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Step 1
Consider whether this home improvement project is worth your time. Are you skilled at doing DIY projects for the home? If you don’t know a hammer from a wrench, save yourself some frustration and call an experienced contractor. Also, think about the money factor. Would it be cheaper to hire a home improvement contractor? If you earn more working at your 9-to-5 job than what the contractor would make, maybe it’d be better to hire someone else for the project.
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Step 2
If you’ve decided this DIY project is right for you, now it’s time to go shopping for supplies. Choose a home improvement store with knowledgeable staff. If you don’t know of one, ask friends and family for recommendations. Figure what you need before heading out to the home improvement store. Going in blind can easily lead to frivolous shopping. (I speak from experience!) Save money on costly tools for one-time DIY projects by renting them at the home improvement store. And if you can borrow from a neighbor, that’s even better.
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Step 3
Start your weekend DIY projects for the home on Friday or Saturday, not Sunday. Chances are that your favorite home improvement store will close early on Sunday—right when you need that unexpected tool or supply at the last minute. (Isn’t Murphy’s Law great?) Play it safe by starting DIY projects early during the weekend so you can go shopping for supplies as needed.
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Step 4
You can never be too safe during a do it yourself project. Read the instructions carefully. Measure twice, cut once. (That’s an oldie-but-goodie if there ever was one!) Understand the electrical and plumbing cautions for your DIY projects. Better to take things slowly than to rush and make a costly—even deadly—home improvement mistake.
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Step 5
The last step in how to do it yourself with ease is to find your motivation for the project. Without some sort of motivation to get the job done quickly, that weekend home improvement project could end up lasting years. (Been there, done that!) Planning a house party may be just the motivation you need to finish that project fast. Motivation to finish DIY projects might even come from a nagging spouse (but hopefully it won't come to that).
Comments
miasavc said
on 12/29/2008 Great article. DIY tasks are fun!
Susang6 said
on 12/20/2008 We are in step 5 in our DIY projects! Great article, with helpful tips
eyeopening said
on 12/17/2008 Number one is so important. Wonderful article. :-)
dlcass said
on 12/15/2008 Don't forget the great DIY resources on eHow and in books at the library. You can DO IT
Thims said
on 12/14/2008 Amazing how terms and acronyms just happen to appear in the social lexicon. DIY is just all over the place now! I concur, the hardest part is finding the motivation to DIY! Good artcile.