You've finally made the decision. After years of gathering dust, your creepy old basement is about to become a warm family room or an elegant home office. What's the first thing to do? Call in the pros or DIY it? Your choice will affect your budget, timeline, and stress levels in ways that can make all the difference to your project, home, and family. But where to begin? Let's take it step by step.

Expertise & Skills

Hiring Professionals

If you hire a contractor to handle your basement renovation, you leverage their expertise in the tricky tasks of tearing down old drywall and installing new plumbing and electrical systems. These complex tasks can produce anxiety. The contractor knows the local building codes and can manage the obstacles likely to arise along the way. Behind the scenes, the contractor likely benefits from strong connections to a supply network of skilled workers and has access to high-quality materials, whereas you, the buyer, do not.

DIY Projects

In doing it yourself, however, you get to call the shots—which may be a good thing if you're DIY-savvy and enjoy learning new skills. The good news is (although not surprising) that finishing basements usually turns out to be a lot less arduous than, let's say, converting an attic. You'll measure, you'll cut, you'll install, and you'll add a layer of paint. But to finish a basement properly, you need to begin with a good understanding of how to manage moisture, deal with electrical wiring, and more. So, if you think you're up to the challenge, go for it! If not, you're better off hiring pros.

Time & Effort

Professionals

The biggest selling point of hiring a contractor is that you do not have to do anything since they take care of everything. A regular schedule means the project is likely on a much faster timeline than one done independently of a contractor—get on with your life and leave the heavy lifting to the experts. Perhaps you have a demanding life or need to get the project done as soon as possible without compromising quality.

DIY Projects

When you start a DIY project in your basement, you have to manage the constraints of that big project, but your everyday responsibilities are still piling up around it. You have to find windows of time to spend on the project, do the mental work of scheduling what you'll do when, and deal with how it'll move forward when things take longer than expected or don't go as planned. This isn't necessarily good or bad – DIY can be flexible, and completing a project can be extremely rewarding. It is, however, substantially different, typically taking longer to accomplish and sometimes creating more stress if you are juggling other life responsibilities.

Quality of Work

Hiring Professionals

Contractors are all about quality work, using top-quality materials and methods. Many contractors also offer guarantees on their work. If the contractor makes a mistake, they can come back and fix it. Additionally, a professional approach may include assurances for a long-lasting lifespan of the work provided by trained specialists.

DIY Projects

But also, with the DIY focus, it really is your basement—from picking out the materials to the way things look. You get what you put into it. However, that also means what you get out of it depends on the quality of what you put in, and skimping on the details can mean your basement won't be in great shape, won't turn out as well as it should, and won't hold up as long as a professional would make it.

Budget Considerations

Professionals

While hiring a contractor may seem pricey when looking at the upfront costs, it can be a godsend in the long run. Competent professionals can ensure that costly mistakes are avoided, and they take care of all the logistics, including obtaining permits and carrying out inspections.

DIY Projects

You could save money by doing it yourself, especially if you're able to handle most of the work. This can save a lot on expensive labor costs and allows you to shop around for budget-friendly supplies. However, there may be potential extra costs. If mistakes need correcting or replacements are required down the road, you'll need to cover those as well. Make sure to account for these costs when preparing your budget.

Conclusion

Should you do your basement project or hire a contractor? That depends on your skills, budget, and timeline. If you enjoy the challenge and have the time for a DIY project, great! However, if you want quality work with less headache and a faster turnaround, hire a contractor.

Consider your priorities—whether it's the satisfaction of doing the work yourself or the convenience (and quality) of having it done professionally. You're in good shape either way. With this knowledge, you'll be able to choose wisely the next time you make a decision and create a wonderful basement for you to use and enjoy. Contact us today!