5 DIY Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

Homeowners often make many DIY mistakes when they try to renovate their homes before selling.

Whilst DIY projects are a great way to save money and make your home look great, there are a lot of risks involved.

These projects often have a nasty way of turning into a disaster if you don't know what you are doing or if you are trying something for the very first time.

It's sometimes better to spend a few bucks and hire a professional than to cause a mess that costs even more to fix. Here are 5 DIY mistakes to avoid when selling your home:

DIY Mistake #1 - Electrical work

One thing that you should never take on is electrical work. This is a huge risk and should only be dealt with by a professional electrician.

Electricians should be called out whenever you need to install new light fixtures, access electrical boxes, or rewire your house.

If these things are not done by an expert set of hands then it could lead to electrocution or fires.

This only puts you, your family, and your investment at risk. 

DIY Mistake #2 - Plumbing

Plumbing is very much like electrical work in the sense that you can't turn it into a weekend DIY project. It is very difficult to get right without formal training.

A plumber will be able to assist you when it comes to replacing pipes or installing new fixtures.

Even if it seems like something small, it is better to get in the help of a professional than to try it yourself.

You can cause serious structural damage to the house, which will have a direct impact on your selling price, not to mention the money you'll have to spend trying to fix it!

See also: 6 Common Plumbing Misconceptions

DIY Mistake #3 - Bathroom remodelling

There are many things that you can do on your own to make your bathroom look new again. You can buy new towels or replace the bathmats so that you have a fresh look.

However, when you want to do full-scale remodelling, it is better to get the help of a licensed contractor.

Many things need to be taken into consideration when doing a full-scale remodelling especially if you want to install new basins, toilets, bathtubs, and flooring.

They will know how to stick to the building codes and prevent major problems from arising.

DIY Mistake #4 - Foundation repairs

Those tiny cracks in the foundation might look like a quick repair job but tiny cracks could be a symptom of a bigger problem.

It often requires the tools and expertise that a regular homeowner doesn't have. If you turn this into a DIY project then you are bound to walk into more than one problem.

It is also not something that you can ignore because it can lead to an even bigger structural disaster.

Rather get a qualified builder to assess the damage and work with them to find the best solution.

DIY Mistake #5 - Roof repairs

Roofing, in general, is dangerous territory and it is something that should be avoided by the homeowner completely.

It is far too dangerous to be working on, replacing or repairing a roof.

Anything can happen when you are on the roof with heavy tools. You might fall off or step on a weak spot and fall into your house. 

There are certain DIY projects that you can stick to but it is better to leave the above projects to professionals. Rather get it done right the first time before making DIY mistakes that can cost a fortune to repair.