6 Home Repairs Most Homeowners Should Never DIY Before Selling

Tackling home repairs yourself is a common approach for homeowners looking to save money before listing their property. Whether you’re preparing to sell a home in Atlanta, GA or Austin, TX, there are plenty of smaller projects a handy homeowner may be able to handle. 

But there are also some home repairs you should never DIY unless you have the right training, experience, and tools. Electrical work, plumbing, roofing, and structural repairs can create safety hazards, code violations, and expensive problems when they’re done incorrectly. Before picking up your tools, consider whether the money you might save is worth the potential risk to your home and your sale. 

Start with permits before you pick up a tool 

One of the most overlooked steps in any DIY project is pulling the proper permits. Before starting any significant work, check whether a permit is required by your local building department and secure it before you begin. 

In some states, sellers are legally required to disclose unpermitted work to potential buyers, which can hurt your sale price or even expose you to legal liability after closing. Getting the permit upfront is almost always cheaper and less stressful than dealing with the consequences later.

>>Read: Do You Need a Building Permit? 

What inspectors see

Many homeowners assume the scope of a project determines whether a permit is needed, but that assumption can become expensive. 

Jennifer Killebrew, CEO of Metro Code, LLC, warns that even work perceived as minor can create serious complications. 

“The mistake we most often see during inspections is homeowners completing work without pulling a permit, assuming it’s a minor job. Unpermitted work can surface during a home sale and force costly retroactive corrections, or in some cases, opening up finished walls to verify code compliance. A quick call or online search at your local building department before you start can save you from a major headache at closing.”

The risk of non-disclosure

Even when a general contractor is brought in to handle the work properly, the obligation to disclose doesn’t go away once the project is done. 

If you’re unsure whether your state requires disclosure of unpermitted work, research the rules before beginning the project. 

Jason Lajeunesse, President of River Birch Builders in Portsmouth, NH, has seen the fallout firsthand. 

“Hiring a general contractor ensures your project is fully permitted and built to code by insured, licensed professionals. Skipping this crucial step and failing to disclose the work later can completely derail a home sale through retroactive fees, forced demolition, or legal battles.”

If you want to stay hands-on but aren’t sure where to start, consulting a contractor early can help you determine which portions of the project you can reasonably tackle yourself. 

Not sure who to ask? Review these questions to ask a general contractor before your first conversation. 

Miguel Silva and Adam Bennett of Modern Touch Contracting Team recommend being upfront about your intentions from the start. 

“Don’t be afraid to call a contractor before you start your DIY renovation or repairs. Be honest with your contractor about your intent to do the repairs yourself and the fact that you’re requesting their assistance with their knowledge, not their service. You will probably have to pay them a fee but that fee grants you their years of knowledge and experience to help guide you through the project. This help can be priceless!”

1. Electrical work 

Electrical work is one of the home repairs most homeowners shouldn’t DIY without proper training and experience. While changing a lightbulb is simple, accessing electrical boxes, installing fixtures, or replacing and adding wiring comes with a much higher level of risk. 

When electrical work is done incorrectly, it can create shock and fire hazards. It can also be difficult for an inexperienced homeowner to determine whether instructions found online are appropriate for their home’s specific electrical system. 

Bryan Gibbs of Inspector Gibby sees the consequences of DIY electrical work regularly. 

“Plumbing and electrical issues are among the most frequent things I see that are DIY, but not done correctly. The danger of DIY work is that you simply don’t know what you don’t know. Homeowners often treat electrical upgrades like a simple puzzle where a working light switch means success. But cutting corners like skipping mandatory GFCI safety protection, running unprotected wires without a rigid conduit, or overloading panels with double-tapped breakers creates serious shock and fire hazards. Nothing wrong with DIY, but it is important to know your limitations, and when in doubt, call a professional.”

2. Plumbing

Plumbing is another home repair to approach carefully before deciding to DIY. Larger plumbing jobs require knowledge of your home’s system and local building codes, and mistakes can lead to leaks, burst pipes, or water damage.

Problems are especially troublesome when they develop inside walls or other areas where damage may go unnoticed.

Before attempting anything like replacing a pipe or installing new fixtures, consult a licensed plumber. These common plumbing questions can help you prepare for the conversation and determine whether the project is appropriate to handle yourself. 

Paying for professional guidance upfront may be less expensive than correcting both the original issue and damage caused by an unsuccessful repair. 

3. Full bathrooms remodels

A full bathroom remodel can look like a straightforward DIY project, but it often involves several specialized trades at once, including plumbing, electrical work, waterproofing, and finish carpentry.

Those systems also need to work together correctly and comply with building codes. Bathroom remodel mistakes in any one of these areas can become costly, particularly if you’re renovating shortly before putting your home on the market. 

4. Foundation and crawl space repairs

Foundation and crawl space repairs may look manageable on the surface, but these projects are serious endeavors requiring specialized tools and training most homeowners simply don’t have. 

Failing to properly address foundation issues can threaten the structural integrity of your entire home, and an incorrect repair can make the original problem worse.

Depending on the issue, foundation repairs can require construction equipment, hydraulic lifts, or other specialized tools. Rather than taking shortcuts, partner with a professional to ensure these critical repairs are made correctly the first time.

5. Roof replacement or repairs

Roofing is both technically challenging and physically dangerous. Replacing shingles or repairing structural issues can be tempting given the cost of professional roofing services, but mistakes can create bigger problems. 

When shingles aren’t placed properly, insulation is lacking, or chimneys aren’t adequately navigated, serious problems follow.

The true cost of cutting corners

The cost savings of DIY roofing can disappear quickly if the work has to be corrected later.

Seemingly small decisions, such as choosing the wrong sealant or fasteners or placing them incorrectly, can affect the performance of the roof. There is also the safety risk involved with working at height.

If you’re inexperienced with roofing, this is one of the home repairs that’s generally better left to a qualified professional.

6. Replacing siding 

Siding replacement can look simple from the ground, but installing it properly across an entire home takes skill and attention to detail.   Even small misalignments can be noticeable. More importantly, incorrectly installed siding can allow water and weather intrusion, increase energy costs, invite pests, and lead to structural damage over time.

Add-on structures around the exterior deserve the same scrutiny. 

Kenneth Logan of Hill Property Inspections notes that “add-on decks may not be permitted or built to industry standards.” 

If you’re replacing siding or adding exterior structures to increase your home’s value before a sale, make sure a licensed professional is part of the process from the start.

How to decide whether you should DIY a home repair

Not all DIY home repairs are created equal. Basic projects can often be handled by homeowners who have the right tools and feel comfortable doing the work.

The decision becomes more important when a project involves electrical systems, plumbing, structural components, permits, significant safety risks, or expensive consequences if something goes wrong.

Before starting a repair, ask yourself:

• Do I have experience completing this type of project?
• Does the work require a permit or licensed professional?
• Could doing it incorrectly create a safety issue?
• Could a mistake damage other parts of the home?
• Will the repair be visible or scrutinized during the selling process?
• Would correcting a DIY mistake cost more than hiring a professional initially

If you’re unsure about any of those questions, getting professional guidance can help you decide which parts of the project you can handle yourself and which are better outsourced. 

Know when to call a pro

There’s a lot to be said for the peace of mind that comes from partnering with a licensed electrician, plumber, roofer, remodeling company, or contractor. Before charging ahead with any DIY home repair, take the time to understand the full scope of the work, the risks involved, and the potential value of bringing in a professional. In many cases, the cost of getting it right the first time is a fraction of what it takes to fix it later, especially when your home sale is on the line.

Annie Higbee, Broker of Down Home Maine Real Estate, sums it up well. “Many people get wrapped up in the details when doing DIY. Always keep in mind your resale value. If you do not complete the big things, your new project may not resell in an emergency. Make sure to do the big things first: foundation, roof, electrical, plumbing, windows. After those are done you can begin to work on beauty. That is just as important but lower on the hierarchical ladder.”

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