How many of these house maintenance/diy type jobs do you do yourself?

[Iknowyouknow]

These are all the things around my house that need doing:

• fix kitchen cupboard door
• fix door handles
• jet wash paving stones front and back garden
• paint fence front and back garden
• decorate dc’s bedroom
• clean stone walls at front of house

I am a single parent and during lockdown my house has got really tatty as I haven’t kept up with all the maintenance around the house. I don’t know whether to get someone in and do it all or do it myself. Problem is, I can’t get the motivation. My ex used to fix everything and actually enjoyed it and that is the only thing I miss!

Wondering about who does those type of things in your home?

I decorated my entire house (painting not papering, although I've done that in the past). In the last week I've jetwashed the patio and the garden walls, and painted the fence. All tedious and time consuming but not difficult. I'd happily appear to door handles too, or and other small diy jobs - I don't pay someone to do something unless I've tried it myself first!

Anything hands on I leave to OH, I’m more the cook and cleaner but jobs like building furniture, fixing things, leaks etc is not my skill set x

In our home, DH or I would do all of those aside from the decorating which I find myself unable to achieve in one go since spinal surgery, and his eyesight is such that he'd be leaving splatters of paint everywhere and treading it into my carpets. If it was an empty or infrequently used room we'd do it over a few weekends if needs be, but we'd prefer to get a decorator in for a better finish.

I have a single friend who I help with most of her DIY jobs as she is just not DIY minded. The only thing we've outsourced has been laying a new patio on account of the fact we both have backs made of meccano .

We do most DIY jobs between us - just jet-washed the patio last weekend, have the drive way to do next weekend. Have timber coming in a couple of weeks to replace and or repair existing fencing. I would be able to do most of this on my own (and probably will end up doing so) but need a hand with any awkward lifting.

I’m very handy and do/ have done all of the above. I’ve hung doors and laid wooden floors, too.

It’s so difficult to find good tradespersons, and DH and I are quite stingy so would sooner do it ourselves than pay someone!

Yep everything on your list id do myself quite happily. Only thing I’m crap at is flat pack stuff so I grab my family to help.

I'd do it all myself but I hate DIY. What I hate more is that having workmen in (when I can get them) always seems to generate more work so I avoid that as much as possible.

Those are jobs I would do myself but there is no real reason you can't get someone in if you can afford it.

That said, no way am I hiring someone to do power washing. That's too much fun and I love doing it.

I’ll have a go at almost anything, bar any electrical work. I electrocuted myself once and it was really scary! Plus if you get it wrong it could be a fire hazard, and that would terrify me.

But then I do have lots of free time now to have a go at things. When life was a lot more stressful I did sometimes pay for things just for convenience.

I love jet washing! It’s so satisfying! I’d definitely do that, preferably on a hot sweaty day to keep cool. Also, would make a jug of pimms with lots of ice and take the outside and paint the fence. I’d save the bedroom decorating for a rainy day but would get DH to do the woodwork. Im all about instant gratification so choose jobs that make a big difference visually but leave the finer details to DH. He would (eventually) fix door handle and cupboard

I changed all the interior door handles last week because they were starting to stick. It wasn’t anywhere near as hard I thought I would be.

I decorated both DC bedrooms last summer.

I enjoy doing jobs like that but my husband much prefers playing with the kids so it’s a fair trade.

Are your kids of an age where they could help?

I'd do all of them (and have indeed done all of them!)

I love jet washing in particular.

@SingingWaffleDoggy

I love jet washing! It’s so satisfying! I’d definitely do that, preferably on a hot sweaty day to keep cool. Also, would make a jug of pimms with lots of ice and take the outside and paint the fence. I’d save the bedroom decorating for a rainy day but would get DH to do the woodwork. Im all about instant gratification so choose jobs that make a big difference visually but leave the finer details to DH. He would (eventually) fix door handle and cupboard

It's soooo satisfying. Especially when the area to be jet washed is really filthy but doesn't look like it... until you start. I always take before and after pics for extra satisfaction

I can do all sorts of things.. Everything in your list op. Dh has graciously given me my own tool drawer for my new grinder!

If possible, I (or DH) do all of those things myself, and any other DIY/maintenance that's required, using YouTube for help if I get stuck or am doing something for the first time. I call in someone for help if I can't sort it myself, or it's specialist/dangerous work.
I agree with a pp that it's smart to know your limits though r.e. lifting heavy loads, electrical or plumbing work etc.

I struggle to actually keep on top of the day to day housework, job, organising kids, trying to lose,weight and exercise more etc. I also dont know how to do some of those jobs. I am sure I could do them with the help of YouTube but would probably opt to pay someone rather than teach myself, buy the tools etc.

Door handles can be a nightmare but I'd happily give them a go and take on the rest. I love jet washing, it's so satisfying even if you do end up as dirty as the patio started!!

If you've got a local facebook group there seems to be loads of teenagers looking for summer work so things like jet washing they might be willing to do for a bit of cash.

Do the jetwashing yourself, it's the most satisfying easy job on the list.
I do my own DIY but I can't do hinges, ever.
Don't rush yourself. depending on your finances and if you want trades in you can always have a go and then call someone in if you hate it.

Between DH and I we have tackled everything from painting to remodelling and fitting a kitchen. Anything electrical is beyond both of us, I can't even wire a plug. But I can fit architrave, tile floors, coving, new skirting boards......

You tube is brilliant for learning new skills. Only thing I would say is never buy expensive new tools for a job if you're only going to use once. If you add cost of tools to materials and time its often cheaper to employ a trades person.

If I can share a tip for replacing door handles, replace them with the same brand and size so you don’t have to do anything other than replace them.

I at least start all of them, then dh and the dc feel guilty and come and help, so we finish the bigger ones together.

Children love jet washing so that is pretty much always done by them.

Lone parent here too and I will give everything a go. I enjoy decorating. Sometimes I struggle with heavy stuff so sometimes need to ask someone to help me. I am midway through laying a patio. I trued to get quotes but it was hard to get anyone so I am doing it myself.

I’d do them all and set aside weekends/book long weekend at work for the larger jobs. If I can do it I’m not paying anyone. And if I can’t do it I’ll figure out how to

Would do and have done all of them and some other things like tiling, building furniture and wallpapering. Would only get help for things needing specific knowledge, like electrics or plumbing. There are very few jobs around the house that need specialist skills and the sense of empowerment when you don't need to rely on someone else is motivation in itself.

I do all of them.