Are you a Do It Yourself (DIY) person or not when things need fixing in the
By carpediem17
@carpediem17 (1315)
Singapore
August 27, 2010 4:57am CST
house. I don't mean the big jobs like wiring up the whole house or re-tiling the floor.
Rather the little jobs that need fixing like checking why the flush is not working properly in the toilet, or the sink choking problem. Or even attempting to paint parts of the house if not whole.
Or is the first thing that comes to your mind is to call the plumber or nearest contractor to attend to the problem. You would rather outsource for the job to be done.
I know of someone who literally built his own house and he is holding a full-time job! That is he acted as the main contractor and coordinated with the various contractors in building the house. And this include reading the plans and going to the governmental units for permits. I think he relished the thought of being in control.
Do let me have your views on this.
2 people like this
11 responses
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
hi Shinobu, ok and I hope the fixed thing works thereafter, haha. Yup, there are some more complex stuff which is better done by the experts or we would not live to tell the story.
@chinoxads (255)
• United States
28 Aug 10
Well that depends, i like to do thing by myself, like fix the simple things about the car, some things on the house like toilet, lavatory, setup the gas of the stove, some garden things, wash the filter of the air condition.
1 person likes this
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
enough said, chinoxads, I did you are DIY enough than the most of us. Well done.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Aug 10
carpediem I have had to learn to b e a doit yourselfer when it comes to my computer and monitor by talking on the phone to my computer nerd
son,he calls himself that, and just by being here in this boring retirement center. before I always left the p roblems to my son
but here its different and I have learned a few things too.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
bravo Hatley. You are doing very well as a "do it yourselfer"! A cheerful spirit helps alot too.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
27 Aug 10
This depends on what needs fixing. If i have the skills to do it, i usually trying to handle fixing the problem ny myself. I stay away from anything electrical or plumbing related. this is when I rely on a friend or relative to help me out. if they can't, then I have to call a professional to help me out instead.
@dccell (337)
• Indonesia
27 Aug 10
definitely first think to know before we going to do it is Wether we can fix it or not ? for me as an electronic technician i will surely fix what ever needed for such field but when it come to building such as roof leaking or seiling or plumb job that i can`t do it well i usually give the job to others to finish it because if the job handle by right person the job will be done nicely and perfectly without needed for any doubt.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
27 Aug 10
hi sender and dccell, yup I think you are suitably DIY persons. At least you assess the risk of the "operation" before making the decisive "cut".
I will do some simple jobs that are within my control. I can proudly say that my sister and I have DIY built an Ikea bookshelf.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
27 Aug 10
I owned a home as a single mom for many years so I was a Mr. Huxtible. I tried to fix everything as much as I could to avoid additional expenses.
I made some errors but learned from them in the process. So I have no regrets I believe in may instances I saved a bundle.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
hi, you are one hardworkinggurl. I realised that by DIYing, one learns a lot of things, forced to liaise with people whom you normally don't approach for help and basically, become more communal as one needs the opinions of others.
Also one will not be easily fleeced by contractors who might quote you an exorbitant fee for fixing something really quite simple.
Yup, and of course the monies saved can always go to a kitty.
@EcHoZHazE (1)
•
28 Aug 10
I am not a DIY kind of guy, but my dad sort of is. The only problem is that he starts projects and can't finish them.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
hi echo, oh dear. Maybe it is lonely doing some of these projects and your dad needs someone or motivation to help him along.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
27 Aug 10
I can't really do all that many jobs myself. Luckily, my Father is very good at doing jobs around the house, so I always ask him if I need anything doing in my own home.
I know of a lot of people who can do the jobs themselves, and I am jealous of them in a way. If you couldn't do anything and didn't know anyone, you would have to spend a lot of money- and yes, some people who you get in to do these kind of jobs do indeed charge you a lot more than it's worth.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
27 Aug 10
hi GemmaR, the blue collar workers now are now äble to charge higher because fewer people would want to dirty their hands to fix the job.
I have to admire them for doing the dirty work too. I have seen the plumber putting his whole hand to clear the rubbish in a totally undesirable location when the suction did not work.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
27 Aug 10
Yes, I'm a do it yourself person 
If I can fix it, why to bother having to wait for a professional to come, and wasting my money? Also I fix the clothes when they break or need some slight modification 
If I can fix it, why to bother having to wait for a professional to come, and wasting my money? Also I fix the clothes when they break or need some slight modification @carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
27 Aug 10
well done. Certainly can save a lot of money from all these DIY jobs. It shows how good the human mind is to be able to adapt and fix the broken parts.
@pinhornudo (437)
• Brazil
27 Aug 10
Yes, i am. I like to do everything by myself.
Learn, fix stuffs, construct stuffs, cooking and a lot more things I like to do by myself.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
hi pinhornudo, seems like you have infinite patience, a willing and serving spirit. A lot of self-discovery also, you know what you are good at and what you are not.
@raviteja_ravi84 (2620)
• India
27 Aug 10
I also tend to do small jobs at home and i please my mom and myself doing so. I love doing such jobs as by them my house would look nice and also my mom would be happy. But some jobs are really tiring.
Wow that must have been really hard for the guy who built his own house. But that gives us a lot of personal satisfaction and homely and lovely feeling.
Cheers!
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
27 Aug 10
hi raviteja, yup doing such chores can be rather tiring. Even gardening work like raking the leaves in and removing them from choking the pipes or moving the pots around. Or even cleaning the fish pond!
The guy who built his own house had also identified that part of of his house is not quite perfect - that is not symmetical. I guess he and the technical persons are the only persons who know coz it is not evident so visibly!
Indeed a sense of achievement and one gains alot of experience from it all.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
27 Aug 10
aha. I guess a case of the hassle and not getting your hands dirty.
