The Rise Of Diy: Two In Three Brits Are Doing It Themselves To Save Money

    LONDON, ENGLAND, April 29, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Britain is becoming a nation of DIYers, according to new research by Sainsbury's Home Insurance. An estimated, near 30 million(1) British adults (65%) have performed DIY tasks such as painting, plumbing or tiling in the last year rather than pay for professional help, in order to save money. These people claim to have saved over GBP49 billion in the last 12 months by doing so.

Sainsbury's Home Insurance is warning homeowners that their insurance could be invalidated if they carry out certain tasks themselves without following the relevant compliance procedures. This includes carrying out electrical work in high-risk areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and gardens, which 5.2 million people (11%)(1) have carried out themselves in the last 12 months, and which also requires prior Building Control notification(2). Undertaking structural changes such as a loft conversion or rear extension without first informing your insurer could also invalidate your insurance.
The bank is also warning people to make sure they have accidental damage cover in place with their home insurance so that they are covered should they knock over a pot of paint or break a window for example, whilst undertaking DIY projects.

Internal painting is the most common task that people have been doing themselves, with more than one in two people (51%) having done this in the last year to save money. This is followed by minor electrical tasks such as fitting lights or replacing plug sockets, carried out by more than one in three people (38%), and plumbing tasks such as removing a radiator or fixing a leak, which one in five (21%) people have performed themselves to save cash.

Joanne Mallon, Sainsbury's Home Insurance manager said: "DIY is a great way to save money and the sense of achievement when the job's done can be tremendous, so don't ruin it by exposing yourself to calamity. Check you have good accidental damage cover and check that your insurer will cover you whilst you undertake the work, and whatever you do, make sure you use a registered electrician to carry out any major electrical works."

There's no gender gap when it comes to performing DIY tasks to save money with almost as many women (62%)(1) as men (69%) doing it themselves. On a location basis, the North West and Wales have the most money-saving DIYers, with 72% of adults there having carried out a DIY task in the last year to save money. London has the least DIYers.

Sainsbury's provide a wide range of financial services including home insurance, savings accounts, personal loans and life insurance, visit www.sainsburysbank.co.uk now to find out more.

About Sainsbury's Home Insurance:
As well as being competitively priced, the bank also offers an extensive range of cover and benefits.

This includes:
Unlimited buildings cover
Unlike some home insurers, Sainsbury's Bank does not apply charges for customers paying their premiums by direct debit
Maximum no-claims discount of up to 30%
No-claims discount protection(3)
Cover for accidental damage - even by pets(3)

To find out more about Sainsbury's Bank Home Insurance, call 0800 731 7978 or log onto www.sainsburysbank.co.uk

# # #