Do-it-yourself home improvement projects can be incredibly fulfilling and beneficial for homeowners. But while saving a few pennies and increasing the market value of your home, it can also lead to a large amount of stress if not tackled in the right way. If you’re thinking about starting a new project, here are ManoMano’s seven smart tips for a stress-free DIY renovation.
- Be Confident
Studies show that we are feeling less and less confident in doing DIY around the house. We often consider ourselves inexperienced in comparison to older generations, but before choosing the ‘do-it-for-me’ professional route, ask yourself: can I do the job? Assess the difficulty of the project against your manual abilities. If you are not confident in doing it all yourself, do you have friends who could help you?
You will often find that many home improvement and renovation jobs turn out to be manageable and stress-free DIY projects once deciphered and broken down. It will not only make you feel proud of your handiwork but could also save you a considerable amount of money.
- Plan and Prepare
Undoubtedly one of the most important stages in a do-it-yourself renovation project is the research and planning phase. There may be more than one way of tackling a project so you should decide which way is best suited to your circumstances. Certain projects may require planning permission, or may not be feasible in your home. Work with what you have and spend time looking for inspiration.
If you are undertaking a large, long-term renovation project, you may have to factor in an alternative living situation. It goes without saying that this should be planned well in advance and should cover the duration of the project. Moving around while renovating will cause unnecessary stress and distract you from the job at hand.
How long will this project really take you? It doesn’t hurt getting an estimate from a professional to give you a rough idea. Often, much of the stress experienced during DIY home renovations stems from a lack of realism. Always factor in extra time, as delays are usually inevitable—this will lead to a stress-free DIY renovation.
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- Set Your Project Budget
You should be realistic with your budget. Take a notebook and list down all the materials and tools with their prices to ensure that this project is within your budget. It is advisable to have 10 percent put aside for unplanned expenses so that you’re not caught short. Remember that not everything you buy will be cheaper than what you would pay a builder. Often tradespeople have special deals from suppliers so this should be factored into your cost decisions if you have previously consulted a professional.
- Break Down Your Project
Rome wasn’t built in a day. One of the most useful smart tips for a stress-free DIY renovation is to break down any big home improvement projects into smaller, manageable projects, especially when you’re going at it alone. Make a checklist of these smaller projects and feel good about ticking them off, rather than feeling discouraged by an unfinished, mammoth task.
- Use YouTube
Many reasons for not doing DIY at home come down to a perceived lack of skills. However, the Internet is practically made up of how-to videos and tutorials. YouTube has instructional videos on just about anything you could ever imagine. Before throwing in the towel, watch a couple of videos and you’ll soon see that a seemingly complicated project is easy when broken down into a step-by-step guide! The same applies to finding tools; there are many unboxing and product review videos on YouTube that give invaluable smart tips into their usage and quality.
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- Buy Quality Tools
Although initially cheaper, buying any old equipment can be a false economy. The ‘Best Price’ drill may seem great when you test it on plywood, but may be very slow on harder surfaces. Discovering that your tools all break two weeks into your renovation will undoubtedly be a factor of stress and frustration.
When buying your tools and materials, take the time to read customer reviews. They reveal much more detail than simply looking at the product description, and they can be a very good indicator of the price, brand, quality, and durability. If you’re looking to reduce costs, we recommend investing in decent, multi-purpose tools to save money and reduce stress in the long run, for all your DIY projects.
- Take Before and After Photos
Motivation is a great remedy to stress. If you’re enjoying your home improvement projects, they won’t seem like a stressful chore. Remember to take before and after photos to boost your morale during the tougher times. If you have time, why not note down progression in a blog? After all, nothing feels better than seeing your plans come to life and knowing that you did it yourself.
Our thanks to ManoMano for their assistance with this article. ManoMano is a marketplace for high quality DIY, renovation and gardening tools and products. With more than 185,000 products and a customer-focused forum for DIY enthusiasts, it is no surprise they are perceived as the first port of call for a variety of home renovation needs. To find out more visit their website: manomano.co.uk/
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