| The Do-it-yourself industry continues to expand as our | | | | Utilize your resources if you are not sure. Talk to |
| economy and over-all spending decreases. It makes | | | | someone in the project appropriate store, website, or |
| sense when we need to tighten our belts, to consider | | | | manufacturer's customer service department. |
| doing things ourselves rather than outsourcing them. | | | | WHAT YOU HAVE |
| On the other hand, the DIY industry is here to stay; | | | | Once you know what you are going to need, make an |
| plenty of do-it-your-selfers simply enjoy the hands on | | | | assessment of what you have. The tools required |
| experience, gaining new skills, and knowing that they | | | | may actually trump any considerations you may have |
| have done the work themselves. Either way, to ensure | | | | about the feasibility of considering this a do-it-yourself |
| that your investment of time, money and energy is well | | | | project. |
| spent, here are some things to consider in determining | | | | Hold on, there may be some additional options. Can |
| if this is in fact a "do-it-yourself" project. | | | | you rent what is needed? Your answer is as close as |
| The first step in any home improvement project is | | | | a couple of phone calls. Cost may not be the biggest |
| ALWAYS to research the scope of your project and | | | | consideration, do you have space for an electric floor |
| exhaust your resources, learn as much as you can | | | | sander and do you anticipate that you will EVER have |
| about what you are attempting to do. What are your | | | | another use for it? There may be other reasons why |
| options? There may be significant cost implications for | | | | you might opt to rent rather than buy. |
| tools and equipment required for your project at hand. | | | | Perhaps the numbers don't work for this particular |
| Before you get started, a reality check is in order. | | | | project to rent or buy. Is this a capital investment that |
| WHAT YOU NEED | | | | will be realized over time? What is the possibility that |
| You have done the research; you understand what | | | | you might need this for another project and the cost |
| needs to be done, now, what you are going to need? | | | | value will be realized over time? |
| It is comical sometimes to see the lengths that a | | | | After the fourth project that required the use of a |
| manufacturer goes to spelling out on the outside of the | | | | mini-excavator and thousands of dollars in rental fees |
| box EXACTLY what tools you are going to need, | | | | we took a look at our forecast of projects and the |
| down to the box cutter to get to the product! | | | | probability of need. The prudent choice was, in this |
| Conversely, standing at the top of a ladder, tool belt | | | | case, buying an expensive piece of equipment that |
| secured, gloves and hard hat in place, your reach for | | | | given the scope of one project certainly didn't make |
| the clips to hold the window that you have just fitted | | | | sense. |
| into place only to realize that you overlooked a | | | | You might want to consider utilizing a sub-contractor |
| requirement for installation of this product. Worse, once | | | | for certain portions of a project. Beyond realizing you |
| you climb down off the ladder, bringing your window | | | | need a mini-excavator, you may or may not have any |
| back down with you, it is determined that you need a | | | | interest in operating one or finding a palace to store it! |
| special clip that is going to take two weeks to get. This | | | | It cannot be over emphasized that the time spent |
| is an exaggeration, but the reality is, it happens...even | | | | doing the research, utilizing your resources and |
| with seasoned professionals. | | | | understanding the various facets required to make a |
| Frankly, sometimes you do really need the | | | | truly informed decision pays for itself over and over |
| manufacturer's suggested tool or "clip" of choice. Make | | | | again. |
| sure you are making an "informed" decision and know | | | | Whether you need to pick up the phone and put down |
| that there is room for interpretation. Do you actually | | | | the hammer or vice versa, you have what it takes |
| have something in your tool box that would work just | | | | here to make an informed decision ensuring that your |
| as well as a box cutter? Probably, and realize this is a | | | | investment of time, money and energy is well spent. |
| simplification of what you might need to consider, | | | | You can't afford not to take the time for a reality |
| understand the essence of what I am saying here. | | | | check. |