How many times have you walked around your home, looking at all the things you need to tend to? Leaky faucet, wall that needs patching, a door that won’t close right… the list is practically endless.
Between juggling your job, taking care of the kids, and managing to squeeze in time for friends, family, and most importantly, yourself, you’re not left with much time. Should you DIY all these tasks, or hire handyman services in NYC?
It’s a question every homeowner faces constantly. Sometimes the answer is obvious. Sometimes it’s really not.
Let’s talk through how to actually make this decision without overthinking it.
Why Does DIY Seem Like a Plausible Option
There’s something satisfying about fixing things yourself. You save money on labor, you learn a new skill, and you get that sense of accomplishment when it actually works.
Plus, YouTube makes it look easy. There are tutorials for everything, and most things aren’t rocket science. With the right tools and a little bit of grit, you probably could do a good job.
Simple tasks like painting a room, replacing a faucet aerator, hanging pictures, or installing a shelf are doable.
The problem is knowing where the line is between simple and outright ridiculous.
When Should You DIY?
Here’s when you should probably just do it yourself:
- The stakes are low: If you mess up hanging a picture, the worst case is that you have an extra hole to patch. Not great, but not a disaster.
- You have the right tools: If you already own what you need, that’s half the battle. Buying a bunch of specialized tools for a one-time job changes the math.
- You have time: DIY always takes longer than you think. If you’ve got a free Saturday and you’re not in a hurry, great.
- It’s simple: Replacing a light bulb. Caulking a small gap. Tightening a loose screw. These are things most people can handle.
- You actually want to do it: Some people enjoy this stuff. If you’re one of them, go for it. If the thought of spending your weekend on home repairs fills you with dread, that’s information.
Also Read: Top Reasons to Hire a Handyman for Small Home Repairs
When Should You Call a Handyman?
Some things are just not DIY projects for most people. Here’s when you should probably call a handyman company to handle the heavy lifting for you.
1. Anything Involving Electricity
Unless you actually know what you’re doing with electrical work, we highly advise against messing with it. Electricity can kill you, and it can also start fires. Even if you don’t hurt yourself, you can create hazards that won’t show up until later.
Replacing an outlet, installing a light fixture, and adding a ceiling fan seem simple, but they involve working with live wires and understanding your electrical system.
A handyman company can do this safely and make sure it’s up to code.
2. Plumbing Beyond the Basics
If you’re tightening a loose pipe connection or replacing a faucet, those are probably okay. But once you’re dealing with anything behind the wall, or you’re not sure what connects to what, or there’s a risk of water damage, call someone.
Water damage is expensive, a lot more than hiring a handyman.
3. Anything Structural
We tell homeowners all the time to avoid working on tasks that involve walls that might be load-bearing. Your house stays up because of how it’s built. Changing that requires knowing what you’re doing. If you’re not sure about it, don’t mess with it!
4. Jobs That Require Special Tools
If you need to rent or buy tools that cost hundreds of dollars for a single project, hiring someone often makes more financial sense.
They already own the tools, know how to use them properly, and you don’t have to figure out where to store a tool after you use it once.
Cost Comparison of DIY-ing Vs. Hiring a Handyman
People assume DIY is always cheaper, but that’s not exactly the case in all situations.
The Real Cost of DIY
First and foremost, it’s your time. And not just the time doing the actual work, the time researching, shopping for materials, making multiple trips to the hardware store because you bought the wrong thing the first time, and cleaning up after.
Next, the materials. Which you’ll probably buy too much of because you’re not sure what you need. Tools, if you don’t already own them, that is. And lastly, the risk of doing it wrong and needing to hire someone anyway to fix your mistakes.
What Hiring a Handyman Costs:
Handyman services in NYC typically run $75-150 per hour, depending on the job and the company.
For simple tasks, you might pay $100-200 total. For a few hours of work on multiple small projects, maybe $300-500.
Is that more than DIY? Sure. But it includes their expertise, their tools, their insurance, and the peace of mind that it’s done right.
A good handyman can often bundle multiple tasks into one visit. They can knock multiple tasks out in one afternoon, leaving you with a home that’s functional all around.
If you were DIY-ing all of that, you’d probably spend multiple weekends on it.
Get It Done Right!
If you’re sitting there with a list of things that need fixing and you’re just not sure about tackling them yourself, that’s okay.
Setup NYC provides professional handyman services in NYC for exactly this reason. We handle everything from the simple stuff you don’t have time for to the complicated projects you don’t want to risk messing up.
Small repairs, installations, maintenance, fixes, we’ve dealt with all of it. We show up when we say we will, we do the work right, and you can move on with your life.
Contact us for handyman services that solve your problems instead of creating new ones!
