Jul 31, 2009 11:50 pm US/Eastern
The Dangers Of Do-It-Yourself Housework
Expert: 1 In 10 Americans Will Get Injured In An Attempted Home Repair Or Improvement; CBS 2 HD Has Useful Tips
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Many homeowners are trying to save money by doing it themselves when it comes to home repairs and improvements.
But too often, they end up either with expensive work to fix it -- or even in the hospital.
CBS 2 HD has tips for you when to do it yourself, and when to call in a pro.
Thanks in part to the country's current recession, many homeowners – like Laura Pollock -- are trying to save money by taking a "do-it-yourself" approach to home repairs and improvements.
"I'm an enthusiastic dabbler I think," Pollock said. "I don't know that I'm very good at it, but I like to make things."
Pollock is constantly making improvements to her upstate New York home by herself. Like 83 percent of the Americans recently surveyed, she does so to save money.
But refusal to call a contractor can often leave ambitious do-it-yourselfers with an expensive mess to clean up, and sometimes even a hospital bill.
When Pollock tried to plant an astonishing 80 trees in a single weekend, she knew help was needed.
"I had rented a pothole digger," Pollock said. "The machine was heavy and I hit a rock and it popped up, jerking my thumb back."
She is now suffering the consequences.
"I still can't open a jar," Pollock said. "It's like I lost the strength in that thumb."
Contractor Joe Shoback of Hudson Home Improvement said Americans hurting themselves while attempting do-it-yourself housework is not uncommon. He cited the recent example of a bathroom that needed re-modeling.
"The homeowner was ripping something down and he cut himself on metal," Shoback. "He cut his hand open and he wound up in the hospital with eight stitches."
Many do-it-yourselfers often have to call in contractors like Shoback to correct the damages they create, and injuries sustained during the process are rising as well. In 2007, a whopping 136,000 Americans visited the Emergency Room for ladder injuries, while 35,000 checked in to report some sort of mishap with a nail gun.
Angie Hicks founded the website AngiesList.com, which reviews local contractors. She said one in 10 homeowners end up hurting themselves in attempted household projects.
"Some shot themselves in the hand with a nail gun," Hicks said. "Others have fallen off ladders, fallen off roofs, cut themselves with saws … this can be very dangerous if you don't know what you're doing."
Hicks recommended all homeowners ask themselves a series of questions before beginning a do-it-yourself task. These include 'what experience do I have for this project?', 'do I have adequate time to devote to it?' and 'do I have the proper tools?'
Pollock said she has taken advice like Hicks's to heart, and learned from her previous errors.
"I think that anytime you have machinery that doesn't turn off by itself, you should have somebody professional do it," Pollock said.
On hiring a contractor
* Plan: Get three bids to gauge the going rate for work. But don't jump at the lowest bid; people who hired the lowest bidder generally got poorer work. Also, get an estimate. It should list product, material, and labor costs and a timetable. Material and product allowances should give prices and quantities. Compare services and prices before making a final decision.
* Choose pros you know. People who hire contractors they had worked with before were happier and had fewer time and cost overruns than those who hired someone new.
* Get references from recent and older jobs. Reputable contractors will be happy to provide names and contact information for satisfied customers. Then check the work to see how it's holding up.
* Look for proper licensing and insurance. Make sure the contractor is licensed to do business in your state and that he has proper general liability and workers-compensation insurance. Check with your local government for permit requirements and confirm with the contractor who is responsible for paying for permits.
* Check the Better Business Bureau for filed complaints. Also contact your state's attorney general's office.
* Do the hiring yourself. Your project is more likely to stay within budget and on time if you hire pros yourself than leaving the hiring and supervising to a general contractor.
* Obtain a contract. A written contract will specify what will be done to complete the job, associated costs, and the payment schedule. Never sign a blank contract or one with blank spaces.
* Stick with the plans. Making changes to plans after work begins could lead to cost overruns and delays.
* Pay by check. Write out the check to the contracting company rather than to an individual. A reasonable down payment is 30 percent of the total project cost to be paid upon initial delivery of materials.
* Make final payments only when the work is completed to your satisfaction. A reputable contractor will not threaten you or pressure you to sign documents if the job is not finished properly.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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