DIY or hire a professional? Home Matters considers tasks homeowners can handle

There’s maintenance required for every homeowner, and some jobs are great DIY opportunities, but some may be too much for a non-professional to handle. On this week’s Home Matters Show, hosts Pete and Rob consider home maintenance jobs anyone can manage versus those that should be completed by a professional.

List of jobs most homeowners can manage on their own (jobs ranked 1 to 5 in difficulty):

Change your furnace filter – Difficulty: 1

This is a job Pete and Rob say should be done every 60 to 90 days, every 30 days if there are pets in the home. They recommend contacting a furnace company to set up an account to receive new filters automatically as needed.

Changing a light bulb – Difficulty: 1-2

Though there are lots of jokes about this task, Pete and Rob say it’s definitely one appropriate for a homeowner to take on themselves.

Installing blinds -Difficulty: 3

Pete and Rob recommend using a stud finder and a level for this task.

“You want to make sure you’re screwing into a stud, not into the drywall because in the middle of the night your blinds are going to come crashing down,” said Pete.

Repair a fence – Difficulty: 4

Pete and Rob say this one is on the line for DIY home repairs.

If the problem with the fence is the support post, they say you might want to hire a professional, as the digging of the post hole and laying of concrete are more complicated.

The following is a list of jobs homeowners should hire professionals to handle:

New wiring

“There’s fire hazards there, we want to be careful,” said Rob, adding that the person who does the wiring is liable for their work, even after the home has been sold to a new owner.

Replacing a toilet/Plumbing

“It’s not something you take lightly,” said Pete. The Home Matters team notes that plumbers are highly trained and required to be licensed for a reason.

Siding repair

Pete and Rob say professionals should be hired for siding repair because if it’s done incorrectly it can cause leaks.

Remodel (bathroom, kitchen, basement)

For major home remodels, Pete and Rob recommend working with professionals.

“A lot of people step off on this stuff. They don’t realize what they’re getting into,” said Rob.

Pete and Rob say professional knowledge of tools and materials make remodels much easier.

Listen to full Home Matters DIY vs. Professional discussion

Home Matters can be heard on the new 97.3 KIRO FM Weekends Sunday at 8 a.m. Available anytime ON DEMAND at MyNorthwest.com