Unfortunately, not everyone has the magic touch when it comes to repairing or renovating their homes.
Most of it comes down to experience, and that is why as experts within claims and claims management, we always suggest using someone who has extensive knowledge within their field to carry out the works within your home. However, since England was in a national lockdown in early March, majority of homeowners carried out DIY projects themselves. According to Property Reporter� there was a 90% increase in searches for ‘How to…’ on Google, with topics such as ‘Pergola’, ‘Pavement’ and ‘Artificial Turf’ topping the trends. And with the fantastic weather we had under lockdown, it was popular for brits to transform their outdoor spaces.
Although sometimes your DIY projects do not go to plan. Perhaps you misjudged the amount of work it be for one person or you may have knocked down a wall filled with electrics or pipes. It could be irreversible the damage you could do to your home.� In another recent study conducted by Ironmongery Direct, it was found that brits could do up too £35,000 in damage to their homes when undertaking their own DIY projects. This was due to their lack of experience and know-how within build. Shockingly, 5% of homeowners attempted to covert their own loft which is risky within itself, as Holly Herbert at webuyanyhouse.co.uk states&
“When converting a loft, you may cause more harm than good, especially if you� damage� the roof or put a foot through the rafters. Replacing the roof could cost you up to £35,000.”
Homeowners might not have the means to spend a great deal of money and try and looks for cheaper alternatives, however, the consequences are higher if all goes wrong. But what can you do to avoid extra costs?
BRS are experts within claims management and home and restoration repairs, so here is our advice:
1. Get more than 1 quote from a builder.
You can’t actually gage the amount the job should cost without shopping around a bit, the best thing to do is get at least 3 quotes from different builders, this way you can get an understanding on the average cost.
2. Research your builders.
There is plenty of websites to use which ranks builders on their work and how professional they are, so a quick google is always worth it before hiring anyone.
3. Check if your builder has public liability insurance.
You should insist on seeing evidence of public liability insurance which covers the work to be carried out on your property. You should also ensure that work is covered by an insurance-backed warranty. A good builder will not mind giving you copies of the paperwork.
Tackling jobs that you are not qualified for could also invalidate your home insurance, leaving you liable for the cost of repairing any subsequent damage. So if you do ever decide to carry out DIY work yourself, make sure accidental damage is covered by your home insurance as most policies don’t cover accidental damage to your home or belongings unless you have specifically added cover.
Who are BRS?
Building Repair Solutions Ltd (BRS) is one of the UK’s best choices for providing insurance repairs and restoration works to homes. Providing services such as and claims management, drying and restoration and much more, with offices in Essex, West Midlands, and Scotland.
Email BRS Group today at hello@buildingrepairsolutions.co.uk to see what opportunities we have for builders, contractors and tradespeople who need jobs across Birmingham, Essex and Scotland.
