Should You DIY or Hire a Professional?

If you’re frugal like me, you’re constantly trying to DIY (do it yourself) everything in an effort to save as much money as possible. But where and when do you draw the line? Sure on one hand you’re saving cash while also increasing your knowledge and skill set. However, isn’t time more valuable than money?

So…do you find yourself frequently debating whether you should DIY or hire a pro for your next project? In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each option so you can make the most informed decision for your needs.

The Pros and Cons of DIY

It certainly gets expensive if you’re always paying for professional help. On the flip side, can you really DIY everything? Folks with different income levels, goals, skill level, and expenditures will likely differ on which route they take when it comes to various DIY versus outsourcing situations.

While there is no silver bullet right answer, there are things to consider in order to make better decisions. Below are some pros and cons of DIY.

Pros of DIY:

Save money – This is the most obvious and No. 1 benefit of doing anything yourself – Think of the money you’ll save! Being a DIYer today is even more valuable with the costs of services going up. Take something as simple as mowing your grass. If you paid a lawn service company $100 a month, using the Rule of 173 that would cost you $17,300 over 10 years! However, if you mowed the grass yourself and invested that cash instead it would be growing on your behalf!

Learn new skills – In some cases, you might be surprised at how easy a DIY project is to complete. And in doing so, you’ll pick up some valuable new skills. You might be clueless about how to hang a ceiling fan, laying a tile floor, or changing a car battery, but these are projects that you can learn quickly. And having that valuable skill set can serve you again and again in the future.

Take pride in your work – Whenever you take the time to do something yourself, you’ll most likely want to do it right. This results in taking pride and ownership in your work, especially if it’s a new skill you’ve picked up. When you do something yourself you’ll appreciate it more.

Cons of DIY:

Takes more time – Do you even have enough free time to take on a DIY project? How long will your project take to complete? Don’t underestimate! These are all questions that must be considered before going the DIY route. If you don’t consider your schedule, you might ambitiously start something and never finish…leading to wasted time and money!

Can be more difficult – How handy are you? Are you a fast learner or do you get frustrated easily and tend to throw in the towel? If you don’t like using tools or working with your hands, you might discover that DIY projects are more difficult for you to complete.

May not be as high quality – Obviously, as a DIYer you are not an expert, trained professional. This could result in lower quality work compared to a pro. However, each project is unique in the level of expertise it requires to be considered “high quality.” For example, painting walls should be much easier for a DIYer versus replacing a car engine part.

The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Professional

There’s certainly a cost to consider when hiring a pro. On the contrary, there is also the time savings of letting a pro do the job instead of you. Below are some important things to consider when deciding on hiring a professional or not.

Pros of hiring a professional:

Get the job done right – Ideally, when you pay good money for a professional, you’re hiring someone who’s going to do the job right the first time. A pro is a specialist in his or her craft and has most likely performed the specific job many times before, eliminating the chance of any shoddy work.

Save time – Think of how long it might take you to do a project. It takes me 3 hours to change my oil and clean my car air filters. But the same job will likely take less than 45 mins at the local independent mechanic. In cases like this, you are simply trading your time for the cost of hiring a pro, thus saving you whatever time it may have cost you to do it yourself. If you are a busy professional with a lot of family responsibilities, you probably don’t have as much “free time” to spare in the first place.

Get peace of mind – In hiring a professional, you have alleviated any undue stress and anxiety of venturing into a project you might know nothing about. As a result, you will experience a peace of mind in knowing that your project is in good hands with a trained professional who is skilled for the task at hand.

Cons of hiring a professional:

Can be more expensive – Hiring a professional, especially someone who possesses a highly sought after or unique/rare skill set, can certainly be expensive. Additionally, there might be a shortage of workers resulting in a more premium cost. Retaining the talent of a pro is definitely something you should plan and budget for.

May not be as personal – When you turn projects over to a pro, you’re giving up the opportunity to put your personal touch on things. Perhaps you want a specific color, style, or design, but the professional you hire does not offer those options because they aren’t the popular trends at the time.

May not be as flexible – When hiring a pro, you’re at their mercy regarding their schedule. They are not going to work the desired hours you want; they will be working when they want. This can be incredibly frustrating because in some cases your hired help might only show up a few days a week, a few hours at a time, thus dragging out the length of time it takes to complete the project.

How to Decide Whether to DIY or Hire a Pro

Sometimes deciding whether to tackle a project yourself or hire a pro can be a difficult decision. Here are some questions to think through, and areas to consider…

Consider your budget: If you’re on a tight budget, DIY may be the best option for you. However, if you’re willing to spend more money (and have the means to do so), hiring a professional may be the better choice. Keep in mind the difference between frugal vs. cheap!
Consider your time constraints: If you’re short on time, hiring a professional may be the best way to get the job done quickly. However, if you have the time, DIY may be a more rewarding experience. Your stage of life will help determine your time availability as well.
Consider your skill level: If you’re not confident in your skills, hiring a professional may be the best way to ensure that the job is done correctly. However, if you’re a handy person and comfortable with DIY, you may be able to save money by doing it yourself.

Helpful DIY Resources:

Never underestimate your ability to learn new things. Just because you don’t know how something works now, that doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to understand. Before labeling yourself clueless, it never hurts to do a bit of research and see how hard a project might be.

These days, learning new DIY skills is quite easy. And usually FREE! Here are some places to check out:

YouTube Videos: Just googling phrases like, “how to fix leaking IKEA dishwasher” or “how to replace Nissan Altima headlight” will reveal a ton of helpful videos from people who have tackled projects like this.
Appliance Manuals: You can likely find original appliance manuals and manufacturer guides online for troubleshooting and repairing appliances.
Calling Customer Service: Many manufacturers have helpful customer service lines also! I once called Insinkerator because my old garbage disposal wasn’t working. A customer service rep gave me 2-3 quick troubleshooting tips and it started working again! (there’s a manual allen key slot at the bottom of all garbage disposals that you can jiggle and reverse the spin direction. This usually loosens blockages when the gears are stuck). That 5 minute phone call saved me from calling a repairman or paying for a replacement.
Online Blogs & Tutorials: Home Depot has a ton of DIY videos and ideas, and same with Lowes DIY workshops. Blogs like This Old House and Family Handyman have a ton of helpful tutorials for DIY projects.

You are probably more capable than you think you are. Sometimes doing a little bit of research online will boost your confidence and give you the step by step guide to tackle a DIY project.

The Bottom Line:

By doing a job yourself, you can save money on labor charges while also having pride in doing work with your own hands. However, some projects are better left to the professionals. Complex, time-consuming, or arduous, unpleasant activities can be handled by professional contractors. For small, simple projects, a DIY approach could be more applicable. For riskier projects, call a pro.

Ultimately, the decision to DIY or hire a pro will come down to three vital aspects – 1) Do you possess the knowledge and skill set to the do the project?, 2) If the answer to #1 is yes, then do you have the time to take on such a task?, and 3) If answers to #1 and #2 are no, do you have the money to hire a pro? Answering these questions beforehand will help you make an informed decision between doing it yourself and hiring and paying a professional.

Finally, every person and situation is different. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best option for you will depend on your individual circumstances. If you’re still not sure whether to DIY or hire a professional, I recommend that you weigh the pros and cons carefully and make the decision that’s best for you (and your wallet!)

Related resources:

Beer tasting notes:

During this episode we enjoyed a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. Big thanks to Chris and all of our friends at the brewery for donating this one to the show! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!