DIY spells disaster
Some three quarters of a million Brits have caused chaos in their homes trying to copy something they have seen on a DIY programme, according to research from Halifax Home Insurance. And with these mistakes costing an average of £484 to put right, the total cost of these DIY disasters adding up to £350 million a year across the UK.These mistakes do not seem to have put Brits off their love affair with DIY, with some 12 million people saying that they had been inspired to make home improvements themselves after watching DIY programmes on TV. Vicky Emmott from Halifax Home Insurance, said: "It all looks so simple on TV, making it easy to forget that the work on makeover shows is being carried out by highly trained and skilled professionals. "But if you don't know what you're doing we'd advise anyone planning any major improvements that DIY should really stand for Don't Involve Yourself. Indeed trying to tackle certain areas that you are not qualified for, such as electrics or plumbing could invalidate your home insurance and leave you liable for the cost of any subsequent damage. "It's far better to employ a reputable tradesman than to risk damaging your home by going it alone."
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