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Leave These Home Improvements to the Pros
Making home improvements yourself is a great way to increase the value of your home without having to pay a contractor or technician. But you don’t want to take on every project yourself. Whether they’re complicated, dangerous or flat-out illegal, these are the jobs Bob Vila says you should leave to the pros.
Install a gas stove
Anything involving gas can be dangerous, so you’ll want to hire a plumber to install the gas line. But gas stoves also require electricity to operate correctly, so you’ll want to hire an electrician to modify the electrical circuit, as well.
Replace light fixtures
If your changes will affect the electrical wiring, your safest choice is an electrician. Faulty wiring is one of the leading causes of house fires, and on top of the trauma of a fire, your insurance company could deny your claim if work wasn’t done by a licensed professional.
Remove old insulation
In older homes, insulation could contain asbestos, which can be harmful to your health. Hire an asbestos abatement team to protect yourself and make sure the asbestos is removed and disposed of lawfully.
Knock down a wall
Creating an open floor plan may seem simple, but your city could require a permit if the wall is structural. Call a specialist to determine if this is the case, and check with your municipality before you start swinging.
HVAC repair
Licensed professionals must undergo a thorough training and certification process to handle expensive HVAC systems and potentially dangerous chemicals such as Freon – the type of training you probably don’t have. Plus, unlicensed repair work could lead the manufacturer to void your warranty.
Hot water tank replacement
Anytime you’re dealing with electricity and gas lines, it’s a good idea to let a pro handle it. “Because of the permits, code adherences, safety regulations and risks – like possible carbon monoxide emissions – a licensed plumber is required to take on this home task,” Vila says.
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Rachel Sheller,Principal Broker, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES,Diversity Specialist, HOWNW, CSA-Certified Staging Agent-Oregon First, Realtors
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