The DIY trend has been all the rage among homeowners for the last few years, and for good reason. With homeowners recovering from the Great Recession and many Americans burdened by student loan debt, DIY projects helped homeowners save money.
But the DIY trend is beginning to come to an end. Instead of doing things themselves, many Americans (especially those under 40) are beginning to shift toward DIFM, or “do it for me.”
The reasons behind the growing DIFM trend is very similar to the reasons behind DIY: it saves money. Certain DIY projects can be dangerous when done poorly and end up costing homeowners more in the long run. What’s more, younger homeowners don’t have as much time to DIY home projects like they used to. Many millennial and Gen Z Americans are working two to three jobs to keep up with student loan debt, credit card debt, and housing costs.
But leaving the DIY trend behind isn’t a bad thing.
Below, we’re going to examine why DIFM may be a better approach to take with certain home improvements or repairs, and how you can shift your approach from DIY to DIFM without missing a beat.
What kinds of projects should be left to the professionals?
Some home improvement projects never should have been handled with a DIY approach. It’s one thing to paint your own dining room. It’s another to repair your plumbing or clean your septic tank by yourself.
Theoretically speaking, these tanks and their equipment are cleaned through four principles, including chemicals, time, temperature, and mechanics. The fact is that if a plumbing issue is not handled by professionals, you could easily end up with a great deal of damage to your home.
In fact, around 8% of consumers reported that they caused damage to their homes through their DIY home improvement attempts. Even more distressingly, 6% confirmed that they also suffered some kind of bodily injury in the process. This is particularly possible when you’re dealing with hardware problems, as opposed to crafty home improvement projects. Nonetheless, even if you’re dealing with less risky home improvement projects, you should still consider the DIFM approach.
What are the advantages of having home improvement projects handled professionally?
There are several advantages to having home improvement projects handled by professionals. For one thing, it’s more convenient for you as a homeowner. Home improvement projects are time-consuming, which is difficult to handle if you’re working. Rather than taking time away from your other commitments, you can trust the professionals to take care of the work for you, which will also lead to the project being finished in a more efficient time frame.
There is also more value in investing in the work of professionals. While you can potentially handle your own interior design improvements, chances are that you will end up investing more than it’s worth. Whereas if you pay an expert, you’ll have the best possible results, and the return on your investment will be much higher.
Just as your employer would pay a professional to handle their company’s IT needs, so too should you consider working with the pros when having your home improvements accomplished. Investments aside, you will also be much happier with the work of a professional in all likelihood.
How can I find professionals to handle my home improvement projects?
It can be difficult for homeowners to find companies that they can trust with their improvements and repairs. This is especially true for those who in the past have relied upon the DIY approach and are unfamiliar with what their area has to offer.
It’s important to remember that a good deal isn’t always a good deal. If one company is dramatically less expensive than the competition, you could very well end up with poorly done work.
The first thing you should do when choosing a professional to handle your home improvement project is to look online for reviews. We all rely on online reviews to begin our search for everything from products to services.
An estimated 91% of consumers rely so heavily on online reviews that they can’t remember the last time they made a purchase or chose a company without going online to read reviews first.
Of course, it’s important to read a good amount of reviews before making a final decision. Usually, there will be something of a consensus among reviews, despite a few standouts.
You may be tempted to stick with the DIY approach, despite the clear advantages offered by DIFM. However, if you consider your home a long-term investment, you should treat it as such.
There’s a reason why many people have their car repairs taken care of by professionals unless they themselves have professional-level auto repair skills. Think of your home in the same sense, and choose wisely when working with the pros.
