5 Tips for Doing Your Own Home Repairs Safely

Fixing things yourself will only save you money if you do the job right. Here are 5 tips for doing your own home repairs safely.

Home repairs can really cost a pretty penny. It’s no wonder lots of people opt to do their own to save money. Most home repair projects can be done more cheaply by you than hiring someone, but what about safety? Unsafe practices can not only lead to injuries but can lead to serious repairs that will cost even more money than the original problem. If you want to do some of your own maintenance, here are 5 tips for doing your own home repairs safely.

5 Tips for Doing Your Own Home Repairs Safely

Take some classes – There are so many ways you can learn how to do simple home repairs for free or nearly free these days. If you have a Lowe’s or Home Depot, they offer many classes on various home repair skills and the classes are usually free or cheap. Additionally, YouTube has become a great resource for me. There are many home repair and maintenance how-to videos on there posted by certified repairmen. Lastly, get some good skills for more advanced home building by volunteering to work with Habitat for Humanity and help build a home for someone while learning valuable lessons.

Know what you can do reasonably – Don’t take on too much and remember that if you don’t feel 100% confident, there is a reason. It usually means you won’t be able to do it safely or frugally. Instead, hire someone for at least part of the job. Most professionals offer free estimates.

Don’t take shortcuts – Shortcuts can lead to dangerous situations, especially if it involves the structure of your home, plumbing or electricity in any way. Never take shortcuts to save time or money. In the end, it could leave you spending a lot more money to undo what you tried to take a shortcut on. There is definitely a right way to do things when it comes to home repairs.

Use the right tools for the job – There is a tool for just about any need out there. Using the proper one is imperative for proper home repairs. If you are worried about the cost, check with your local library. Many of them offer tools for lending. You may be lucky to have an actually tool lending library that is separate from your public library. Do a little Googling or call your local Human Resource Council to find out what is available in your area.

Make sure you use items exactly how they are designed to be used and read instructions thoroughly – Some of the most common injuries when it comes to home repairs are when people don’t use tools or items properly. Be careful with ladders, sharp tools and chemicals. Make sure you understand how to use them well and feel confident. Practice if you must. Use chemicals in well ventilated areas and don’t mix them.