4 home improvements best left to the experts (DIY fails included!) read on…
Fail 1) Do not stack books on end to create shelving!
People are working constantly indoors and in their outdoors garages, work-space interiors and shed interiors, securing those buildings and dealing with important interior upgrades. For example fitting and maintaining handy little out-house / shed / garden outdoors buildings with these neat little indoors stoves, just in time for the rugby and all the other sports! Friends can come round and enjoy the comforts of the den / shed and relax and have a beer, wine, and maybe a Bourbon! That’s what part of the weekend is all about. During the week people are focusing on making the interiors of their homes perfect, adding additional storage spaces and working on home connectivity, installing self powering devices and increasing insulation, carefully dismantling items which can then be sold on Ebay and other platforms, adding additional revenue to the family income!
So! Having said that… not everyone’s knowledge and skill levels are the same!
Many interior projects even in the out buildings around your property will need work doing such as:
– Garages
-Tree houses
-Sheds
-Outdoors dens,
-Replacing windows
-Replacing doors
-Upgrading a conservatory roof
You may be able to prepare for, or professionally deal with many aspects of the upgrade, installation or maintenance. However, many parts of the process will require additional knowledge and skill resources that you simply do not personally have! You may need to employ the services of recommended knowledge resource, skill and installation providers such as:
-Plumbers
-Electricians
-Machinists
-Glaziers
Additionally a whole range of specialist providers of electrical equipment, bespoke indoor stove makers, window and glazing/frame makers and installers will be required. This is why professional accredited services with recommendations, who will perform work exactly as you expect is very important. That way, your specialist personal areas and knowledge of your property and its limitations (which is essential knowledge) can really come to the fore!
Fail 2) Screwdrivers are not allowed to be used to act as a third prong for a two prong plug! This is definitely not safe… its a fail!
Getting the work done sometimes means leaving it to the professionals and that may mean letting the suppliers get on with the job while you go for a round of golf or shopping! You may even require finance for home improvements, and sometimes it is very difficult for home makers to trust off-site professionals. If you take the time, research and gather data on the companies and individuals that you are entrusting the work too, then it will pay off. When all the elements are in place to confirm your order then you will know that the likelihood of work being done (to your non-negotiable standards) will be very very high indeed! That way the work is done perfectly and you can move on to the next projects!
Fail3) Duct tape is not for keeping toilet seats from falling off!
Its best not to think of it as a list! Certainly make a list, but simply accept and relax in the knowledge that the work is ongoing and there really is always a tremendous number of chores that we must all be working on and staying on top of! In this way you can keep adding to the list and work through it continuously.
No matter what time of the year you are reading this blog post, preparation is vital, understanding and accepting your own limitations without sacrificing your principles is achievable! There are superb suppliers out there who will be the perfect compliment to your own and your loved one’s specialisms! If only there was enough time, then we could all have members of our family trained in all the different specialisms. That is simply not possible and therefore we must do the things we do best ourselves and increase our skill set (yes by all means) but we must also accept help and be able to outsource successfully by knowing the steps to follow to secure professional crafts people and home improvement specialists!
Fail 4 Toilets are not supposed to be connected to sinks!
How many times have we begun projects, been affected by time constraints, and then taken a short cut, only to find that work is not fit for purpose. Entrusting work to unqualified people can also lead to emergencies further down the line, particularly where water , electric or glass are involved. Of course employing a “fix” to make something work is tempting, but it will often just push a potentially larger problem into the future! Taking time now to make an inventory of work that needs doing around your residential and business properties and then breaking that inventory into small portions and working through them logically, is the best way to approach the ongoing maintenance and upgrade demands.
So, be professional, increase your own data set and personal skill level. Harness the human resource internally within your family and source reliable professional off site providers.
Success is then assured.
Very best wishes!
InTouch Rugby DIY & Home Improvements Editor.