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What Home Projects Should You Do Yourself?

 DIY

What Home Projects Should You Do Yourself?

By: Oliver Marks

Published: March 8, 2011

Doing maintenance jobs yourself can be a smart way to save money, but choose the right DIY projects or you'll end up paying dearly.

Why pay someone to do something you can do yourself? Because sometimes doing it yourself costs more than it saves.

More than 100,000 people injure themselves each year doing home improvement jobs. So add medical bills to your DIY budget, and you ending up spending the same, or more, than if you hired a pro.

We’re not suggesting that you call a plumber each time you need to plunge a toilet. But think twice about what DIY might really cost you. Here’s how to decide.

Stick to routine maintenance for savings and safety

Seasonal home maintenance is ideal work for the weekend warrior because you can tackle these jobs when your schedule permits. Because these are routine maintenance projects, your savings will add up. Mowing your own lawn, for example, saves $55 to $65 a week for a half-acre lawn. The bigger the lot, the bigger the savings: with two acres, you’ll pocket around $150 per week.

When it pays:

  • Snow removal
  • Pruning shrubs
  • Washing windows (be careful on that ladder)
  • Sealing decks
  • Painting fences
  • Fertilizing lawns
  • Replacing air conditioner filters
  • Cleaning gutters

When it costs: Unless you have skill and experience on your side, stay off any ladder taller than six feet; according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency rooms are filled with people with ladder injuries. The same goes for operating power saws or attempting any major electrical work—it’s simply too risky if you don’t have the experience.

Become your own general contractor

If you’re more comfortable operating an iPhone than a circular saw, you could act as your own general contractor on some home improvement projects. That means you hire, schedule, and pay the carpenters, plumbers, and other tradesmen yourself. You’ll save 10% to 20% of the job cost, which is the contractor’s typical fee.

When it pays: If it’s a small job that requires only two or three subcontractors, and you have good relationships with top-quality professionals in those fields, consider DIY contracting.

When it costs: When you don’t have an established network of reliable workers, time to supervise, construction experience to spot problems, and the skill to negotiate disputes between subcontractors, your project and budget are at risk.

Invest sweat equity on big jobs

Contribute your own labor to big jobs being handled by a professional crew and cut hundreds, even thousands, off construction costs. For instance, tear out kitchen cabinets and appliances before the contractor gets started, and you might knock $800 off the cost of your remodel. Make sure you negotiate cost savings with your contractor before pitching in.

When it pays: Jobs that are labor-intensive but require relatively little skill make perfect sweat equity jobs. Perform minor interior demolition, such as pulling up old flooring, daily job site cleanup, product assembly, and simple landscaping.

When it costs: If you get in the crew’s way, you may slow them down far more than you help. Make your contributions when the workers aren’t around; mornings before they arrive, or nights and weekends after they’ve left.

Add finishing touches

Unlike the early phases of a construction job--which require skilled labor to frame walls, install plumbing pipes, and run wires--many finishing touches are comparatively simple and DIY-friendly. If you paint a basement remodel yourself, for instance, you can save up to $1,800.

When it pays: If you have skill, patience, or an experienced friend to teach you, setting tile, laying flooring, painting walls, and installing trim are good DIY jobs.

When it costs: The downside to attempting your own finish work is that the results are very visible. Hammer dents in woodwork, or sander ruts in hardwood floors will annoy you every time you see them. So unless you have a sure eye and a steady hand, don’t perform the tasks that only a skilled tradesperson will get right.

Find your next home with me! Text LKHOMES to 87778 or visit http://87778.mobi/LKHOMES for your FREE search.
Laura Key, CalBRELic #0198085
www.KeyCaliforniaHomes.com

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Buying a HUD Home is not as difficult as you may think! I have helped many people purchase their 1st Home from HUD! Call me today for more details about the process! Laura.A.Key@gmail.com or Visit my website to sign up for FREE HUD Listings! http://www.KeyCaliforniaHomes.com

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If the bid price is less than $50,000, you’re required to make an earnest money deposit of $500. HUD homes priced greater than $50,000 require a $1000 deposit.

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Now because of tight lending practices, new buyers would take so long to qualify, it is often “too little, too late” to close escrow before foreclosure.  When that happens it seems everybody loses. The lenders lost a willing & able buyer and the seller because, now, not only did they lose their home to a foreclosure, but also because a foreclosure was now on their credit report instead of a short sale. (It may be better to have a short sale than a foreclosure on a credit report?) Plus, the buyer may or may not wait until the home came back on the market at a later date.

Source:  http://realtyworld-sierraproperties.com by Douglas Zeller

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Life Changes, Real Estate Laura Key Life Changes, Real Estate Laura Key

The Realty Goddess is Moving from Denver to Los Angeles

Just a few short weeks ago I was very content and happy in Denver.  Business is good, family is well, life is....well...LIFE! Then out of the blue "change" hit me.  There are many reasons for my move to Los Angeles.  I am going to miss Denver very much as well as all of my clients. (I will not leave you without guided hands! - more to come) As I reflect upon this change, I see it as a wonderful adventure.  Most of you know I am just a little ole' country girl from Prospect Kentucky with an accent to match.  When we moved to Denver in 2000 I thought I would never get use to the "big city".  At the time "T-REX I-25" project was starting and the traffic scared me half to death!  Somehow as  time moved on things got better.  I worked as a secretary in Genesee for about five years then "change" hit me hard and I decided to become a Realtor.  That change was one for the better.  I love people and that makes my job a perfect fit for me.  Even though I got in when the "bottom" started to sink, I survived!  I have been in the business for five years and out of about 12 people who started with me at the Real Estate School, I am the only one left in the business.  I am pretty proud of that! I have made many wonderful memories here in Denver.  One's I can share with my grandchildren one day, but now it's time to move on. Los Angeles is going to be such a huge change for me.  I am currently packing, working, and studying for my California real estate license.  Change can be good.  I look forward to running with the big dogs....only I will be running in heels! (wink)  There are some things I am a bit afraid of, but what is life for if you don't face fears and grow?  I'm ready for the challenge and I plan to take the lessons learned here in Denver and put them to wonderful use there.

I have picked which office I will align myself with.  More on that to come!  But for now I want you to share my journey, join me on this new path and watch me grow.

I want to say "THANK YOU" to all my clients, friends and mentors. As I reflect over the past 10 years, I see I have made WONDERFUL friends in all of you! Your support has been so fabulous and I am forever grateful!

So here we go...just a few more weeks of packing, renting the house, finishing business and studying....then this Realty Goddess is going to join the City of Angels!

Share my world!

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