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First-time Buyers

Home improvements lead to relationship cracks

Adam Williams
Written By:
Adam Williams
Posted:
Updated:
08/07/2015

Making improvements to your property can increase stress levels and arguments, a study by The Co-operative has found.

The Co-op’s insurance arm found 42% of people had argued with a loved one about DIY.

Almost a quarter (23%) refuse to help their partner with DIY and 53% leave everything to their other half.

Common tasks range from changing a light bulb to laying new flooring, the survey said.

For people who did not make home improvements themselves, a third said they lacked the skills needed. Some 18% of people preferred to pay someone else to do the job for them while 17% said they had tried DIY but it had ended in disaster.

Basic jobs people said they would pay for included painting (12%), changing a plug (7%) and changing a light bulb (2%).

A quarter of people said they turned to their dad for assistance when undertaking home improvements although one-in-ten had paid for a professional course to learn new skills.

Caroline Hunter, head of home insurance at The Co-operative Insurance, said it was important to know if your home is covered before starting any new projects.

“Updating your home can be a rewarding experience, whether it’s doing the work yourself or calling in friends, family or a local tradesperson to help. However, we would always urge people to consider the possible implications of DIY going wrong,” she said.

“We would recommend that people double-check what their home insurance covers in advance of carrying out any work and assess whether it covers all of their needs.  While accidental damage insurance provides peace of mind in case of any spills or damage to the home, it is additional cover and should be considered ahead of planning more complex DIY tasks.

“It’s just as important to check that any tradespeople coming into your home have the relevant insurance in case they have any accidents or cause damage to the property. Having the right insurance in place will ensure there is less to argue about if things don’t go to plan!”


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