistake during their DIY projects.
The most common minor mistakes were doing something wrong and having to re-do it (44%), spilling paint (39%), breaking something and having to repair/replace it (37%).
Using the wrong tool came in at 33%, while making a huge mess was 30%, and either kids or pets getting in the way, minor injury or ordering the wrong materials all surveyed 29% each.
Major mistakes were a bit more costly for over a quarter of homeowners (27%).
Top disasters include expensive damage (52%), breaking something valuable or sentimental (48%), serious injury or finishing and realising it was done wrong (47% each).
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Starting a fire or falling off a roof or tall ladder polled 44% each, while someone being electrocuted was at 41%.
“DIY can be great for having fun, spending time with family and learning new skills, but be thoughtful about the types of projects you choose,” says Bailey Carson, a Home Care Expert and Head of Book Now at Angi.
“People found DIY projects more time consuming, more expensive and more challenging than they expected, and more often than not, they made mistakes.
“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, but for more complex projects, don’t let your pride get in the way and call a pro to get it done right.
“It’s important to think about why you want to DIY and what you’re hoping to get out of it before committing to a big project.
“If you’re doing it just to save money, you might want to reconsider. Without the time, tools, and talent to do it properly and safely, mistakes may cost you more in the long run than simply having a pro come in to help from the beginning.”
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Should you hire professional rather than DIY?
DIY doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach with 93% of the homeowners surveyed also hiring professionals for at least one project to back up their own handywork.
For every type of home project, from interior to exterior and landscaping to remodels, more people relied on a mixture of hiring experts and DIY with the number one reason “to make sure the work was done right”.
Is DIY worth it? Only you can decide whether the whole task is without your grasp or if you need help from experts in the field.