Study Reveals The Repairs UK Homeowners Will And Won't Risk Attempting

A new study by Markel Direct, the specialist insurer of tradespeople, has revealed that less than half of UK homeowners consider their DIY skills as good, and 60% wish they were handier.  

The survey, which explores the growing shortage of tradespeople in the UK, asked 1,187 UK homeowners about their DIY skills and which tasks they’d attempt themselves or avoid. 44% of respondents rated their DIY skills as “good”, with a further 24% stating their DIY skills were “poor”. Almost two-thirds (63%) admitted they’ve avoided fixing something out of fear they’d make it worse. 

In fact, 29% who have attempted a DIY fix had their fears come true, and ended up needing to spend an average cost of £235 for a professional tradesperson to repair a botched DIY job.   

Rob Rees, Divisional Director at Markel Direct, commented: “The importance of having adequate DIY skills have never been as important as they are today, with the growing lead times to hiring a tradesperson. However, as tempting as it could be to fix the majority of domestic issues to save money, it’s important to consider both the financial and time implication if one issue went badly. Unless the task is relatively low risk, we’d always recommend hiring a qualified tradesperson. Not only will this guarantee a quality finish, but also peace of mind.”  

Yes to easy fixes: overgrown gardens and peeling wallpapers  

Faced with long waits and rising costs, homeowners are more likely to try their hand at low-risk repairs or tasks where mistakes are rarely disastrous.  

The survey revealed that UK homeowners felt most confident about managing an overgrown garden (76%), tackling removing paint or wallpaper (72%) or unclogging a slow-draining sink (68%).  

10 domestic issues UK homeowners would be confident fixing themselves

The “no-go” jobs Brits would rather wait out 

At the other end of the spectrum, the study found that UK homeowners were far less confident when it came to repairs that involved safety risks or required specialist knowledge.  

At the top of the list of “no-go” jobs was repairing structural roof damage, with almost three quarters of homeowners saying they are not confident enough to attempt it themselves. 

Similarly, 72% of respondents advised they wouldn’t climb onto the roof to fix broken or missing tiles, attempt to repair faulty heating, or deal with electrical wiring issues. 

10 domestic issues UK homeowners would not be confident fixing themselves 

The cost of DIY - and the cost of doing nothing 

Despite almost 6 out of 10 of UK homeowners who’ve tried DIY and advised they were satisfied with the results, many face tough choices when they have to tackle a repair. Nearly 1 in 3 respondents admitted that they’d leave an issue unfixed if they couldn’t fix it themselves. Surprisingly, 44% advised they’d be willing to delay a repair due to the cost of hiring a tradesperson.  

Professional help is increasingly hard to come by with nearly half of respondents having had trouble finding a tradesperson, with 52% stating they’ve been told a professional was either too busy or fully booked. As a result, 40% of homeowners say their ability to maintain their homes has been directly impacted by the shortage of skilled tradespeople. 

To read the full study, visit the Markel Direct website.

Source : Markel Direct

Image : Denphumi / shutterstock / 179752703 

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