Built a new house last year and now it needs a lawn.   

A reputable sprinkler shop submitted a bid to me yesterday to put in an automatic sprinkler system.  $4320 for the system installed, and another $1900 to put in the lawn.  And its not even all that big of a yard. 

I'd really rather not run off the well, I'm sure its big and deep enough but I already have 4" mainline running nearby pressurized 30 psi all summer long off my canal water.  Down side is the ditch pump picks up a lot of snail shells and crap that plugs sprinkler nozzles. 

Are these things hard to put in yourself?  I'm not much of a handyman but for that kind of money I guess maybe give it a try?  What brands do you prefer?  I like the hammer-birds over the gear drive oscilators, but that's just me.