If you are a homeowner, you’ve probably debated hiring a professional for home repairs or putting your handyman skills to use. In what situations should you do repairs yourself, and what are the advantages of hiring a skilled professional?
When to Hire a Professional for Home Repairs
There are several instances or situations where hiring a professional is the recommended choice, even if you have a bit of time in your hands and home tools for the job. Here are some of them:
Potentially hazardous/Dangerous Repair jobs
You may fancy your skills as a DIY handyman, but jobs such as roof repair, replacing gutters, and replacing broken windows are best left to skilled professionals. These jobs are dangerous and require some skill and care to do safely.
At the same time, professionals usually have special personal protective equipment and undergo safety training regularly. All handymen in the United States must be trained and protected in the workplace under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforces.
Take a seemingly simple repair job like repairing a broken window pane or tempered glass in your home. While tempered glass is safe even for kids and pets because it does not shatter, you may not have the necessary tools to cut, remove, and replace the glass safely. You may even end up doing more damage to the window.
You can easily find a maintenance specialist online. For instance, if you type window repair Grand Rapids-based, you will probably get a local professional maintenance specialist to do the job for you. Professional local repair companies use affordable search engine optimization tools to help their listings or company websites rank on local searches so you will find them quite easily on page one.
Where Work at Height Is Involved
Work at height is closely linked to the previous point regarding safety while doing home repairs. However, it requires special mention because of the risks involved and the consequences of working at height without permits.
For repair jobs that need you to work at height, like replacing tiles, it is recommended that you get a professional repairer or at least have someone help you. Some states and councils have laws and ordinances requiring special permits for work at height. If you are working in a location above a level where a person may fall and be injured, you are deemed to be “working at height.”
Besides permits and safety standards, you probably may not have the necessary fall protection training and equipment as required by the OSHA work-at-height guidelines for employers. On the other hand, professional maintenance specialists undergo work at height training.
Quality of Repairs Impact your Home’s Value
The quality of repairs done on your home will affect the value of your home. Home valuers like to check areas where repairs have been done and will be quick to notice minor imperfections. You may think you are saving money doing DIY repairs, but you are losing money in the long run.
The difference between a professional repairman and DIY is usually black and white, depending on the job. The DIY route is probably easier and cheaper for minor repairs such as replacing a door handle. More complex and dangerous jobs are best left to the pros.
