DIY vs hiring a tradie

Renovating your home is a fantastic way to build equity and advance your financial situation.

While it might seem cheaper and easier to just do it yourself (DIY), there are some things you will need to hire a tradie or professional for.

If you think you’re out of your depth or just don’t have the time, you may want to consider hiring a tradie. Generally, it’s advised to hire a tradie or professional for any electrical, plumbing or structural renovations at home.

Here’s some things to consider before starting a renovation so that you get the most bang for your buck.

DIY

Watch DIY videos and workshops

Whether you’re a champion chippy or a renovation rookie – knowing when and what to DIY is your first step. If you’re new to the reno game – know your limits. You can learn a lot about home renovations by watching videos online or by attending DIY workshops. Bunnings Warehouse has a great range of DIY projects for you to try.

Gather helpers

Another way to save some cash is to ask your family and friends to give you a hand. Simple tasks including painting, building a fence, cleaning or even landscaping can save you a lot of time and money.

Tradie

Word of mouth

Asking friends, family or colleagues to recommend someone can help you find a great tradie. If you’re going in blind, online tools like google, service seeking and other home improvement platforms can provide a list of all the tradies available for your job. You’ll be able to see reviews, costs and qualifications.

Job completed correctly

There are many benefits to hiring a tradie or professional to do the work for you, because if you don’t know what you are doing it could cost you in the long run.

When hiring a tradie, you will be able to negotiate the cost of the project and know the total cost upfront. You will also have peace of mind knowing the work will be completed correctly the first time and quickly. Always confirm the work they’ll be doing and check it before they leave.

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.