DIYing Bank Holiday Brits Advised To Take Caution
With the bank holiday break looming, it may be possible that a significant number of Britons are set to use the long weekend to do some home improvement. However, it has been indicated that overkeen amateur tradesmen may find that a DIY disaster means that their wall is not the only thing left with a hole in it.
A study carried out by Zurich reveals that some 16 per cent of would-be DIYers have had to bring in professional tradespeople to correct the mistakes that they have made during such projects. Somewhat ironically, 39 per cent stated that they had attempted DIY in the first place in a bid to save some money. Meanwhile, a tenth of those who have incurred a home improvement disaster claim that they have waited more than a year for such errors to be fixed. Overall, a call-out for a tradesman was reported to cost an average of 280 pounds. However, botched projects were revealed to cost up to 2,000 pounds.
Following on from having to shell out for such expenses, people may find that pressures on their finances increase. This could have an impact on consumers’ capacity to manage other demands on their spending in areas such as home loan repayments, household bills and credit cards.
Research from the financial services firm also showed that 83 per cent of consumers have attempted to paint a room, with 14 per cent trying to renovate a bathroom by themselves. Meanwhile, nine per cent have tried to repair a boiler.
Steve Gilbert, technical underwriting manager for Zurich, said: “With so many homeowners trying their hand at DIY, mistakes will happen but as this research shows it’s important to know your limits if you don’t want to end up out of pocket. Doing it yourself can be a great achievement but we would like to remind all DIY novices that they can often endanger themselves and their property, so if you are unsure, always call in a professional. There are some areas, such as certain electrical works, which now legally require a trained electrician to attend to.”
He went on to report that budding Handy Andys considering doing some home improvements should first get in touch with their home insurance provider before picking up tools to ensure they will be covered in case of a DIY disaster. Mr Gilbert added that consumers should take the time to make certain that any structural changes that they make to their property will not see their cover become invalid.
For those consumers wishing to make improvements to their property over the coming weeks, taking out a home improvement loan could be recommended. By selecting this kind of home loan, borrowers may find that they can purchase the materials required for such work quickly and effectively. The monetary assistance that this loan provides could also help people to hire qualified professionals, in addition to taking out a comprehensive home insurance policy. Speaking earlier this year, Debra Williams, managing director of Confused, reported that although property and home contents insurance might seem like an expensive outgoing, it is an important purchase, particularly for those who are on a low income.
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