Sometimes, a do-it-yourself project can cost you more than hiring a pro, leading to an empty wallet and a major headache. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and actually save money on your next project, with advice from homeowners and pros.
Understanding the meaning of DIY helps you recognize when cost-saving motives can backfire, as 86% of projects requiring professional fixes end up costing more than planned.
Homeowners spend an average of $862 in additional fees when hiring professionals to repair or complete DIY projects they attempted on their own.
Your DIY success depends on thorough preparation, including watching instructional videos, researching online, and consulting with professionals before starting any project to avoid costly mistakes.
Hiring a local handyman service professional provides reliable support when you're unsure about a project, helping you avoid the stress and expense of fixing mistakes later.
You're handy, you're resourceful, and you love the idea of saving a buck. Tackling that home improvement project yourself seems like a no-brainer, right?
Millions of homeowners embrace do-it-yourself with the best intentions, whether it's to cut costs, learn a new skill, or simply enjoy the process. But according to our recent Angi survey, 25% of homeowners end up hiring a pro to fix or complete their DIY project. About 86% of these projects end up costing more than expected.
Thankfully, you can save yourself a headache—and lessen the burden on your wallet—by doing your research and understanding your limitations. Learn how to keep DIY costs down, with tips from real homeowners and professional service people alike.
For starters, it helps to understand why people tackle home projects on their own. Angi’s research report surveyed 750 homeowners who attempted a DIY renovation or home improvement project in the past five years and 447 professional service people.
According to the results, here's what motivates homeowners to DIY:
71% of surveyed homeowners take on DIY projects to save money
53% attempt DIY if the project seems doable
28% think DIY projects are fun
21% want to learn new skills through DIY
Homeowners sign up for a wide range of interior and exterior home tasks. In our survey, the most popular DIY projects were regular maintenance, painting and staining, landscaping, removing or trimming trees, installing shelving, and plumbing work.
Unfortunately, DIY doesn’t often go down without a hitch. About 70% of surveyed homeowners have experienced issues with their DIY projects. The most common problems include:
Not having a necessary tool
Making incorrect measurements
Breaking something
Becoming too overwhelmed
According to one homeowner, "The biggest issue is when you get halfway through and then realize you can't do it yourself, you need to hire someone to finish, and they can't get you into the schedule for 6 weeks, and then you have a half-finished project you have to live around for the next six weeks."
Another homeowner claimed their setback was "not having the right tools," while others lamented about "running out of motivation" and "unexpected situations that you don't plan for, like uneven flooring." One survey respondent claimed they’ve "tried to fix a problem myself and made another one."
DIY setbacks can also be downright dangerous. An Angi survey found that 11% of homeowners caused home damage, injury, or safety hazards when attempting a DIY project. If you’re unsure how to accomplish a project safely, it’s best to hire a pro.
Sometimes these mishaps are only minor inconveniences. Other times, however, they can deplete your savings fund. The Angi survey found that 25% of homeowners hired a professional to fix or complete the home project they attempted, and 90% of surveyed pros have been called to repair a project that homeowners had attempted by themselves.
Of the homeowners who hired pros, 86% ultimately spent more than they originally planned. The average amount of additional fees? A whopping $862! It makes sense that a majority of these people (55%) regret attempting the project on their own.
Homeowners end up hiring a professional to mend their DIY attempts—and therefore spend more than they intended—for a variety of reasons. Many of the hardships come from improper preparation work, a lack of DIY knowledge, or taking on projects that are too complex.
The majority of homeowners prepare in some way for a DIY project—about 60% watch YouTube videos, for example, while 54% conduct online research. Others get ready by speaking with friends or family members, bringing questions to professionals or hardware store employees, reading books, or researching on social media.
That said, about 8% reported jumping into the project with absolutely no prep work. Of course, not having a plan or process increases the likelihood of something going wrong.
About 19% of survey respondents said their home projects were "somewhat difficult" or "very difficult." A lack of DIY knowledge could be the reason behind the struggles.
Of the homeowners surveyed, only 5% of homeowners feel they are DIY experts. About one in four identify as being a DIY beginner. Lack of experience makes you more prone to mistakes, especially if you don’t educate yourself before diving in.
According to an Angi survey, the most common home projects that go wrong include drywall repair, plumbing work, electrical repair, and flooring installation. If you are tackling these tasks, make sure you’re informed and prepared.
Complex projects, especially those requiring specialized knowledge, are the most difficult for homeowners. According to the Angi report, the most challenging project types are appliance repair, plumbing work, and electrical work. This makes sense because pros in these fields often require training, licensing, and certification, depending on state and local regulations where they work.
Looking to prevent unexpected fees when attempting a DIY project? Here are some tips from homeowners and pros alike.
Cutting costs often boils down to thorough preparation, which includes diligent planning and continuous learning. Homeowners in our survey advocate for watching videos and consulting online resources. According to one respondent, "Before you start the project, do some research, particularly using YouTube to get advice from experts or see how other people have tackled problems to make sure you have the time and the tools required for the project."
Professionals echo this sentiment. When asked what advice they'd offer prospective do-it-yourselfers, one pro stated, "I will tell them to make sure they do their research before even attempting to start on their projects. It takes a lot of time to learn how to do things correctly." Another pro shared this insight: "Take your time, Rome wasn't built in a day."
It’s also important to understand your skills, limits, and abilities. Don’t overestimate what you can handle. For example, one homeowner said you should "think hard about what you are really capable of doing before you start a new project."
If you don’t know what skills are needed for your task, turn to the pros. "Get advice from professionals, and seek information from multiple sources," suggests one pro. "If something comes with a risk to your health or home, do not attempt this and call a professional to complete the job for you. The cost to have a job done right once is often less than having the lowest bid done over again several times."
Surveyed pros recommend that homeowners leave the following projects to the experts:
Electrical work
Repairing or installing a roof
That said, many pros believe homeowners can successfully complete landscaping projects, painting, and regular maintenance without outside help. Choosing DIY projects wisely can save you a headache, time, and money.
If you’re unsure about a project—or if you’re taking on something complex—consider hiring a professional. It’s "better to hire a professional, pay the fees, and have the job done right the first time," according to one homeowner.
A pro offered this sound advice: "With each project you are thinking of attempting, figure out what could likely go wrong and the resulting cost/damage. If that number is more than you are willing to pay, hire someone instead."
If you need help finding a pro, head to Angi.com.
Flawless finish and exceptional service. Custom Paint Jobs LLC is the only choice for me.
Custom Paint Jobs, LLCVisited my home for estimate same day that I called. Painted on Saturday. Great job. Good price!
Window Depot did an amazing job on my deck. I wasnt sure what I wanted to do, but their composite decking was affordable and will last a long time. I am excited to have family over, and I am no longer embarrassed by my backyard. Jeff and the ground crew were polite, respectful, and caring for...
Window Depot USA of Central OhioThe guys did an outstanding job and we had a great experience with CarifaTile. I appreciated that Joe reviewed the quotes with me and set expectations prior to the install. The crews showed up as scheduled and always left the areas clean upon leaving the house. We will definitely use...
CarifaTileBeginning with the estimate, Larry and Peyton were super helpful in getting my new condo's interior re-painted. Not only was the job well done, but also done in a super timely manner as promised.
Five Star Painting of Plain City and PowellBJ Trim Carpentry rescued me in the middle of a do-it-yourself project. I found I needed more expertise than I had...and more TOOLS! BJ Trim Carpentry responded quickly and completed what I needed expertly, politely and with a little humor!
This brownstone is historical and the carpentry work is very detailed. I was very happy to secure a company in NY and living in OH to complete the request. Wood work on this brownstone has been existing since approximately 1888 and West side did a GREAT JOB. I will not be able to...
Westside Home ImprovementWe had a great experience with Mark Rodgers Construction. We were in the process of seeking out estimates for possible foundation work for our front porch. Mark came out himself to provide the estimate. Turned out that the company deals mainly with concrete, so we wouldn't be getting an...
Mark Rodgers ConstructionOverall this experience was incredible! I looked on Angies List for a cleaning service because I was planning a holiday party and wanted to make sure we found a reliable, thorough and efficient cleaning service to make sure everything was perfect for the party since we had co-workers and...
From beginning to end our experience with Joe was very good. He was professional and prompt in his estimate for the job and worked hard to meet our schedule so that he could remove our old backsplash the day before our new countertops were removed and return shortly after they were removed to...
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
For a bathroom remodel, touch-up, or home perimeter, caulking is worth the investment. Find out average costs for window caulking, shower caulking, and more.
When your home project requires a professional at the helm, how much are construction management fees, and how do they determine their rate? Let's break it down.
Discover the average cost of lighting design, including price ranges, key cost factors, and tips to help homeowners budget for their lighting project.
insights into when DIY goes wrong, when to hire a pro, and tips for how to make sure your next attempt at a DIY project goes right.
From flooring to interior paint, DIY home improvement projects were popular during the COVID-19 pandemic—but didn’t always go as planned. These statistics reveal why people DIY, the risks and rewards, and when homeowners chose to hire a pro instead.
Not every appliance malfunction needs to be addressed by a professional. Try these eight DIY appliance repair jobs to save money.