Devalue It Yourself: Poor DIY reduces property’s value

Published: 02/12/2014

Poorly executed home improvements could significantly reduce the value of your home, according to a new survey conducted by TrustMark, the Government-endorsed “find a tradesman” scheme.

The average home in England loses £30,800 because of shoddy DIY attempts while London properties lose nearly double that at £60,149.

Some of the most off-putting DIY disasters include:

• Faulty wiring
• Ill placed electrical sockets
• Ill fitting or unfinished kitchen units
• Squeaky floorboards.

While nine out of 10 potential buyers would put in a lower offer as a result of poor DIY, more than half would actually be put off completely.

Lynne McCaffrey, Head of Property, comments:

“While it may be satisfying to ‘do it yourself’ it is important to ensure any home improvements are executed to the highest of standards or face the financial repercussions.

“From a buyer’s point of view, people’s inclination to try and save money by doing the job themselves may be more than just aesthetically unappealing; they could prove to be dangerous particularly if they involve something like the electrics. This is another reason why it is essential to have a proper survey done when buying a house.”