Thanks to a whole bunch of television shows and online tutorials, an increasing number of homeowners are taking home improvement and household repairs into their own hands. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction that comes from a job well done, and a little bit of elbow grease can definitely save your family some money. Unfortunately, some homeowners “bite off more than they can chew” from time to time, and wind up having to bring in a professional to clean up their mess.

Gary Houston Electric has been one of Arkansas’ leading electrical companies since 1978, and we’re always a phone call away when you need us. Unfortunately, we’ve spent a lot of time over the years fixing botched home improvement projects. In almost every case, the homeowner spent more money on the repairs than they would have if they had simply brought in a contractor in the first place. We strongly recommend consulting a residential electrician before attempting any DIY electrical upgrades for several important reasons:

Safety-First and foremost, your safety is always your top priority. Everyone knows that the breakers need to be off before replacing any outlets or fixtures, but sometimes there will be bigger problems such as faulty wiring and grounding that you might not discover on your own.

Time Savings-How valuable is your time? If you spend 10 hours doing a job that a professional could complete in 30 minutes, what other activities are you giving up? Whether it’s finishing some work for your regular job or simply relaxing with your family, don’t underestimate how valuable your time is.

Money Savings-Whether it’s you or a “handy neighbor” doing the work, mistakes can be costly. All contractors will provide you a detailed estimate for their services based on the cost of materials and standard labor rates. It might seem a little pricey compared to the cost of doing the work on your own, but all that it takes is one big mistake to make you wish that you’d spent that money up front!

If you have any questions, or would like to schedule service, contact us online or give us a call at 501-375-8330.