If you’re preparing for some major home repair projects, such as a new roof, you’re likely wondering whom you should call for the job. Should you look for the best roofing contractors in your area, or could your handy brother fix up your roof?
So many people are tempted to have their friends or family handle their home repair and renovation projects. They’re thinking of saving time and money by cutting out the red tape that comes with hiring a professional to do the job. However, hiring a friend or family member comes with its own set of challenges.
If you do want your friends or family to help, there are plenty of ways they can without compromising your project. For example, houseplants are a great way to liven up a home. So, let them send live plants as a gift. Bouquets of fresh flowers or some orchid plants are the perfect gift to help relieve the stress of any home repair project.
If they’re a professional, then by all means, give them a call. If not, the short answer is that you should consider hiring a professional instead. In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into what goes into hiring a friend and why you should always hire a professional.
Friends you’ve hired don’t see you as a boss.
When you hire a professional contractor to handle your repairs, you’re the boss. Your contractor will consider every concern, want, and need with every decision they make. You’re the boss, and you’re in charge of your home project.
However, when you hire a friend or family member, they may not look at it that way. Sure, they may have tons of respect for you as a person, but it’s no secret that your friends and family will have an added level of comfort working with you. As a result, this comfort level can lead to several counterproductive issues. For example, the added comfort can lead to a loosening work schedule. Your friend may start the first day early and work hard until the afternoon or evening. However, as the project continues, they may end up working shorter hours or even have days between work shifts.
You may hold back dissatisfaction at your home’s expense with friends and family.
When you hire a professional, it’s not hard to stand up and say, “I’m not happy with my home repairs.” However, this can become increasingly difficult for friends and family. We’re all partial to the people we’re close with, and we never want to hurt them. As a result, your home may pay the price for these feelings. For example, suppose you hire your dad to patch a hole in your roof and unclog the gutters. Then, the roof patch turns out rough, and it cracks your gutters. You may not want to say anything for the risk of hurting your father’s feelings. However, you’re the one who’s left with a poor job.
The budget can become a problem with friends and family.
When you choose a professional for home repairs, you can be clear with your budget limits, and they’ll use their professional connections to help you find the supplies to keep your project within your budget. However, when you choose friends or family for your project, this can get tricky. For example, suppose you hire a close friend to install new shingles on your roof after some shingles blew away. Your friend is working hard and runs into some issues, causing you to buy a new batch of shingles due to their mistake. Next thing you know, your project is over budget, and your friend feels lousy. You may even need to halt the project due to running out of money. In the end, you’re left with a half-finished roof, no money to finish, and a friend who feels terrible for putting you in that position.
Always hire a professional for home repairs.
It’s safer, more affordable, and easier to hire a professional to handle your repairs. So, don’t risk strained relationships and subpar work just to let a friend do the job.
