Professional services vs. do-it-yourself (DIY)

Hello TTers,

n00b here. Don’t really qualify as an ex-pat, but my mother is German (I'm US born), and I've travelled there extensively. I also lived/worked in Germany for six months following college, and my present job takes me there frequently.

I never really thought about this until I became a homeowner in the States, but as I reflect on my travels throughout Germany, it seems like the spirit of “do-it-yourself� isn’t nearly as prevalent there as it is in US households. Is this primarily because of government regulations, lack of space, distain for “dirty� work, or something else about Germany or Germans? Perhaps I just missed the signs and DIY is alive and well there.

Honestly, though, I can’t remember ever seeing or hearing about my German friends, acquaintances, or relatives working on their cars (changing oil, rotating tires, etc.) or doing any significant renovations to their homes without bringing in professionals. I far prefer to tackle construction and maintenance issues myself both to save money and to assure that the job is done to my satisfaction. Of course, some major projects require skills or time that I don’t have, and it’s impossible to do them without a professional. Also, I recognize that most Germans live in urban areas and typically don’t have garages or yards where they can make car repairs or store tools and materials for projects. I’m sure these factors are partly responsible for my impressions.

What’s your take on this?

Google for "Heimwerker" and "Baumarkt" ...

There certainly is a culture of DIY here, but as you say, in the cities this is less so, as people tend to live in flats. Also, there are tax breaks for renovating property under certain conditions, so there isn't always a financial incentive to save money.

Oh, and this is just my personal opinion, the quality of building here is quite high and the buildings can be pretty solid, making it a bit harder than just knocking down a partition wall to make that large room you always wanted.

My Bavarian colleague does his own basic car maintenance, but he has the space to do that.

Thanks. Based on those links, it looks like Germans are active in DIY home repair and renovation. I'm still curious about auto repairs, though. Are there any legal requirements that certain kinds of repair work be completed by certified professionals? For example, I usually replace brake components myself, which saves me hundreds of dollars in labor costs each year. Could any German do this to his/her own car? What about changing a car's engine oil? Here, I can drain the oil into a special container and take it to an auto-parts store for disposal (they collect the oil for recyling). Is something like that possible in Germany?

I've always been highly impressed with German home construction. Here, single-family homes typically have a wood-frame construction that seems fragile has hell compared to the brick-and-mortar style so prevalant there.

What about electrical work in a home. Could a homeowner add extra circuits, outlets, switches, etc. by himself (perhaps with an inspection by some authority after the work was completed)? In the States, the extent of home improvements that one can complete without professional involvement or inspection is determine by zoning ordinances. Presently I live in a very rural area where the zoning ordinances are extremely lax. I could essentially double the size of my home without worrying about legal consequences. However, I would need to get any plumbing and electrical changes inspected and approved if I wanted to sell the house (no buyer in his right mind would take a house without making sure those utilities are installed correctly).

Work on electrics is a bit restricted in the sense that you need to have your work inspected or overseen by a certified electrician - can be a friend or a family member too of course. Mostly for insurance reasons though, not legal reasons.

Similar stuff goes for gas lines for example (work needs to be inspected officially in that case, even if done professionally). Plumbing, as far as i know, is not regulated.

To add any extra building (i.e. increasing the size of your house with some annex, building a garage next to it, whatever), you need to obtain official permission in Germany, which can literally take months to years. Zoning laws in Germany are rather tight, defining percentage of built-over ground, height in relation to neighbor buildings, allowed interior space, commercial use etc.

As for cars - most people here seem to go with the attitude "as long as it passes the official check every two years, i don't have to do anything" (as long as it looks good). Oil, brake fluids, tires, sure. Anything more complicated, a lot of people shy away from.

Ive been a Painter & Decorator for 35 yrs, 15 of those in Germany. I must say not many Germans attempt to do there own decorating, and when they do...to say the least, it's not done properly.