Back in 2019, I insisted on doing all the wiring for my basement myself and failed the inspection three times.

I was in my own home in Boise, convinced I could follow a book and save the money. The inspector kept pointing out small things, like a box being overfilled or a ground wire not being secure. After the third fail, I had to hire an electrician to fix my work, which cost me $850 more than if I'd just hired him from the start. It taught me that some skills need more than just reading about them. Has anyone else had a DIY project that ended up costing more to fix than to hire out?

3 comments

3 Comments

ross.kelly18d ago

That "save the money" impulse is so real, but I've learned the hard way that my time and frustration have a price tag too.

lily_stone7618d ago

Ugh, I've wasted so much money trying to save a few bucks.

troy_reed15d ago

Man, I've been there. I started keeping a list of things I actually use after buying them, which helps a lot. It stops that cycle pretty quick.