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F I N A N C I A L F I T N E S S
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DIY DOs
If you're determined to do it yourself, Lipford recommends
these easy projects that offer immediate results:
• Laminate flooring. There is a whole DIY-friendly category
of floors that are easy to install and that will look great
when finished.
• Insulation. Adding unfaced insulation to your attic is an
immediate money saver in summer or winter.
• Hardware replacement. Cabinet knobs, doorknobs
and hinges really spruce things up and can be done in
stages as you have time.
• Painting. Adding color to a wall can completely change
the look of a room.
•
H
iring a contractor can be pricey, so it's logi-
cal to try to save money by doing a home
improvement project yourself.
But before you do, take the advice of Dan-
ny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated
television show "Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford,"
and ask yourself these three questions: Do I have the time?
Do I have the skill? Do I have the patience?
LOOK TO THE PROS
Drywall and ceramic tile are two common projects that
people often take on and live to regret. Although both
seem relatively straightforward, Lipford says you need to
have some experience under your belt to get consistent
and uniform results.
"Even if you do your best and take your time, there will
often be flaws in the finished product," says Lipford. "Many
people can live with [the flaws], but a lot of people regret
that they didn't hire someone."
In addition to your skill level, you need to think about how
much free time you actually have to work on a project—
especially a big one that can expose your home to the
elements or that may make part of your home unusable.
"If you have an eight-hour project and a full day to do it,
that's great. But if you have to do it in two-hour increments,
it draws the process out too much, especially when you
factor in setup and cleanup," says Lipford.
Home
The best of both worlds
improvement:
How to know when it's time to call in a pro
A hybrid project helps you save money while putting skilled labor
where it's needed: You do the part of the job that doesn't require
any specialized skills, and a professional takes on the parts that
need more experience.
"This is becoming more common," says home improvement
expert Danny Lipford. "It's the best of both worlds, because the
contractor can do things like plumbing and drywall and installa-
tion, leaving you to do the trim, fooring, painting and cleanup. Or
the landscaper can do the excavation and terracing, while you do
the planting and stone work. You can come up with a hybrid plan
for almost any project."