You're spot on about sanity and free time being valuable, but honestly, it really depends on the scope of the project and your own skill set. For my last bathroom remodel, I spent around $6k total—did most of the demo, tile work, and painting myself, but hired out plumbing and electrical. Sure, I could've saved a bit more doing everything myself, but plumbing mistakes can get expensive fast (ask me how I know...). Plus, outsourcing those specialized tasks freed me up to tackle other parts of the flip sooner.
I think the key is knowing your limits and being realistic about what you can handle without burning out. DIY is great for stretching your budget, but there's definitely a tipping point where hiring a pro makes more sense financially and mentally.
"DIY is great for stretching your budget, but there's definitely a tipping point where hiring a pro makes more sense financially and mentally."
Couldn't agree more with this. I've tackled a few bathroom remodels myself, and each one taught me something new—usually the hard way. My first project was a classic case of biting off more than I could chew. Thought I'd save money by doing everything myself, including plumbing. Long story short, ended up flooding half the bathroom floor because I didn't tighten a fitting properly. That little oversight cost me an extra $800 in repairs and set me back almost two weeks.
After that experience, I learned to be honest about my skill set and limitations. For my most recent remodel, I spent around $7k total. Like you, I handled demo, painting, and tile work myself (actually found tiling pretty therapeutic once I got into the rhythm). But plumbing and electrical? Nope... hired pros without hesitation. Sure, it added to the upfront cost, but it saved me from potential disasters down the line.
One thing I've noticed is that DIY projects often look cheaper on paper until you factor in mistakes or unexpected issues. Plus, there's the mental toll of juggling your day job with late-night YouTube tutorials and weekend trips to Home Depot. At some point, sanity becomes priceless.
Still, there's nothing quite like stepping back at the end of a project and knowing you did most of it yourself—even if it's not perfect. Sounds like you struck a good balance between DIY savings and professional peace of mind. Nice job!
Your story about plumbing mishaps brought back some memories... I once had a client who insisted on DIY-ing their bathroom to save money. They did a decent job with the tile and paint, but when it came to installing the shower fixtures, things went south fast. Ended up having to call in an emergency plumber on a Sunday—ouch. Sometimes the "savings" just aren't worth the stress and extra costs. Glad you found your sweet spot between DIY and pro help though, that's key.
Did a remodel on one of my rental properties last year and thought I'd handle the plumbing myself—big mistake. Ended up with a slow leak behind the wall that went unnoticed for weeks... lesson learned, some things are just worth paying for.
"Did a remodel on one of my rental properties last year and thought I'd handle the plumbing myself—big mistake. Ended up with a slow leak behind the wall that went unnoticed for weeks... lesson learned, some things are just worth paying for."
Totally get where you're coming from with this. Plumbing is one of those sneaky things that seems straightforward until suddenly... it's not. Did you end up having to rip out drywall and redo insulation too? I've seen so many DIY bathroom remodels spiral into bigger projects because of hidden leaks or moisture damage. It's usually the small stuff behind walls or under floors that gets overlooked, and by the time you notice, damage has already spread.
I always tell folks planning remodels to factor in a bit extra in the budget for professional plumbing and electrical work—just saves headaches down the line. Curious, did this experience significantly bump up your overall remodel cost, or were you able to keep it within reason?
