01/05/08

With many of us considering DIY projects this bank holiday weekend it is no surprise to see insurance companies warning of potential invalidation of your policy should you take on too much yourself. Price comparison site Confused.com advise caution when it comes to do-it-yourself as up to half of the planned jobs carry a risk of invalidating a claim.

Debra Williams, MD over at Confused, claims that not notifying your insurer of any forthcoming work is a risky business and if you are having any other workmen in to do some of the work for you then handing over keys to the property is just as bad due to the increased security risk.

Ms Williams explains that home insurance claims can be very complicated processes and that making sure you check with your insurer is of great importance:

"Checking with the insurer is the best way to ensure that you are protecting yourself from unforeseen costs when taking on DIY projects. Homeowners must find out what is already covered within their policy and take out extra cover for everything not included."

While the issues surrounding DIY may seem relevant only to buildings insurance it also impacts on the contents side of any home cover. DIY often leads to accidents and possessions can get easily damaged by falling ladders or spilt paint for instance. So you should always check this side of things too.