Be aware of your DIY pitfalls this bank holiday

With the added bonus of an extra day off on Monday next week, many people will try to use the bank holiday to get some DIY work done and improve their house to make it look more attractive as well as increasing its value.

However, one worrying stat from Halifax has shown that around a quarter of UK property owners do not have a clue if they are covered by their home insurance for carrying out work.

This is important to note before you start any job, as you will want to have the peace of mind that if you should cause any damage to your household accidentally when doing some DIY work, that you will be covered for any costly repairs.

So the first step will be to make sure that your policy offers this cover. Call up your provider and ask them to clarify. Or, perhaps more importantly, if you do not have any insurance at all, as Halifax has said that one in ten homeowners do not, then make sure you purchase a policy before beginning the job.

The bank has offered some tips to DIY enthusiasts ahead of the holiday as well. It said that the first thing to do is make sure you are prepared. Having all of the required tools and other equipment will be a great way to start before building an extension, or whatever else takes your fancy.

Next up, it will be vital to make sure that you are budgeting for the task at hand. It can be all too easy to blow money on needless items and jobs, and it could end with you spending more than you gain in terms of value from the house.

And finally, if your DIY includes any gas or electricity work, make sure that you do not end up being too proud to ask for help. Call in an industry expert to feel certain that these pass without incident and secure the safety of you and your home.