Do it yourself! When you can...

DO YOU ALWAYS ASSUME: •Plumbers fix your toilets and water heaters. •Electricians fix outlets and install ceiling fans. Well, some of these jobs are simple enough that a homeowner could do it his or her self. Why pay for something that you can do for free. Take that money you saved and buy yourself something you want. You deserve it!

There are plenty of books and websites available to show you what you need to do. There are also very helpful people at the local hardware stores. Talk to them- they are paid to answer your questions and get you what you need. Ask about air filters, flush valves, gaskets, and every term in the book to educate yourself.

Calling a professional can be expensive and may not be the best decision. Sometimes they won't even want to make the service call. It works this way in real estate as well- there are certain initiatives that need to be taken by the client. Clients need to decide if this is the right style, size, neighborhood, school district or overall location for buying a home. A real estate agent is a professional. You don't need an agent to go site seeing around a neighborhood or to get a feel for homes. You need an agent to deliver their expert opinion on the home price based on location and condition of the property, as well as negotiate the best possible deal.

DoItYourself.com has a good number of articles on how to get some small projects done on your own- but they'll tell you when you need to call a licensed professional. Of course there is also DIY Network, Lowes, and Home Depot. Try to find a hardware store with people who communicate well and will give you their time. Educating yourself about the different parts of your new home is a great way to avoid future pitfalls and spend money wisely. Hopefully, you can avert a problem ahead of time instead fixing a big thing later.