DIY vs Expert

Is this a project you want to take on yourself or would it be better going down the professional route? The main factors that will determine your choice is money, time and knowledge. 

DIY 

PROS
  • Cost - Most of your costs will go towards material so a lot of money will be saved if you understand which materials are needed and how to complete a project to the right standard.
  • Satisfaction - Completing your home improvements yourself can give you a great sense of accomplishment.
  • Control - If you want something done right, do it yourself. The expression works to an extent because you'll have ultimate control over the outcome and won't have to deal with the frustration of others not following your plans. 
 CONS
  • ​Safety - Some projects can cause serious injuries to yourself or damage your home further. Without proper expertise, it's not recommended approaching electrical lines or natural gas pipes.
  • Time - Carrying out your own improvements is going to take up a lot of your spare time, especially if you are taking it on alone. Also, the tasks tend to take longer than it would for an expert due to lack of knowledge and experience. 

Tips

​Here are some quick tips to help you with your DIY projects:
Copper Wire Flash Stand
Have you run out of hands and can't finish a task in the dark, as there is nowhere to place and hold a flash light?

​Well, have no fear, copper wire stand is here. Setting up this man-made stand is simple. Just use a coil 12-gauge copper wire around the barrel of your flash-light and twist the rest into a base. Now you no longer have to acquire an extra arm.  
Dry Up Paint
Good quality paint isn't cheap, so why not use every last drop? To avoid paint around the rim drying up punch holes in a paint-can, rim with a 4d finish nail. This will allow the paint around the rim to drain back into the can.
Sandbags
An effective way to deal with gluing down annoying shapes, such as veneers on uneven services, is to use sandbags.
Hammer Shelf
When working on higher levels and you have no where to put down your hammer use a C clamp. Tighten the C clamp onto a ladder rail and you'll have your own hammer holder. 

Cheap Double Glazing

EXPERT

PROS
  • ​Less Stress - Knowing the jobs are being completed properly by an expert sometimes eases the burden and worry of renovations, especially if you have a busy schedule with your daily responsibilities.
  • Better Deals - Experts usually build good relationships with their suppliers and as a result can get better deals when acquiring materials. 
  • More Options - Doing your renovations on your own can limit how much you can do based on your expertise. An expert may be able to achieve a higher standard and give better suggestions. 
  • Permission - Hiring a professional architect or a planning specialist can help you get planning permission when you would otherwise struggle.
CONS
  • Cost - Hiring experts is a costly service on top of materials.
  • Cowboys - Unfortunately, those who will deceive many home owners out of their hard-earned money, charging too much or not completing a project causes more incurred costs later. 
  • Crowding - Having several experts working endlessly in your home throughout the day can become slightly disruptive. This can be impacted more so if you have at least 3 extra people working in your home, resulting in noise and over-crowding. 

Finding The Right Builder

Ask around and look into successful renovations you friends and neighbours have undertaken. See how highly they'd recommend their builders and get various quotes to get the best deal.

TustMark is a not-for-profit government-backed scheme. On the website, you simply put in your postcode and say what sort of trader you want. The database is then searched within 50 miles of your postcode and it comes up with a list of trader contacts in order of those closest to you.

Your builder will be spending a lot of time in your home, therefore it should be someone you feel comfortable with. Good communication and a professional relationship is very important if you want the project to run smoothly. Reputable builders will always want to do their best work for you from the very start.

The JCT is an independent body that has produced a standard contract for use between you and the builder. This is a robust legal document that avoids technical and legal jargon.