Spend it wisely
Planning some spring home improvements? VICKY SHAW reveals expert tips to ensure you get your money’s worth
SPRING is a popular time for home improvements – but when you’re doing up a property, it can be all too easy to end up with regrets.
Across the UK, 59% of people have made changes to their home during the pandemic – but nearly half (44%) were unhappy with the results, a recent survey from Aviva found.
Shawbrook Bank, meanwhile, found that a quarter of people who made some savings last year intend to spend on home improvements in the coming months.
Paul Went, managing director for consumer at Shawbrook Bank, says: “You should be prepared for any unexpected costs, and avoid stretching your finances to the limit by not having set aside some money to cover all eventualities.
“If you’re thinking about borrowing money to help fund your project, then explore all of your options and don’t rush into any decisions.”
Want to ensure your money is being well spent before getting stuck in? Shawbrook Bank teamed up with DIY expert Chris Rice to share these tips...
Call your builder early
Chris says: “A mistake people often make is assuming a tradesperson will be available the next day, when some of us will be booked up a year in advance during peak seasons.
“It’s better to call as far in advance as you can to avoid missing out.”
A good builder is worth the wait
“I’d say up to six weeks is a reasonable amount of time to wait for someone to come in, in off-peak periods,” says Chris.
Recommendations are key
“If you have friends or family who rely on someone, they’ll probably be your best bet,” adds Chris. “Before getting started with any new builder, it’s also worth trying to look at what they’ve done previously.
“I often let new clients know where they can go locally to get an idea of my work.”
Let the builder handle materials
Chris says many builders will get preferential rates on materials – so buying them yourself may not save money.
If you’re unhappy, say so
If you let a contractor know you’re are not 100% happy with the work, they may well go straight back and fix it to a high standard.
To help guard against rogue traders, Chris adds: “The best precaution anyone can take is ensuring they have a legitimate home or office address for someone, so that they are able to find them if something goes wrong.
“Be careful if someone is only offering a telephone number or email address.”
Leave it to the experts
Chris says: “Find someone you get along with and trust their expertise. Having that chemistry feeds into the whole client/builder relationship.”