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Homeowners are always looking to improve their living spaces. It could be to boost their property value, touch up the spaces they utilize every day or even just add a splash of color. With the right tools and know-how, you can get a lot done yourself. However, some projects are more involved than others. And while DIY is often a cheaper alternative to working with a contractor, it is not without risks.

If you are a newbie to diy renovation, it is best to start small and work your way up. A simple project like swapping out the light fixture, repainting a room or refinishing wood floors can have a big impact without the risk of getting in over your head. This is especially important if you are planning on moving forward with more intensive projects.

For instance, you might be tempted to move walls (even non-load-bearing ones) to reconfigure a room or create a more open floor plan. But that goes far beyond renovation or redecoration and enters the realm of major remodeling projects. These types of projects need a permit and may require an engineering review. It is a good idea to have a professional give you a quote on the cost of the project before you decide to go it alone.

In addition to ensuring that your plans are feasible, a professional can help you make sure you don’t take on too much at once. It is easy to underestimate the amount of work a project will take and then find yourself stretched thin as you try to get it all done. That can result in shoddy work and even a costly mistake.

A professional can also help you understand what you really need versus what you might want. They can walk you through the pros and cons of refinishing wood floors, adding full length mirrors to a bedroom or even just removing the carpet from a single room. They can also point you to products that will be a good fit for your budget and lifestyle.

Lastly, hiring professionals can save you money in the long run. Taking on full-scale renovation projects yourself can be expensive in the form of materials, time and stress. But more importantly, it can cost you in the form of injury. Whether you are climbing on a ladder painting crown molding or breathing in toxic paint fumes, accidents can happen.

There is no one answer to this question as it depends on your personal preferences and the scope of the renovation. However, if you have the time and the motivation to tackle your project yourself, it can be very rewarding. Just be sure to consider all of the costs and risks before making a decision. And remember that if you do get in over your head, it is always better to ask for help than to try to fumble your way through. And, if you do get injured, contact your insurance company to learn more about how your policy can help cover the damage.

Home improvement projects can be an exciting way to spruce up your home, but it can also lead to disaster if you’re not careful. From poor workmanship to an unfinished job and a bill that keeps growing, hiring a bad contractor can put your dream renovation project in jeopardy. In fact, complaints filed against home improvement contractors rank among the top five complaint categories in New York City year after year. To avoid a homeowner nightmare, follow these six tips for finding the right professional.

Before you hire a home improvement contractor, make sure they are registered with the Department of Consumer Affairs, and that their registration number is included in all advertisements, contracts and estimates. Also, be sure the business is bonded and insured. This provides financial protection for you in the event a worker is injured on your property or damage occurs to your home while work is being performed.

Ask friends and family for recommendations and do an online search to find local contractors. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, request a written proposal from each one. This should include specifics about the work to be done, how long it will take and a payment schedule. It should also specify whether the contractor is licensed and insured, as well as provide a list of past clients.

If you feel a contractor has committed a violation of the law, file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs. An administrative judge will decide the case and can order a contractor to pay restitution, fine them or even revoke their license.

A reputable contractor will have the technical know-how to look for the best solution to your problem. For example, if you have air leaks, a good home improvement contractor will check the entire house to see where the leaks are coming from. They will then use a product such as Dow’s GREAT STUFF PRO ™ Insulating Foam Sealant to prevent air leakage and save you money on your energy bills.

Lastly, a good home improvement contractor will stay in communication with you throughout the project. They will answer your questions and keep you updated on progress. This will help to alleviate any concerns you might have and allow you to relax while the project is underway.

A reputable home improvement contractor will not make any significant misrepresentations or false promises, or commit acts of fraud with respect to any project. This law is enforced by the Suffolk, Nassau, Putnam and Rockland counties as well as the five boroughs of New York City. If you believe a home improvement contractor has violated this law, file a complaint with the Department. An administrative law judge will review the case and may order the home improvement contractor to pay restitution, issue a fine or even revoke their license. If a person is not able to pay the restitution, the department can tap into a trust fund that was established with funds from licensees.

Home remodeling and renovation projects can be a lot of fun, but they can also be stressful. Luckily, there are numerous resources on the internet to help you with your project. From design inspiration to estimating costs, there is something for everyone on the web. Here are a few of the best websites to help you with your home improvement project.

Apartment Therapy

This website has several different sections that can inspire and guide homeowners through their home remodel process. It has house tours, before and after images and articles about home remodeling trends. It even has a feature that allows you to ask the experts for personal feedback.

Remodelista

This site is similar to Dwell, but without the magazine. This website offers a free subscription for access to its pictures and articles. It is also a great resource to find home remodeling contractors. It also has a very diverse style, which can be helpful if you have a difficult time finding inspiration.

Young House Love

This is a very popular and comprehensive website that walks you through various steps in the home remodeling process. It has detailed tutorials on how to do almost any project you can imagine. It also has many articles about interior design, gardening and home cleaning. Its layout is very easy to navigate.

HomeTips

This website is a massive repository of 2,000+ articles that explore every facet of home maintenance and renovation projects. It has articles about everything from plumbing fixes to putting in new flooring. It is a must-have for any homeowner looking to improve their home.

Ron Hazelton

If you want to tackle a few DIY projects, this is the website for you. It has a ton of tips and tricks on how to do everything from laying laminate floors to installing a new light fixture. The site is geared towards the average homeowner and includes video tutorials that walk you through each step.

Family Handyman

Family Handyman calls itself the DIYers’ friend, and they truly are! This site has a huge library of how-to guides on nearly any kind of project you could imagine. Their library is also full of digital downloads and printables that can make the process much easier.

Dwell

While Dwell started out as a magazine, they now have a substantial online presence. The website has photos and articles that can be viewed for free, but to access their full archive and tours you will need to pay a subscription. While the website does skew slightly to the Euro-Modern minimalist side, it can be a good source of inspiration for any remodel project.

Taunton’s

Taunton’s used to be a stellar source of home building and remodeling information, but it has shifted a little in recent years to focus on the needs of regular homeowners. The site still has tons of helpful information, but it does have a somewhat professional tone to it.

The Home Advisor is a fantastic resource for finding out what kinds of projects cost. The website will detail the typical cost for various types of projects, but it is often better to use other sites like CostHelper. These sites will give you a range of prices from various contributors, which can be more accurate than simply using Google.

Home Improvement star Debbe Dunning rose to fame in the 90s as Heidi Keppert, Tim Allen’s brash Tool Time cheesecake sidekick. Now, decades after the show ended, Dunning is back in the spotlight with a new starring role as well as a host of other TV projects.

Dunning grew up in Burbank, California. She graduated from John Burroughs High School where she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen. After graduating, she began modeling and was signed by the Judith Fontaine Modeling & Talent Agency. Her All-American good looks landed her print work for Miller Beer, and she soon moved on to TV commercials for Foot Locker and Ford.

In 1986, she entered a Miller Beer bikini contest in Hermosa Beach and won. The $500 prize money went towards her parents’ vacation fund, and this helped her realize that she might be able to make it in the show business. Dunning’s career took off from there, and she starred in a number of television movies, most notably Dangerous Curves.

After a number of guest appearances on the hit sitcom, Home Improvement, Dunning was cast as Heidi Keppert in Season 3. Original Tool Time girl Pamela Anderson left the show to film Baywatch, and producers were looking for a replacement. Dunning’s winning audition was enough to secure her the part as the Taylor family’s newest “Tool Time” assistant.

She would play the role for eight seasons before she left the series to pursue other acting opportunities. Her recurring role on the soap opera Wicked Wicked Games and a role in the movie The Wild Bunch helped her build up her resume. Dunning has also taken on a few hosting gigs as well as a celebrity challenge and American Gladiators champ.

The former teen actress is now an adult and has a son named Spencer. She still enjoys making convention appearances where she will sign merch and meet fans. She has also launched a Caemo page where she can record custom videos for fans for a reasonable fee.

When she’s not traveling to the nearest dude ranch, Dunning likes to spend her time on the golf course or doing charity work. She has even reunited with some of her old Home Improvement co-stars at various golf tournaments. She played alongside Tim Allen, Zachery Ty Bryan and Richard Karn at the George Lopez Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic, and partnered with the cast again in the tv special Tim Allen Presents: A User’s Guide to the Universe.

Dunning is now a regular on RFD-TV’s The Cowboy Channel with her show, Debbe Dunning’s Dude Ranch Roundup. The travel show follows Dunning as she visits a variety of America’s top tourist ranches and gives viewers an insider’s look at the world of dude ranches. The show is currently in its third season, and the 51-year-old says that her years on Home Improvement prepared her for this new adventure. She hopes that viewers will find her show informative and entertaining.

Homeowners rely on DIY methods to save money, do their own work and get the job done quickly. But it’s important to consider whether a DIY approach is appropriate and safe.

Most homeowners have some experience with diy projects, but there’s a wide range of skills and capabilities among people who choose to do a project on their own. Some homeowners prefer to hire professionals for larger remodeling or design projects. Others like to take on smaller diy tasks, such as painting a room or replacing cabinet hardware.

There’s no shortage of diy home improvement ideas and step-by-step instructions for these projects. Pinterest, HGTV and other decor and remodel blogs and websites are filled with ideas for decorating and remodeling projects that can be easily completed without hiring a contractor. The internet also has tutorial videos for many DIY projects, making it easy for even novices to learn the necessary skills.

DIY projects can be great fun and a way to add a personal touch to a room. But they can also be very expensive if you make mistakes. A simple mistake can turn into a bigger problem, such as accidentally ripping up plaster when removing an old towel bar. Alternatively, you may not have the right tools or supplies for the task at hand. In addition to the expense of additional materials, it can be time consuming to go back and redo your work.

In some cases, it may be cheaper to hire a professional instead of trying to do the project yourself. But the decision should be based on an honest assessment of one’s own skill level and how much time to spend on the project. It’s important to avoid doing any work that isn’t within a person’s abilities.

When it comes to diy home improvement, a little bit of caution can help keep everyone happy and the project successful. For example, homeowners should think twice about directing exhaust fans and furnaces to an attic or garage, as this can promote wood rot or mold problems, according to Family Handyman. Similarly, if a home has improperly sealed vents at the roofline, air can escape into the house and trap toxins, dirt and moisture.

While smart sellers will double down on inspections and disclose any diy work to prospective buyers, some DIYers are overconfident in their own abilities. In fact, four in 10 homeowners in a recent NerdWallet survey confessed to botching a DIY home project. And that can cost them thousands, particularly if the botch is a structural issue that requires a permit or a major renovation. NerdWallet advises consumers to carefully weigh the pros and cons of going the do-it-yourself route before tackling any major home improvement project. It’s also a good idea to check your home insurance and homeowner’s policies to ensure you have the protections you need in case something goes wrong. This is especially important for older homes or those with complex plumbing and electrical systems.

When you’re remodeling your home, finding the right contractor to do the work is crucial. After all, many home improvement projects require a permit to complete and could have costly consequences if not done correctly. For the average homeowner, however, navigating the process of finding contractors can be difficult. “Every project is unique and requires a tailored approach from the right contractor to be successful,” says Matt Ehrlichman, CEO of Porch Group. “Homeowners should start their search with a focused plan, thorough research and a trusted network for a smooth and rewarding experience.”

The first step in finding home improvement contractors is to create a list of potential candidates. While you may not need to interview more than a few, it’s best to be prepared with a full list so you can compare candidates and find the one who is a good fit for your needs.

Ask friends, family members and co-workers for recommendations, and don’t be afraid to reach out to your social media network as well. Also, look for references from past remodeling projects. These are often a great way to learn about a contractor’s professionalism, work ethic and quality of work. If a contractor’s portfolio doesn’t include enough completed projects or includes only photos of the finished project without any pictures from before the remodel, this is a sign that they may not be able to produce a high-quality job.

You can also check online reviews to see how others have found their home improvement contractors. Sites like Angie’s List allow you to narrow down your options based on specific criteria, such as years in business and licenses required by your state. Another option is Consumer Reports’ Checkbook, a service that’s completely free and doesn’t accept advertising. It surveys its own subscribers (as well as those of Consumer Reports, which provided early funding) to provide apples-to-apples pricing information based on secret shopping.

Once you have your list of potential contractors, take the time to visit each of their websites or meet in person and review the details of their proposals. This will give you a sense of each contractor’s personality and work style as well as their prices. A good contractor should be able to answer all of your questions, and they will make the whole process as painless as possible.

Finally, be wary of non-local contractors who show up at your door unsolicited to offer their services. These are sometimes referred to as storm chasers, and they can be difficult to track down if something goes wrong or you need follow-up repairs.

Once you’ve narrowed your choices to three or more candidates, it’s a good idea to get each of them to submit a bid for the job. Keep in mind that the lowest bid is not necessarily the best choice, and it’s a good idea to ask for detailed proposals with timelines and cost estimates for each stage of the project. Be sure to compare the bids from each contractor and note the differences in price, materials, warranty terms and any other important details that you can use to make your final decision.