The Early Show

When Should You Do It Yourself?

By Caitlin Johnson

January 30, 2007 / 11:17 AM EST / CBS

There are often things around the house that we really don't want to do ourselves, but that we hate the idea of paying someone else to do.

Kris Connell of Real Simple magazine has some pointers on how to make the choice.

"We're talking about when it's time to call for help and it boils down to three questions. Do you have the time to do it yourself? Do you have the money to hire someone else? And do you have the natural talent for the job?" she told The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

Painting your walls

Talk to a color consultant.
Connell said this is a good alternative to an interior decorator and costs about $50 to $75 an hour. It can save you money because you can get it right the first time.

"It's affordable," Connell said. "For anybody who's ever painted the wrong color on the wall, this can save you money in the end because they have the trained eye and experience. They've done it before to make sure it works together and works with your furniture."

Curtain, upholstery and carpet cleaner

Even if your home is clean, to do a really thorough job, a professional is needed.

"When it comes to something on your silk drapes you need to get out or shampooing the Persian rug, you're better off," she said. "I think, in leaving it in the hands of the professionals because they have the experience, they have the right solvents to get out the right stains … You can expect to pay 30 cents per square foot for carpet, 25 per square foot for drapes. It could go up higher depending on the fabric."

Cleaning machines can be rented, but Connell said that they require expertise to run them.

Computer consultant

This expense is well worth it for people who don't know much about computers.

The Geek Squad has a good reputation for helping people.

"Well, if you're a very, very patient person you can probably figure out how to set up a computer or fix the problem with your computer either by following the directions on the box, reading a book, like computers for dummies or calling the manufacturer, the 1-800 number," Connell said. If you're at the point where you'll throw the computer out the window, the $150, $200 for the visit could be worth it."

eBay Drop-off store:

If you don't have the expertise to take digital pictures and upload them to computer, and if you don't have the time to monitor how your sales are going, and then box it up and send it away to the buyer, it's probably better to let the experts take the 35 percent then for you to do it yourself.

If you put something up for sale on eBay and then you don't follow through with everything you will get a bad rating

House cleaner:

Think about how you want to spend your time. Do you want to spend your evenings or weekends cleaning the bathroom or relaxing with your loved ones? If you can afford it, Connell said a house cleaner can be worth it.

"You could bring somebody to clean for $80 to $100, and that's high-end, that's a one-time deep cleaning," Connell said.

Make sure you are not too picky to allow another person to clean your home and do your laundry.

For more information visit RealSimple.com.