Renovate without suffering regrets

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, threefifths (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 (25%) of people who managed to make some savings last year intend to spend on home improvements in the coming months.

Paul Went, managing director for consumer at Shawbrook Bank, said: “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 into new projects? Shawbrook Bank teamed up with DIY expert Chris Rice to share the following tips...

1. Call your builder early

Mr Rice said: “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.”

2. A good builder is worth waiting for

Mr Rice said: “I’d say up to six weeks is a reasonable amount of time to wait for someone to come in in offpeak periods.”

3. Recommendations are worth their weight in gold

“If you have friends or family who rely on someone, they’ll probably be your best bet,” Mr Rice said, adding: “Before getting started with any

new builder, it’s also worth trying to look at what they’ve done previously.”

4. Safety first

As the pandemic is still with us, you’ll need to factor this in when making any arrangements. Mr Rice urged people to stay mindful of socialdistancing guidelines as lockdown restrictions are eased.

5. Make sure a cheap quote isn’t a “foot-in-thedoor” price

If you’re tempted by a cheap quote, consider how much any “extras” may cost. Mr Rice said: “For jobs like kitchen re-fits in particular, it can be hard to give a truly accurate estimate. For example, you may uncover a whole load of rotten plaster that needs to be redone once the old units have been torn out.

“If a price seems too good to be true, ask your builder to provide a list of what it covers, and any added extras they think may come up.”

6. Get several estimates

A general rule of thumb is to aim for three quotes per job, but Mr Rice said getting as many as possible would increase the chances of you finding someone you like.

With the pandemic in mind, you may want to consider doing some thorough research online first, to minimise your visitor numbers.

Mr Rice said: “If you’re able to get a few quotes, you’ll get a much better sense of the sort of person you want to have working on your home and what a fair price looks like.”

7. Set a clear budget and plan for any potential overspend

Mr Rice said: “Typically, I try to price for a ‘worst-case scenario’ and if it doesn’t come to that, I can take money off.

“It’s unlikely that I have to say something is going to cost extra, and I know those are the words that any client hates to hear.”

8. Let the builder handle materials

Many builders will get preferential rates on materials, so buying them yourself may not actually save money.

9. Communicate if you’re unhappy

If you let a contractor know you 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, Mr Rice said: “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.”

10. Leave it to the experts

Mr Rice said: “Find someone you get along with and trust their expertise. Having that chemistry feeds into the whole client/builder relationship.”

ADVICE: If you are thinking of hiring tradespeople there are points to bear in mind.