More than half of people tackle potentially dangerous DIY jobs that home insurance might not cover in the event of a disaster

Home renovation is high on the to do list this weekend, as 68% of Brits plan improvements around the house on Bank Holiday weekends, a new survey by Go.Compare home insurance has revealed.

More than half of those doer-uppers (52%) will attempt the handiwork themselves to save money, while 22% will rope in friends or family to help. And 21% of those getting work done will shy away from the job in hand and hire tradespeople instead, the study shows.

Out of those attempting to do the work themselves, 44% are not feeling confident about their skills.

The study also reveals that the most popular DIY Bank Holiday project is garden improvements, with 26% getting green fingered. 24% will do painting and 17% are opting to do internal decorating.

Before tackling any DIY jobs, Go.Compare is urging people to check their home insurance to ensure they’re covered against accidental damage and their planned work won’t invalidate their policy. This is because a lot of policies do not cover accidental damage to your home or belongings as standard, unless you have specifically added cover. 

Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare commented, “Everyone’s heard of DIY stories gone wrong, where someone has hammered a nail through a water pipe or drilled through complex wiring. And they’ve had to foot the bill for these mishaps because often, the home insurance policy doesn’t cover accidental damage.

“If you have an unforeseen accident while working on your home, that’s when the accidental damage cover on your home insurance policy kicks in. It provides for loss or damage to your property and possessions. When it comes to DIY, your insurer could refuse a claim due to poor workmanship or faulty materials. That’s why it’s always wise to get the professionals in if you are doing home improvements, as a claim for dodgy DIY might be rejected by your insurer.”

Nathan continued: “DIY plumbing and electrics are particularly perilous. Water damage is one of the most common reasons people claim on their home insurance, but many policies exclude water damage which has happened over time, or which could have been remedied by regular maintenance. That’s why it’s also important to keep on top of household chores, such as clearing out gutters and insulating pipes etc, to ensure your home isn’t damaged due to neglect and your home insurance remains valid.”

Go.Compare has compiled its top five tips for DIY-ers:

• When it comes to plumbing, electrical or gas maintenance get an expert in. Make sure they have all of the valid certification and keep receipts as proof of the work and maintenance to your home.
• Protect your expensive possessions. When you are carrying out any work at home move your furniture, protect your flooring and carpets and anything that could be damaged. Basically, make sure that a spilt pot of paint or a dropped tool won’t lead to an expensive insurance claim.
• Use a cable or pipe detector before you start drilling into any wall, for your own safety and also to protect your home.
• Get the right tools for the job. Don’t make do – ensure you have what you need to do a job properly, and make sure you know how to use the tool safely.
• Be DIY aware. Are you scared to start? Are you depending on YouTube to guide you through? Then maybe it’s time to call in the professionals and save yourself time and any probable accidents by doing it right first time.

For information on home insurance and accidental damage cover visit: http://www.gocompare.com/home-insurance/accidental-damage-and-home-insurance/.

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