How to Decide When to Do It Yourself or Call In a Pro

Dusty Rhodes • October 16, 2023
Skill set, budget and your level of patience are just a few things to think about before you start a home improvement project.


The quickest way to appreciate tradespeople is to tackle a home improvement project yourself. Depending on the project, the learning curve could be steep and the lessons learned expensive. So how do you know whether a project is going to be one of those projects, or if all you need is a toolbox and some patience? Here are some tips for deciding whether to DIY vs hire a professional.


When you might want to consider DIY


When you’re low on funds. Hiring help can be expensive, and finding the right person for the job can be challenging. This is one of the best reasons to DIY since the more you do, the more you’ll learn about tools and techniques. Start with small projects, and you may end up building your own home one day. 


When the work can be easily and cheaply redone if you mess up. Remember, you can always repaint or sand down a badly patched wall. 


When the project has an abundance of helpful step-by-step videos on YouTube. Vet the experts you’re learning from, and read the comments below the videos to see how helpful others found them.


When the project is simple, requires few tools, and can be done in an hour. Think hanging shelves or curtain rods — though you may want to consider hiring an expert installer if you need window treatments for more than one room or have complicated window styles.


When the project involves a part of the home that isn’t essential for daily living. For instance, if you’re retiling the bathroom floor and have to remove the toilet to complete the work, you want to be sure you can finish as quickly as possible so you’re not without the use of your toilet.


When you don’t mind looking at something done imperfectly. Doing anything for the first time involves a learning curve.

 

When the project, such as container gardens or wall stickers, comes in a kit you can easily assemble. 


When you have the skills, experience and knowledge to tackle the task at hand. If you’ve never hung a shelf, you might not want to start learning by installing built-ins. 


When you have access to tools, either through borrowing from friends or tool lending libraries, or renting the equipment you need. The right tools make the work easier and increase the likelihood of good-looking results.


When it’s hard to find a tradesperson or you would have to wait months to start work on a project that’s important to you. 


When to consider hiring a pro


When the work would change the structure of your home or property. Removing a support wall or building a retaining wall could impact the safety of your home. This requires a great deal of knowledge and expertise. 


When the project is technical and requires a high degree of skill and precision. Cutting molding at the wrong angle is easily remedied or repaired at minimal cost. Cutting a precise shape into a hardwood floor to place a bracket for a railing? Not so much. If the job is high stakes, requires precision and would be costly to repair, you may want to leave it for a pro.


When the work poses danger to you or your home if done incorrectly. Think electricity and plumbing. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could shock yourself — or worse — or create a leak that will damage your home. 


When the work requires a permit and inspection. By their nature, projects that require oversight by building officials in your county or city building department are complex and have higher stakes. 


When you need specialized equipment. Unless you have a tool library or a tool rental business near you, the cost of buying equipment for some projects can exceed the cost you would have paid for a pro who already owns the equipment.


When the project is joyless and would require a lot of time. Sure, you can do the work, and you will probably feel great satisfaction when it’s done, but life is short. Unless you find joy in building that retaining wall, let a pro do it.


When a project involves a large, prominent, highly visible part of the home. Laying out elaborate wood patterns that require precision cuts and leveling on a main wall is probably not where you want to start learning.


When you have a lot of unfinished projects. Even the most enthusiastic DIYer can run out of steam. Know your limits.






Source: Zillow

Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

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How To Make Sure Your Sale Crosses the Finish Line

By Dusty Rhodes • November 10, 2025
If there was one simple step that could help make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn’t you want to know about it? There’s a lot that happens from the time your house goes under contract to closing day. And a few things still have to go right for the deal to go through. But here’s what a lot of sellers may not know. There’s one part of the process where some homeowners are hitting a road bump that’s causing buyers to back out these days. But don’t worry. The majority of these snags are completely avoidable, especially when you understand what’s causing them and how to be proactive. That’s where a great agent (and a little prep) can make all the difference. What’s Causing Some Buyers To Back Out The latest data from Redfin says 15% of pending home sales are falling through . And that’s not wildly higher than the 12% norm from 2017-2019. But it is an increase. That means roughly 1 in 7 deals today don’t make it to the closing table. But, at the same time, 6 out of 7 do. So, the majority of sellers never face this problem – and odds are, you won’t either. But you can help make it even less likely if you know how to get ahead. You might assume the main reason buyers are backing out today is financing. But that’s actually not the case. The most common deal breaker today, by far, is inspection and repair issues (see graph below):

Planning To Sell in 2026? Start the Prep Now

By Dusty Rhodes • November 3, 2025
You’ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do this year could be the difference between a smooth sale and a stressful one. If you’re thinking of selling next spring (the busiest season in real estate), the smartest move you can make is to start prepping now. As Realtor.com says : “If you’re aiming to sell in 2026, now is the time to start preparing , especially if you want to maximize the spring market’s higher buyer activity.” Because the reality is, from small repairs to touch-ups and decluttering, the earlier you start, the easier it’ll be when you’re ready to list . And, the better your house will look when it’s time for it to hit the market. Why Starting Now Matters Talk to any good agent and they’ll tell you that you can’t afford to skip repairs in today’s market. There are more homes for sale right now than there have been in years. And since buyers have more to choose from, your house is going to need to look its best to stand out and get the attention it deserves. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to do a full-on renovation. But it does mean you’ll want to tackle some projects before you sell. Your house will sell if it’s prepped right. And you don’t want to be left scrambling in the spring to get the work done. Because here’s the advantage you have now. If you start this year, you’ll be able to space those upgrades and fixes out however you want to. More time. Less stress. No sense of being rushed or racing the clock. Whether it’s fixing that leaky faucet, repainting your front door, or finally replacing your roof, you can do it right if you start now. And you have the time to find great contractors without blowing your budget or paying extra for rushed jobs. Get an Agent’s Advice Early To figure out what’s worth doing and what’s not in your market, you need to talk to a local agent early. That way you’re not wasting your time or money on something that won’t help your bottom line. As Realtor.com explains : “Respondents overwhelmingly agree that both buyers and sellers enjoy a smoother, more successful experience when they start early. In fact, a recent survey reveals that, for sellers, bringing a real estate agent into the process sooner can pay off significantly. ” A skilled agent can tell you: What buyers in your local area are looking for The repairs or updates you need to do before you list How to prioritize the projects, if you can’t do them all Skilled local contractors who can help you get the work done And having that information up front is a game changer. To give you a rough idea of what may come up in that conversation, here are the most common updates agents are recommending today, according to research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR): 

How to Move Out After Selling a House

By Dusty Rhodes • October 13, 2025
From the first coat of paint you used to freshen up your house’s trim to the stress of wrangling your way to a deal, you’ve been through a lot in that place. Now you’ve made it to the final hurdle of selling a home: moving out! Don’t worry, this is the easy part… but you want to do it right. Here’s how to get through the last leg of your journey without any bumps along the way. How to move out on time Once the paperwork is signed at closing, the buyers will officially own the house—and you won’t. That means that, technically, if you or your stuff is still there after the close, “the buyer could evict you,” says Joshua Jarvis , founder of Jarvis Team Realty in Duluth, GA. So make sure to have your exit strategy in place! Still, most buyers will understand if you need a bit more time and have a legitimate reason—like if you can’t move until the weekend due to your work schedule. Just be sure to discuss these issues as soon as possible before the close, so your buyers can plan accordingly. Decide what to leave behind To make sure you’re leaving behind everything the buyer wanted—and that you agreed to—double-check the closing documents . There should be an itemized list of what comes with the house . And even if the buyers didn’t formally request them, it’s just good form to leave certain types of things behind. Such as? “Generally speaking, you should leave anything that’s bolted to the wall,” says Jarvis. “Some homeowners want to take their fans and blinds to the next home, but generally if it’s screwed in, it stays.” Also, if you and the buyers agreed to transfer any services—such as alarm monitoring or pest control —be sure to set that up before you go. Leave the buyers a detailed note in the house, or ask your agent to get in touch with theirs to make sure the transfer goes smoothly. If you do inadvertently take an item that the buyers had requested, they have the right to ask for it back—and they could potentially sue you in civil court for the cost of a replacement. So, when in doubt, feel free to check with the buyers before you grab and go. But don’t leave anything else behind Just as important as what you leave behind is what you don’t. Your buyers have a right to move into a home that’s been cleared of furniture and other movable items they didn’t expressly request. “Some folks leave all kinds of unwanted clothes, furniture, paint cans, and other items, thinking they are helping the buyers,” Jarvis says. If you truly think your buyers might love to have your old planting pots or kiddie equipment, go ahead and ask—but please don’t assume they’ll welcome your leftovers. Even if you’re careful, you might forget something—at which point the buyers may contact their agent to get it back to you, but they also have the legal right to just keep or get rid of it. So double-check areas (e.g., the attic, garage, basement, storage shed, kitchen, and bathroom drawers) where people commonly overlook items. Clean up It’s common courtesy to leave the place not only clear of your possessions but also clean. However, that doesn’t mean you have to leave it immaculate. “Generally, you shouldn’t have to pay to have it deep cleaned,” Jarvis says. In most cases, a simple broom-clean will do. That means wiping down the countertops, cleaning out drawers, sweeping or vacuuming all the floors, and giving the bathroom and kitchen appliances a once-over so the new owners aren’t grossed out when they arrive. Are you forgetting anything? Before you close the door for the last time, run through a quick checklist. Did you eyeball every room for stray items? Have you forwarded your mail and turned off the utilities? Is the water running in the jacuzzi? We all get in a bit of a rush even in the best planned moves, but you won’t be able to get back in, so it can’t hurt to do a final run-through before you move out. Once you’re ready, it’s time to leave. You can drop a line to your real estate agent to let them know you’re out, although it’s usually a courtesy more than a necessity. If you’re feeling truly gracious, feel free to leave a note, card, or bottle of bubbly congratulating the people who’ve inherited your former home. Given all the fond memories you’ve built between those walls, wouldn’t it be nice to start the home’s new owners off on the right foot? And buy yourself some Champagne, too. Make it the good stuff—you’ve earned it.