Both professionals are skilled in their own right, but understanding their roles and capabilities can help you make the right choice for your specific needs. 

Read on to learn if you should hire a handyman or a plumber for your project.

How are handymen and plumbers different?

Before deciding if to hire a handyman or a plumber, you need to understand the difference between the two.

A qualified handyman is a versatile jack-of-all-trades. These professionals are skilled and experienced in a wide range of home maintenance, improvement, and repair projects. In Indiana, there are no licensing requirements for handymen or general contractors, but many are experienced in these types of jobs and are bonded and fully insured.

A plumber is a specialized professional who deals primarily with everything related to your home’s water supply and drainage systems. They have in-depth knowledge of plumbing systems and are licensed to perform more complex tasks.

Who should you hire for your project?

Due to their differing skill sets, handymen and plumbers are best suited for different projects. 

Handymen are perfect for smaller projects and general maintenance tasks— including appliance and fixture repairs and installation. They can also handle minor plumbing issues like fixing a dripping faucet. Oftentimes, hiring a handyman is a more affordable and faster option when compared to plumbers—making them ideal for these smaller plumbing jobs. 

Plumbers’ licensing and specific experience allow them to handle bigger plumbing projects. They are the best professionals for complex plumbing-related issues that involve your home’s water supply and drainage systems such as pipe leaks, sewer problems, or water heater repairs.

When it comes time to hire a handyman or a plumber, understanding their areas of expertise can help you make an informed decision. By choosing the right professional for the job, you can ensure that your home is in good hands and that your projects are completed efficiently and effectively.

Home Care & Repair’s professional handyman services keep you in control of your small home improvements and repair projects and provide a worry-free experience when it comes to quality workmanship, fair pricing, and your safety. To learn more, please visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Via: www.homecareandrepair.com

Pro: It Might Be Cheaper to DIY

Cost is probably one of the first things that come to mind when considering whether or not to do a home renovation on your own. It is true that hiring contractors to do the labor of the renovation may cost you more. However, if you aren’t experienced in home renovation, DIY might end up costing you more in total.

How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost?

On average, labor costs are $15 to $60 per square footage for a house in the United States to renovate a home. The total cost depends on the scale and nature of the project. You won’t have to worry about labor costs if you choose to DIY. A DIY renovation costs around $10,000 on average, as compared to $30,000 – $100,000 for hiring a professional.

Pro: You Can Complete the Project on Your Own Schedule

One pro of doing a home renovation by yourself is that you can work at a pace that best works for you, at whatever time is convenient for you. Doing the project on your own means you get started whenever you want to, without waiting until a contractor has the time to undertake your home renovation.

Con: There Could Be Hidden Costs

While it may seem like a DIY is cheaper upfront, there could be many hidden costs associated with doing a home renovation on your own. Depending on your project, you might need to buy more tools, which a professional would already have. Additionally, if you’re not experienced, you might make a mistake that would cost you to repair. You might ultimately need to hire a professional in the end anyway, at which point it would cost more because they would need to correct any problems.

What Tools Do You Need for a DIY Home Renovation?

If you decide to renovate a home on your own, you will need to make sure you have the proper tools and equipment to get the job done. Some of the tools that you should consider if you’d like to try a DIY home renovation are:

• Wrench
• Plastic drop cloth
• N95 Mask
• Firm grip gloves
• Rotary hammer
• Cordless saw
• Ladder
• Screwdriver
• Hammer

Con: It May Take You Longer Than a Professional Would

While you can work on your own schedule with a DIY project, it also can be a big time commitment. This commitment doesn’t just involve the work itself at home, but the research, equipment shopping, YouTube tutorials, and more. Unless you’ve done many home renovations before, there will inevitably be a learning curve that takes much of your time and energy.

How Long Does a DIY Home Renovation Take?

How long a home renovation takes depends on the project, but on average, it could take around 16 hours a week stretched over 5 or 6 weeks. If you have other commitments in your life with work or family, that timeline could be even longer. Hiring a professional could end up saving you a lot of time.

A DIY Home Renovation May Not Be High Quality

The saying “you get what you pay for” applies to home renovations, too. You might save money on doing it yourself, but at the same time, unless you’re a highly skilled renovator yourself, your DIY project might not be as good as what a contractor could do for you. Consider your own skills when you’re deciding between DIY and hiring a professional.

Via: www.smithhandymanservice.com