The Issue: D I WHY?

Should you leave it to the experts?

In a recent article we quoted a list of things that property seekers found a real turn off. Up there was dodgy or bodged DIY. You know the stuff, badly hung doors, flatpack furniture inexpertly assembled and wonky, shabby paint finishes and things indeed left unfinished.

Are we all guilty of that misplaced pride that makes us feel that to confess that we are not up to a job makes us in some way inadequate. In men it could be damaged machismo, in women less so but it still exists.

Okay, we all want to be able to tackle those little jobs around the home, if not to save face to save money. But there are times when the only solution is to call in an expert. Most of us can slap on a couple of coats of emulsion, but can we hang wallpaper? Or should we ask can you risk hanging an expensive feature wallpaper well enough for it to look really great? Possibly not.

But there are things that we could all be prepared for, small jobs that require the minimum skill and that should offer at least a little of the satisfaction of completing a successful DIY task – as long as you have the right tools for the job.

The only solution is to call in an expert

Every home needs a basic tool-kit, unless of course you are totally inept and then perhaps you should keep tools at a safe distance and a list of experts close to hand.

Our simple list of DIY essentials would include a small selection of screwdrivers, flat and crosshead, a hammer, not too big, a measuring device and perhaps a spirit level. Add to this a sharp craft knife, maybe a multi purpose saw and perhaps an adjustable spanner of some kind and pliers. To complete the kit add some screws, nails and pins and a selection of fuses.

Yes it soon mounts up and you have to consider that in your hands these simple tools could also lead to that scary bodged job. Be honest with yourself, should the “Do” in DIY be a “Don’t”.