Property owners 'should not shy away' from DIY
22nd Feb 2012
UK property owners should be encouraged to make more home improvements in order to boost the appeal and value of their home, it has been claimed.
Jason Orme, editor at Homebuilding & Renovating, acknowledged that there has been an increase in the number of people carrying out their own home improvements in recent times as they realise DIY can be effective as well as cheap.
As long as it is within the limits of what the building regulations allow concerning issues such as gas and electrics, then it is something that is "absolutely encouraged", he said.
"You would imagine that would be the case at the moment when people are trying to save money where they can. It is something that we would advise and it is surprising what you can do yourself," the expert added.
Mr Orme noted that, as long as the work is done well and competently, then it should not affect the property's insurance, while good work can boost home values.
For those who are not comfortable doing DIY and would rather employ an expert, he explained that there is no safeguard in terms of hiring a professional to do work that a person could do themselves.
However, he added: "The benefit is in making sure that you find people who are approved or have high recommendations – otherwise you may as well do it yourself, quite frankly."
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