Why DIY when you can GSI?

However, a new trend is emerging where GSI ‘getting someone in’, is becoming more of an option than doing it yourself.

While many DIY enthusiasts consider GSI far too costly, new research from Abbey suggests that with the majority of DIY projects taking up to 12 months or more, DIY can cost just as much, if not more than GSI.

Abbey’s research reveals that DIY is increasingly thought to be a false economy, with 28 per cent of respondents already choosing GSI. When taking into account the cost of materials and leisure time forfeited in DIYing, many now see GSI as a more cost-effective option.

With such competitive rates on the high street, personal loans are an easy way to fund GSI, meaning work can be done in half the time, to a professional standard and often with minimal disruption to the household.

Jeff Scott, Head of Abbey Loans, said: “Overwhelmingly the perception of GSI is that it costs significantly more than doing it yourself. However, our research shows that is not necessarily the case.

“The cost of DIY can be significantly more in terms of physical and emotional stress as well as money, particularly when the cost of leisure time and fixing DIY mistakes are factored in.”

To pay a professional to sand a room of 25m² costs around £500 and would take around six hours. To DIY with similar equipment would take approximately twice as long and would cost around £420.

If this time was charged at the UK average hourly rate, it adds a further £146, making the DIY job £66 more expensive. Not to mention the preparation time, physical effort and extra clean up time required for the job.

Scott said: “On the whole DIY seems to be a lengthy and stressful affair which can be made much more painless by simply paying to GSI. With a number of options available to fund GSI such as low interest personal loans, why DIY when you can GSI?”