Easter 2009 - DIY Explosion Predicted

The Easter weekend is often a time for spring cleaning and getting round to the odd DIY jobs that have been ignored through the winter. This year, with more of us eager to save money, it seems that we could be set to see something of a DIY boom this April – as we plan to stick around in our current homes instead of moving, and decide to take on jobs ourselves over hiring a professional.

This has been reiterated by two surveys from M&S Money and Halifax respectively. In an article at aboutproperty.co.uk, they highlight that 64 percent of people are likely to attempt DIY this year, instead of paying the extra cost for a tradesman. Despite this recession-influenced confidence, Halifax found that almost half of the people they asked (43 percent) admitted that they weren’t as sufficient with odd jobs around the home as their parents. “Fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, and tiling, were the jobs most people were most reluctant to do.”

Such attitudes regarding our parent’s generation are justified. The concept of DIY was really kick-started during the 60s and 70s – amidst the well-documented trend of social liberation and independence. Philosophers, thinkers, and writers such as Alan Watts and Stewart Brand who were dissatisfied with the impractical nature of the education system and the increasing dependence on consumables and “professionals” championed the financial, physical, and mental worth of taking practical jobs into our own hands.

Although the notion of DIY has always been there since (and even permeated into other aspects of culture such as music and mail-order business), it seems we are still to see a rebirth of some description, leading a similar wave of DIY promotion in the British press as seen in the 60s from Watts and Brand.

The Telegraph is one such publication that is eager to highlight the fiscal savings made from Doing it Yourself – and they add some intriguing advice in order to save even more. They advise to search around before buying tools, and to make note of Easter deals and offers likely to be given by superstores such as B & Q and Homebase – these will be advertised on their websites.

Aside from promoting DIY outright, the one thing that seems to be connecting the online and offline press, and the banks, is the essential need to confirm what is covered by your home insurance – and some point out the tasks such as wiring and plumbing may invalidate insurance policies. Additional accidental damage cover may need to be considered – just to be on the safe side.