Renew home insurance before DIY disasters

Posted : 10-04-2006

While British homeowners are currently favouring modest rather than immense DIY projects to increase the value of their home, consumers are reminded that even small jobs can have major ramifications if something goes wrong, making it essential that owners take out home insurance before they begin.

According to research from the Halifax Home Improvement survey, over the course of the last year some 46 per cent of British homeowners have made improvements to their homes.

Decorating was found to be the most popular task, followed by new furnishings, as owners shy away from grand projects in favour of cheaper and safer home improvements.

Head of secured lending at Halifax, Donna Spencer, said: "The continued desire to improve their homes shows that people are taking a responsible attitude towards their properties and enjoying making the most of them.

"DIY-ers appear to be favouring simple, straight forward, inexpensive home improvements, which add value and update the look of an entire house, without the need for specialised materials or tools."

However, while this may appear to reduce the need for home insurance, it remains as crucial as ever.

Even small alterations to a house can snowball into major repairs, while many home insurance policies do not cover improvements made by the homeowner themselves.

Consumers are urged most strongly to check that their home insurance policy covers them for DIY, or they might want to consider getting in the professionals for that little spot of home improvement.


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