Home services marketplace Plentific’s latest survey has found that over one third of UK homeowners have regretted the results of a DIY project and wish that they had called in a professional to handle it.
With home improvements becoming the more attractive option for homeowners rather than uprooting and moving on, the research shows that 1 in 3 find their results less than pleasing, and in retrospect, would have chosen to hire a specialist instead.
The research also found the younger generation struggle most with DIY, as half (48%) of those aged 18-34 said they have regretted their past results.
Regionally, Norwich (45%) and Newcastle (47%) have the highest percentage of homeowners regretting DIY projects in the UK, wishing that they had hired in a trade professional instead. While in the capital there are plenty of regretful DIY projects as 40% of London homeowners wish they had contacted a specialist instead.
The majority of London homeowners admit that this has happened on more than two occasions, perhaps suggesting that the higher priced services in the capital are encouraging homeowners to resort to DIY solutions more often than they should.
The city of Manchester has the highest rate of satisfactory DIY experiences, with 77% of homeowners never having an issue with their results. These stats show the variation of skills across the UK, and stress that despite certain cities being more DIY inclined, there is a demand for trade professionals nationwide.
Stephen Jury, spokesperson for Plentific, said: “Cases of regretful DIY projects are not unheard of, however these new statistics from Plentific show just how often they occur. It’s interesting to see that half of the young homeowners have DIY regrets. In this current digital world, these statistics could highlight the lack of DIY knowledge in younger homeowners, and emphasise their lack of confidence when carrying out projects, which their parents may have more success with.
