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Date Published : Wednesday, July 30, 2008
People who took out a home loan to buy a property may be knocking chunks out of its value with botched do-it-yourself (DIY) alterations, an expert has warned.
David Gaffney, a regional director with building industry organisation the Housing Industry Association (HIA), told the Advertiser that if DIY projects are not done correctly they can damage not only the resale value of a home but also its long-term safety.
"It's very dangerous if it's not done properly … Drilling in the wrong place could affect the structure of the home."
He added that DIY can be quite complicated and it is therefore better to let experienced hands take charge and hire a licensed contractor.
"If not, it can create much more of a nightmare in the long run," he said.
Rob Stewart, chief executive of Australia's oldest industry body, the Master Building Association, agreed. He said DIY renovations go awry "reasonably frequently" and when they do, what often starts out as a money-saving exercise ends up hurting a bank account.
"Consumers try and do the plumbing and muck it up, forcing our members to have to go and fix [it]," he commented.
Mr Stewart added that a new initiative by the South Australian State Government to introduce new regulations for members of the building industry should give confidence to consumers looking to get work done on their home.
"This will provide protection for the consumer," he said.
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