DIY vs. Hiring a Pro: Which Renovations Should You Tackle Before Selling Your Home?

(Published: April 14, 2025)

So, you’ve decided to sell your home! It’s an exciting (and sometimes stressful) time. As you look around your property, you’re likely thinking about ways to spruce it up and make it irresistible to potential buyers. This often leads to the big question: which renovations should you tackle yourself (DIY), and when is it absolutely essential to call in the professionals?

Making the right choice isn’t just about saving money upfront; it’s about maximizing your home’s appeal, potentially increasing its sale price, and avoiding costly mistakes that could actually deter buyers or derail a sale. Let’s break down how to decide.

The Allure of DIY: Saving Money & Adding Sweat Equity

The biggest draw for DIY is, of course, cost savings on labour. If you’ve got the skills, the time, and the patience, tackling certain projects yourself can feel rewarding and significantly reduce your pre-sale expenses.

Projects Often Suitable for DIY (If You’re Confident & Capable):

1. Interior Painting: This is arguably the #1 DIY pre-sale task. A fresh coat of neutral paint (think greys, beiges, off-whites) can instantly brighten rooms, make spaces look larger and cleaner, and depersonalize the home for buyers.
   
   • Pro Tip: Focus on quality prep work (cleaning walls, patching holes, taping edges) for a professional-looking finish. Poor paint jobs are noticeable.
2. Minor Landscaping & Curb Appeal Boosts: First impressions matter! Mowing the lawn, weeding garden beds, trimming hedges, planting some colourful annuals, pressure washing walkways, and painting the front door are high-impact, relatively low-skill tasks.
3. Hardware Updates: Swapping out dated cabinet pulls, door handles, and light fixtures (simple swaps, not complex rewiring!) can modernize a space surprisingly effectively with minimal technical skill.
4. Deep Cleaning & Decluttering: While not technically a renovation, this is crucial and definitely DIY. A sparkling clean, clutter-free home shows better than almost anything else. Renting a carpet cleaner or steam cleaner can also fall into the DIY category.
5. Minor Repairs: Fixing a leaky faucet (if you know how!), patching small drywall holes, replacing a cracked outlet cover, or re-caulking tubs and sinks are often manageable DIY tasks.

When to Call in the Professionals: Protecting Your Investment & Ensuring Quality

While saving money is tempting, some jobs require specialized skills, licenses, and equipment. Botching these can lead to expensive fixes, safety hazards, failed inspections, and ultimately, a lower selling price or deals falling through.

Projects Best Left to the Pros:

1. Electrical Work: Anything beyond changing a simple fixture (and even then, only if you’re 100% comfortable and know how to turn off the power safely). Rewiring, adding circuits, upgrading electrical panels – this requires a licensed electrician for safety and code compliance. Faulty wiring is a major red flag for buyers and inspectors.
2. Major Plumbing: Moving pipes, replacing shower valves, major drain work, or installing new water lines should be handled by a licensed plumber. Water damage from incorrect plumbing is costly and destructive.
3. Roofing Repairs or Replacement: Your roof is critical. Unless it’s replacing a single, easily accessible shingle (and you know what you’re doing), leave roof work to insured professionals. Safety is paramount, and improper installation can lead to leaks and void warranties.
4. Structural Changes: Removing walls (especially load-bearing ones), altering layouts, or foundation work absolutely requires professional engineers and contractors. Permits are almost always needed.
5. Complex Tiling or Flooring: While some homeowners can handle click-lock vinyl plank, intricate tile patterns (especially in showers) or installing hardwood often benefit from a pro’s precision for a flawless finish that adds value. Poorly laid flooring detracts.
6. HVAC Work: Furnace or air conditioner repairs and replacements need certified technicians.
7. Window and Exterior Door Replacement: Proper installation is key for energy efficiency and preventing leaks.
8. Anything Requiring a Permit: Major renovations typically require permits. Licensed contractors are familiar with the process and local building codes (like the Ontario Building Code here in Toronto).

Making the Decision: Key Factors to Consider

For every potential project, ask yourself:

• Skill Level: Honestly assess your ability. Have you done this successfully before? Watch YouTube videos, but recognize they often simplify complex tasks.
• Time Commitment: Do you realistically have the time to complete the job properly before listing or showings begin? Rushed work looks sloppy. Selling often has tight timelines.
• Tools & Equipment: Do you have the necessary tools, or will buying/renting them negate the cost savings?
• Complexity & Risk: What could go wrong? Is there a risk of injury, water damage, electrical shock, or structural issues? What’s the cost of fixing a mistake?
• Quality of Finish: Will your DIY result look professional enough to impress buyers, or will it scream “amateur hour”? Sometimes, a less-than-perfect DIY job is worse than leaving it alone.
• Permits & Codes: Does the work require a permit or need to meet specific building codes? Pros handle this.

The Bottom Line: Be Strategic

Before selling, renovations should focus on repairs, cosmetic improvements with broad appeal, and projects known to offer a good return on investment (kitchen and bathroom updates, curb appeal, fresh paint). Don’t over-renovate based on your personal taste.

Your best bet is often a hybrid approach: tackle the manageable cosmetic updates yourself (painting, cleaning, landscaping) and invest strategically in hiring licensed professionals for anything complex, safety-related, or requiring specialized skills. This ensures quality, compliance, and protects you from costly errors, ultimately making your home more attractive to buyers and helping you achieve a successful sale.

Before starting any major work, consider consulting with your real estate agent. They have valuable insights into what buyers in your specific market (like Toronto right now) are looking for and which improvements offer the best ROI.

What are your pre-sale renovation experiences? Share your DIY wins or times you were glad you hired a pro in the comments below!