You've made countless trips to the huge home improvement warehouse to gather ideas. You've researched projects in magazines and on the Internet. And you've summoned the opinions of family and friends. It's finally time to begin working on that project you've been thinking about for months.

Whether your goal is to increase energy efficiency, bring your 1970s-décor kitchen into the new century, or add some much-needed space, you'll face the crucial question of whether to join the ranks of the do-it-yourselfer or hire a general contractor to handle your job.

With so many classes offered by the home improvement stores and extensive guidance available on the Internet, embarking on a project on your own is often enticing. And the numbers prove that more people are pursuing home improvement projects - Home Depot's 2001 fourth-quarter earnings skyrocketed 53 percent over the prior year. Lowe's profits soared 55 percent.

As home values continue to appreciate in tight markets and Baby Boomers reach their peak earning years, home and nesting are in the spotlight, resulting in an emphasis on home improvement projects.

If you're pursuing a project, you'll want to carefully assess its requirements and your abilities in determining whether you want to undertake it yourself or hire a professional.

As you weigh the two possibilities, you'll want to think about:

Published: April 9, 2002

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.