Most homeowners, even those who have what they would consider an "outstanding" home, have somewhere in their minds a certain project or "slight modification" they would like to undertake in the not too distant future.  Even those who won't admit it to you readily would probably say, "Well, if the world was perfect, we'd take down this wall here and....." or "We completely love our place except for those bushes along the right side...".  Those are just a couple of examples of some of very natural comments I have heard over time from friends, neighbors, and clients when we're just chatting about their homes in general.

So, the chances are good that you are the same, and that perhaps, you too, have a particular home improvement you would like to undertake soon.  If that is the case, I strongly suggest that you think about it twice before deciding to take on an improvement project by yourself. 

You may have a lot of energy and the encouraging support of friends and family, but if your level of skill, tools, budget, and/or available time do not match up, you might be better served hiring a contractor to do the work for you.  You might also consider delaying the project until you are better prepared to take on the task at hand.  Whatever you do, don't rush things; doing so will almost assure you of issues you may be not be counting on.

Over the years I have seen a lot of properties where everything is oust, and all of the sudden you get to an area where that D-I-Y (Do It Yourself) patio, flooring, kitchen counter, or plumbing project just didn't go right.  In most cases, you can tell right away that the work was not done by a professional.  Often, those "slight wrinkles" in the property become the only thing that potential buyers remember about it, and unfortunately sometimes that can end up driving those buyers elsewhere.  This can obviously have a negative impact in the overall marketability of your property.

I suggest consulting with a reputable, licensed, and bonded contractor and getting a quote for the work you are considering.  A professional just might be able to get the task done faster than you, achieve a better result, and do it at slightly over the cost you would have incurred by yourself anyway.  Long term, you may end up saving not only a lot of time and effort, but a significant amount of money in the potential value of your home.