When we are handed the keys to our first home, the excitement is almost unbearable. Our heads are full of ideas about how we are going to turn our new places into something truly magnificent. Nothing is impossible because we have the power of an alchemist to turn base metals into gold. Or…maybe not. In fact, definitely not, according to research from Aviva. Our DIY inexperience means we are more akin to a wrecking ball than a ‘Grand Designer’.

And, although we spend around £10,000 on renovations in the first year of owning our first property, those costs are often hugely inflated by the damage we inflict. It’s ironic when you consider that 9 out of 10 of us undertook the work in the first place with the intention of saving money!

4 out of 10 first-time buyers admitted having a DIY disaster while doing up their homes and, worse still, when things went wrong, more than half of them (54%) had to call in a professional to put right their mistakes.

The most common DIY disasters were as follows:

1. Spilled paint on carpet / furniture

2. Plaster fell off walls

3. Burst pipe

4. Put a hole through wall / ceiling

5. Injured themselves

6. Did a poor job of decorating which had to be redone

7. Ceiling fell down

8. Broke a window

9. Broke an electrical item e.g. TV

10. Broke a household item e.g. ornament / furniture

Aviva advises that: “When it comes to decorating and renovating most of us have a ‘can do’ attitude – or we’re at least willing to give things a go! Budgets are often tight after a house move too, so DIY can be a great way of saving cash. However, the reality is that some jobs are trickier than they look and can actually ending up costing more if mistakes need to be put right.

“It’s always worth weighing up whether the DIY route is the best way to go, particularly when it comes to plumbing or electrical jobs which could be extremely dangerous if things go wrong. Prevention is better than the cure when it comes to DIY disasters, but when mistakes do happen, it’s worth getting in touch with your home insurance provider – particularly if you have accidental damage cover – as they may well be able to help you get back to that ‘house beautiful’.

That’s all well and good, but when you can’t afford to do things properly, bodging it for half the price can seem awfully tempting.