7 Common DIY Mistakes (3)

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

19 Oct 2007 01:43 PM

Doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional just might cost you money in the long run. This is especially true if you plan on selling your home in the future. We have been talking about the most common do it yourself mistakes and how to avoid them. We are now up the the third mistake, and it could be one of the most costly ones. What is it? Read below.

The mistake we are going to talk about today is equating the dollar amount you spend with the value of the remodel or repair. You can spend thousands of dollars on a project and see little return for your money. Or you can spend the same amount and make a profit.

There are a couple of pitfalls that are laying in wait when you talk about dollar amounts versus value. One is expensive materials and poor design, while the other is expensive materials that don't appeal.

Let's take a look at the first situation. As most people know, kitchen and bathroom remodels can really add to the value of your home, not to mention your comfort. Many people attack these areas first when they move into a home or when they flip a home. You can easily spend $30,000 to $60,000 on a kitchen, and you might expect the value of your home to increase by that amount or more. But a poorly designed kitchen that has poor flow or does not match the style of the rest of the home won't get a big return on your investment of money and time. Consider hiring a professional architect or designer before you begin. Even if you would like to design the space yourself, he or she could point out flaws and give you options you might not have thought about.

With expensive materials that don't appeal, I'm talking about using items that are too trendy or too narrow in their design. You know how so many kitchen need updating to granite countertops these days? Well in the fifties, laminate countertops in yellow were all the range, along with those avocado appliances. Tastes change, so try to use materials that are classic. That imported sink might be gorgeous, but will the average home buyer appreciate it?

Next up: How the next mistake is easy to correct.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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7 Common DIY Mistakes (1)

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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