That $600 drainage fix I tried to DIY last spring

Rented a mini excavator for the weekend to fix a slope issue on a new build site near Austin, thought I'd save like $1,200 by doing it myself instead of subbing it out. Ended up hitting a gas line on day one, cost $800 in fines and had to hire a crew anyway to finish the grading properly. Anyone else have a DIY moment on site that ended up costing way more than just paying a pro from the start?

2 comments

2 Comments

sethb457d ago

Man I used to be the same way. Always thought I could outsmart the pros and save a few bucks. But that gas line story is exactly the kind of wakeup call that made me start swallowing my pride and just paying for the right guy. Sometimes the cheapest option really is the one with the pros.

jamiew837d ago

I get what you're saying, but I actually see it differently. Sure, some jobs like gas lines are no joke, but there's a middle ground that people skip. Not every job needs a licensed pro. I've watched guys pay 500 bucks to have someone hang a TV or replace a faucet when it's a 30 minute job with a YouTube video. The real trick is knowing which things you can handle and which ones you absolutely shouldn't touch. A gas line or electrical panel is one thing, but swapping out a toilet or patching drywall is totally different. So isn't it more about picking your battles than just always calling the pro?