Over 50s turn to DIY for credit crunch home improvements

Despite household budgets still being tight, research conducted by Saga Home Insurance reveals that over 50s are still keen to make improvements to their homes, but more are now choosing to do it themselves to save costs.  A quarter (24%) say they are doing it themselves this year, compared with only one in ten (10%) in 2009.

Over a third (37%) of over 50s are so confident in their DIY abilities that they rarely seek guidance from friends, family or professionals, and one in ten (11%) are so confident that they never seek advice. However, one in five (20%) feel they sometimes carry out tasks without really knowing what they are doing, which can lead to a DIY disaster.

Almost three quarters (73%) of UK adults have had to deal with a DIY emergency.  With those in the West Midlands being more likely to experience one than any other region (77%)   The over 50s are better placed than most to deal with these emergencies as a fifth (22%) know a tradesmen such as a plumber or electrician that they can rely on in such a situation, which is twice as many as the under 50s, just one in ten (11%) would know who to call.

When an emergency occurs, it's important to have people to rely on who can take the worry out of the situation. Saga's Home Insurance includes "Trace and Repair" cover at no extra cost. This covers water damage and up to £5,000 in total for the reasonable cost of locating the source of the damage including the reinstatement of any wall flooring or ceiling removed or damaged during the search.

Men are much more secure in their do-it-yourself expertise, with one in five (19%) saying they're confident in carrying out jobs around the house, compared to just 5% of women. People in Scotland are doing the most DI Y to save money (31%, compared to less than one in five (19%) in Yorkshire and Humberside.