One in ten homeowners – around 3.3 million Brits – have had a DIY or large-scale home improvement job go wrong, costing an average £3,200 to repair, a new study shows.
More than half (54 per cent) of respondents said shoddy workmanship was to blame, according to the research from Lloyds Bank.
As the housing market springs back to life, 33 per cent of Brits are choosing to add value to our homes with home improvement projects, with the average cost of these improvements at £4,000.
However 10 per cent of people end up the victims of DIY botch jobs, costing in some cases double the original amount.
The cost of DIY botch jobs
- 12 per cent spent £2,001-£5,000 (average spend £3,501) on their most recent project
- 12 per cent spent 5,001-£10,000 (average spend £7,501)
- 6 per cent spent £10,000-£25,000 (average spend £17,501)
- 2 per cent spent £25,000 (average spend £27,501)
If the average cost at each level is compared to the average repair cost of £3,200, botch jobs at any level can add between 12 – 91 per cent to the initial cost.
Marc Page, Lloyds Bank mortgages director, at Lloyds Bank, says most homeowners dabble in home improvement at some stage.
“What’s important is to ensure the job is done to a high standard as botched job can be quite costly to rectify.
“Although the reasons for home improvements may differ from person to person, making a house a home is a key motivator.”
