4 DIY Jobs Sellers Should Stop Doing

Home inspectors say they can spot the work of an amateur versus a pro.

Homeowners may have gotten overconfident with their DIY skills. Armed with Youtube tutorials and extra time at home during the pandemic, more homeowners have been drawn to DIY house projects to save money and bypass waits for overbooked contractors. Home inspectors are seeing the results of that DIY surge. When homeowners go to sell, inspectors say more DIY jobs are popping up as red flags. Its important to know when to call in a professional because saving $200 to $300 for an electrician or plumber could end up costing you thousands at the end.

Here are the areas where home inspectors are noticing an uptick:

#1 ELECTRICAL WORK

Inspectors are spotting overloaded circuit boxes, wires left exposed or wires being used, and improper suction boxes. Personal dangers aside, faulty wiring can cause shorts that lead to house fires. Further, homeowners who do their own electrical work may have failed to get the necessary permits- approval from municipalities that shows a job was done to code. Failing to get permits can result in fines and hold up a home sale.

#2 PLUMBING

Plumbing that is wrongly installed or repaired can cause significant damage to the home, such as flooding and eventual wood rot and mold growth, which can affect air quality and human health. Homeownes may be tempted to change a faucet or update an appliance like a dishwasher. But one wrong connection can lead to costly damage. A dishwasher requires lots of washer pressure. If it's not propertly hooked up, homeowners could experience significant flooding in a kitchen.

#3 ROOFING AND DECKS

Home inspectors say DIY deck installations are often improperly attached to the house or have loose, insecure handrails, both of which pose safety concerns. Decks and roofs are some of the highest-price home items to fix -- and where the labor tends to be more expensive than materials, homeowners are too often tempted to do it themselves for the savings.

#4 LANDSCAPE GRADING

Inspectors may spot puddles of water around the home's foundation. When the house was built, the yard was graded so that water would flow away from the home. But after a few years, grading may not have been properly maintained. This can cause water to rush around the foundation and lead to structural damage or water entering a basementor crawl space. Pay attention especially when it's raining. Check that water is moving away from the foundation.

Conclusion

It is highly recommended to rely on a licenced professional when addressing issues in the home. Some issues may seem easy to fix at first sight but it could be a costly mistake in the long run.