All cost comparisons

Buying & Selling

Inspections, surveys, and the checks that come with buying or selling a home.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Home Inspection	$157 per inspection of a 1,500–2,500 sq ft house	$300–$500	Hire a pro

Mold, water damage, deep cleans, and the work that gets a house back to livable.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Mold Remediation	$525–$675 per 10–30 sq ft patch on drywall (a wall section behind a leak)	$1,500–$3,500	Hire a pro
Move-Out Cleaning	$105–$157 per 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment or small house (about 1,000 sq ft)	$180–$350	DIY

Slabs, pads, footings, and the poured or laid work that everything else sits on.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Chimney Repair	$585–$745 per chimney, repointed above the roofline (about 40 sq ft of brick), crown sealed, new cap	$600–$1,800	Hire a pro
Concrete Slab Installation	$2,344–$2,718 per 20×20 slab (400 sq ft, 4 in thick)	$2,400–$4,800	Hire a pro
Driveway Extension	$1,440–$1,840 per 200 sq ft extension (10×20 parking strip)	$1,600–$3,200	Hire a pro
Retaining Wall	$1,945–$2,245 per 25-foot, 3-foot-tall segmental block wall (75 sq ft of face)	$2,600–$4,900	DIY

Tile, coatings, hardwood, and everything underfoot.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Epoxy Flooring	$1,100–$1,120 per 2-car garage (about 400 sq ft)	$2,400–$4,000	DIY
Tile Installation	$1,480–$1,540 per 200 sq ft floor, 12 × 24 porcelain over an uncoupling membrane	$2,000–$4,500	DIY

Furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, ductwork, and everything that moves conditioned air through the house.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Ductwork Replacement	$1,120–$1,518 per 1,500 sq ft house (about 200 ft of duct, 10 registers)	$3,000–$7,000	DIY

Insulation, air sealing, and the projects that change your heating and cooling bills.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Crawl Space Insulation	$1,475–$1,875 per crawl space	$1,500–$4,500	DIY
Spray Foam Insulation	$8,215–$8,495 per 1,500 sq ft attic (roof deck, R-21 to R-30)	$5,000–$11,000	Hire a pro

Tile, counters, fixtures, and the rooms where most renovation money goes.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Kitchen Backsplash	$447–$487 per kitchen (about 30 sq ft)	$700–$1,500	DIY
Walk-In Shower	$2,490–$3,040 per tub-to-shower conversion (60×32 in alcove, acrylic base and walls)	$3,500–$7,000	DIY

Moves, containers, storage, and the cleaning that comes with changing homes.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
PODS Moving	$2,080–$2,230 per 3-bedroom local move (two 16 ft containers, under 50 miles)	$1,800–$3,500	Hire a pro

Trees, lawns, landscaping, and everything else that grows or sits outside the house.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Land Clearing	$2,970–$4,845 per acre	$2,000–$4,500	Hire a pro
Lawn Mowing	$181–$221 per season (26 visits)	$800–$2,550	DIY
Stump Grinding	$285 per 24-inch stump, ground 6–8 inches below grade, chips left on site	$150–$350	Hire a pro
Tree Removal	$430–$880 per tree	$600–$1,600	Hire a pro
Tree Trimming	$345–$405 per 30–60 ft tree, crown cleaned and raised, brush chipped and hauled	$300–$800	Hire a pro

Interior and exterior paint, stain, and the finish work that changes how a house looks more per dollar than anything else.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Interior Painting	$722–$742 per 1,500 sq ft house, walls only, two coats	$3,000–$6,000	DIY

Supply lines, drains, water heaters, and the pipes behind the walls.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
House Repiping	$1,465–$1,980 per 1,500 sq ft, 2-bath house (about 12 fixtures)	$5,000–$10,000	Hire a pro

Surveys, property lines, easements, and the paperwork side of owning land.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Land Survey	$130 per survey	$500–$1,200	Hire a pro

Replacement windows, impact glass, entry and patio doors.

Service	DIY cost	Pro cost	Verdict
Hurricane Impact Windows	$7,830–$8,330 per 1,500 sq ft house (10 impact windows, aluminum single-hung)	$9,000–$18,000	Hire a pro