Recent research has revealed that Aussies are spending an average of $1500 fixing damage caused when a ‘do-it-yourself’ repair, maintenance or renovation job goes awry, equating to $3.53 billion annually.
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“We’re a very house proud nation and many of us take inspiration from popular renovation TV programs. However, the research suggests that a lack of knowledge about DIY projects is costing Aussies in more ways than one - often making the issue worse and causing additional financial strain,” Stuart Tucker, Chief Customer Officer at hipages, which commissioned the research, said.
As many as one in five of us admit to attempting to complete a repair or renovation for our home that required a qualified tradesperson to fix, or re-do the work. The research found that men (12 per cent) are more likely than women (5 per cent) to say they prefer to do jobs around the home themselves without the help of a professional, though 22 per cent of men admit their dodgy DIY required a professional to fix.
Across the generations, the adage that the older you are, the wiser you are proved true, with Gen Ys the biggest culprits of DIY disasters (27 per cent) followed by Gen X (19 per cent), Traditionalists (17 per cent) and then Baby Boomers (16 per cent). Gen Y (81 per cent) and Gen X (77 per cent) are also more likely than Baby Boomers (68 per cent) and Traditionalists (62 per cent) to say the main motivation for DIY is to save money. This motivation was also most prevalent for those living in Western Australia (79 per cent).
“It’s unsurprising that in the current economic climate, homeowners are searching for ways to save money, though misjudging projects can be costly. We encourage homeowners to save money through smart decision making, including comparing quotes and using qualified, licensed tradespeople to get the job done right, the first time,” Mr Tucker said.
The Galaxy research highlighted that almost half of Australian homeowners find great enjoyment getting their hands dirty and managing a job themselves, with 46 per cent of men agreeing that DIY gives them a greater sense of satisfaction and 38 per cent saying they really enjoy working on their home.
Still, 64 per cent said they’d hire a tradie as they lack the knowledge and skills to complete the work.
Registered builders are well-versed with the building process and understand how to keep a build on schedule with quality control in check, while maintaining safety standards, while electrical work should never be attempted without the help of a properly licensed electrician due to the high risks associated with the work.
Large plumbing jobs is another area that should never be attempted without the help of a professional plumber.