Substandard DIY home improvements can lead to serious financial, legal, safety, and failure to sell consequences. Learn when to call a pro to spare your nerves, money and time.

Facing the Facts – DIY can Result in a Do Not Buy!

Whenever a buyer is hunting for a home, real estate experts will tell them that there are certain things to absolutely avoid. One of the very top things to steer clear of is the unpermitted or DIY (do-it-yourself) bathroom, kitchen, or other “home improvement” project discovered in a listing. In fact, most experts will tell a home buyer to run – not walk – away from such a listing because it’s likely to turn into a high cost problem for anyone who might take on the risk of purchasing such a home.

Although many videos, books, and social media posts tell you how easy it is to remodel a small bathroom or upgrade a kitchen, a DIY home project is NOT what most home buyers care to encounter when looking for a home to purchase.

And the harsh reality is this: if you fail to get a needed permit, or you do a substandard DIY home improvement, you can face serious financial, legal, and safety consequences. These consequences will far outweigh any initial savings that might have been gained by doing the work yourself to avoid paying for the expertise, craftsmanship, and project management skills of an actively licensed and insured construction professional.

The most commonly unpermitted living spaces tend to include attic or garage conversions, finished basements, or added bedrooms, bathrooms, and sunrooms. Well-intentioned homeowners falsely believe that these added living spaces and extra square footage will contribute value, when the opposite is the actual case. This is because it is all too easy to spot the DIY or unpermitted project given the many “tells.” Poor paint jobs, rough or nonuniform cuts around outlets and trim, uneven floors, sloppy caulking, or anything noticeably NOT to modern industry standards becomes an obvious red flag to a prospective buyer!

And the problem is that when a prospective buyer and their real estate agent can spot any obviously inexpert or poor craftsmanship on the surface, far greater (and far more costly) problems are likely lurking below the visible.

A number of industry reports and surveys provide an understanding of the prevalence of DIY and unpermitted fails and the ensuing need for professional help and properly permitted construction. Among DIYers, project failures and high rates of regret are more common than not, with nearly two-thirds out of a survey of 2000 saying they regretted at least 1 DIY project, another 44% reporting that they had to completely redo their project, and 30% lamenting that their DIY failed to turn out as expected.

The most common failures of DIY and unpermitted work were the consequence of disasters with plumbing, serious electrical mistakes (leading to electrical fires or overloaded circuits), and issues with structural and water damage necessitating professional remediation. Inadequate window and door installations, neglecting to address underlying water intrusion problems, and the mishandling of flooring or tiling jobs all ultimately led to the hiring of a licensed construction professional to appropriately address the myriad of problems.

Contractor Intervention Saves Nerves, Money, and Time to Completion

Unfortunately, many homeowners discover that when a DIY or unpermitted project mistake necessitates a “fix” by a licensed professional, it typically ends up costing far more than if the homeowner had simply hired a contractor at the start of the project.

While DIY videos, books, and social media posts can make it look easy, the reality is that any home repair or improvement project involving carpentry, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems DOES require a level of expertise. When this level of expertise is lacking in the DIYer, this can lead to both extremely dangerous and costly errors.

Unlike DIYers, construction professionals possess the critical skills needed to identify root causes of complex problems. This spares homeowners from making the fatal mistake of simply applying a surface-level fix while the underlying problem continues to fester or worsen. Lastly, whenever a building permit is needed, a full-service general is the only type of contractor who can help you design and develop the plan, pull the permit to ensure compliance with your local building codes, and efficiently manage the entire construction project from start-to-completion.

Without the proper expertise, attempting any project involving structural changes, or complex electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems can prove both dangerous and costly when mistakes are made, can place your home’s structural integrity at risk, and will often void your home warranty and/or insurance policy. And when you lack the necessary tools, are uncertain about the construction process, or are short on time, not using a professional is just a very ill-conceived idea typically resulting in a case of penny wise and pound foolish!

For Projects Requiring Permits and Expert Knowledge: Call Ed Neir Construction

Ed Neir, an actively licensed, insured, BBB A+ rated general contractor, can help you design, plan, and efficiently manage your home project from start to finish, pulling permits that pass inspection, and ensuring your home repairs, remodel, and reimagined spaces will be affordably and masterfully completed on time and to exacting industry standards. For a free consultation, call or text 707-999-5878 today!

Ed Neir, General Contractor
License #: 928715