NARI Home Improvement Quiz: Will doing it yourself do you in ...

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) supports hard core do-it-yourselfers who know how to complete a job on time and within budget to add both value and livability to their home.

Too often, however, uninformed, uninitiated and unprepared homeowners plunge into a job without considering all the factors.

NARI?s new easy-to-complete yes-or-no quiz ?To Do It Yourself or Hire a Contractor?? helps you decide if you really have what it takes to go it alone when you want to give your home a do over.

This quiz isn?t a scare tactic to turn you off to doing it yourself, but it is probing and thorough. Ace the test and you can get to work. Proceeding on a home improvement job after you score low can be hazardous to your household, your health and your wallet.

Simply answer ?Yes? or ?No? to each question.

1. Do you enjoy physical work?
2. Are you persistent and patient?
3. Do you have reliable work habits?meaning that once the project is started, will it get finished?
4. Do you have all the tools needed and, more importantly, the skills required to do the job?
5. What quality level do you need for this project? Are your skills at that level?
6. Do you have the time that will be required to complete the project? (Always double or triple the time estimated for a DIY project, unless you are highly skilled and familiar with that particular project.)
7. Will it matter if the project remains unfinished for a period of time?
8. Are you prepared to handle the kind of stress this project will create in your family relationships?
9. Do you know all of the steps involved in the project?
10. Have you gotten the installation instructions from the manufacturer to determine whether this is a project you still want to undertake? (Most manufacturers will send you installation instructions before purchase to determine whether the product will meet your needs.)
11. Is this a job you can do completely by yourself or will you need assistance? If you do need assistance, what skill level is involved for your assistant? If you need a professional subcontractor, do you have access to a skilled labor pool?
12. Are you familiar with your local building codes and permit requirements? (Some jurisdictions require that the work be completed by a licensed and bonded professional in order to meet code.) It?s best to check these requirements before beginning work on the project.
13. What will you do if the project goes awry? (Most contractors are wary about taking on a botched DIY job, and many just won?t take them.)
14. Is it safe for you to do this project? (If you are not familiar with roofing or do not have fall protection restraints, you may not want to venture into a roofing job. Similarly, if you know nothing about electricity?leave it to the professional. Some jobs can be fatal if not performed correctly. Your health and safety should be the primary concern. Never enter into a DIY project that would jeopardize either.)
15. Will you be able to obtain the materials you need? Who will be your source of supply? Will they deliver?
16. Are you attempting to do-it-yourself for financial reasons? If so, have you looked at all of your costs, including the cost of materials, your time, and the tools you need to purchase? If you are new to the DIY game, you may also want to look at the cost to correct any mistakes you may make?i.e., the damage factor. Will it still be a cost-saving venture?
17. If you are trying DIY for the satisfaction of a job well done?can you ensure that the job will be ?well done?? If it doesn?t come out right, how will you feel? Will you be able to afford to redo any unsatisfactory work?

So how did you score?

You?ll have to visit the quiz ?To Do It Yourself or Hire a Contractor?? on NARI?s site.

We want you to go there because, once you arrive, you?ll get your score as well as find a host of additional information that can further help you with your decision to do it yourself or not. Even more resources are available under the site?s ?HOMEOWNERS? menu.

Source: http://www.deadlinenews.com/2012/07/13/nari-home-improvement-quiz-will-doing-it-yourself-do-you-in/

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