42 THE QUEENS COURIER • AT HOME • JULY 11, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Plan, fund, go: 5 tips for organizing your next DIY project
If you prefer to take on your own home
improvement projects instead of hiring
professional craft smen, you’re part of a
growing trend.
Americans are increasingly aware of the
money they can save by completing their
own renovations rather than paying premium
prices for the work of others. And
that’s refl ected in sales fi gures; not surprisingly,
the value of the DIY market rose
a full 45 percent between 2012 and 2018,
from $30.2 billion to $43.7 billion.
With careful planning and budgeting,
DIY projects can be fun, effi cient and creatively
satisfying while allowing you to
customize your fi nished product to your
own tastes.
Is there a new DIY project in your
future? If so, consider these tips for forming
a workable strategy that ensures you’re
prepared for every step of the process.
• Create a wish list. If you’re like most
people, you have a list a mile long of the
updates or fi xes you’d like to make to
your home. Th at ever-evolving wish list
is one of the joys (and one of the challenges)
of homeownership. Create your
own list, then determine which projects
you can do on your own and which ones
will require professional help. Th is will
give you a starting point.
• Prioritize the projects. Once you have
your list, you’ll need to prioritize and
decide which projects come fi rst. Take
an objective look and assess “need”
versus “want” to help you rank order.
Improvements may be driven by plans
to sell your home, host an upcoming
social event or welcome a new family
member. Consider all the variables.
In a recent Coinstar survey, nearly 40
percent of homeowners’ DIY projects
were initiated to increase the value of
their home.
• Set budgets. Evaluate your top projects
and estimate how much each one will
cost. Some may be beyond your budget,
some will be surprisingly aff ordable,
and others may be achievable aft er you
save a little money. One funding source
you may not have considered is the
spare change laying around your house
or car. Round it up and you may be surprised
how far it goes in fi nancing your
project. About half of U.S. homeowners
surveyed already use spare change for
DIY projects or like the idea of doing so,
reports Coinstar.
• Plan time and resources. Before scheduling
your DIY project, think about
your free time and if your project has
a deadline. To what extent are your
nights and weekends open? Do you have
the skills to get started on your own?
Watching a YouTube video may give
you that needed knowledge, or you may
need the help of family or friends who
can complement your skills or assist you
in meeting a deadline.
• Get supplies, then jump in. Now that
you’ve zeroed in on your project, identifi
ed fi nancing and recruited helpers,
you’re nearly ready to go. Next, create
a supply list of the tools and materials
you’ll need. To save money, check
with those you know who may be willing
to loan you tools or other supplies.
Community groups like Nextdoor are
also a great resource. When buying new,
save receipts in case you purchase the
wrong item, don’t like something when
you get it home or buy too much.
With a little planning, DIY projects can
be cost-eff ective, fun and truly rewarding
to complete. When it comes to fi nancing,
don’t forget to cash in spare change at your
neighborhood Coinstar kiosk. It’s easy to
use and you’ll have the option of getting
cash or putting funds onto a no-fee e-gift
card for retailers like Amazon.com or
Home Depot.
Courtesy BPT
/WWW.QNS.COM
/Amazon.com
